Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending April 15, 2012

April 15, 2012. Little to no rainfall was observed which contributed to an overall decline in soil moisture conditions. Soil moisture conditions were reported as 7% very short, 45% short and 48% adequate. Much of the Upstate and Midlands reported frost mid-week with observations of light frost damage to field crops. The State average temperature for the week was near normal with 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork. The State average rainfall for the period was 0.0 inches.

FIELD CROPS

CORN plantings were wrapping up with 92% completed by Sunday, still well ahead of historical averages. Sixty-five percent of the crop had emerged by the weekend, fifteen points above the five year average. COTTON planting got underway with 6% completed by Sunday. OATS were 85% headed, thirty-nine points ahead of 2011 figures. Conditions were stable at 1% very poor, 2% poor, 29% fair, 64% good and 4% excellent. WINTER WHEAT was also 85% headed with conditions reported as 2% poor, 33% fair, 60% good and 5% excellent. TOBACCO transplanting increased rapidly with 50% completed by the end of the week, fifteen points ahead of this time last year.

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

TOMATO plantings were nearing completion with 95% planted by Sunday. Conditions were 58% fair, 31% good and 11% excellent. Seventy-five percent of SNAPBEANS and 39% of CUCUMBERS were planted by the end of the week. CANTALOUP planting was 58% complete by Sunday, slowing to five points ahead of the five year average. WATERMELON planting was estimated at 72% complete. PEACH conditions declined to 63% fair, 36% good and 1% excellent. PASTURE conditions fell to 3% very poor, 9% poor, 41% fair, 46% good and 1% excellent. LIVESTOCK conditions declined to 2% very poor, 3% poor, 35% fair and 60% good.

Weekly Weather Summary

A drying airmass settled into the State on Monday. At 7:00 p.m., the Greenville downtown airport reported a relative humidity value of just eleven percent. Tuesday’s weather was mostly sunny and warm but included pockets of storm cells moving west to east through central South Carolina. Dime-sized hail fell near the Lake Murray Dam and high winds of 55 mph were observed at 7:29 p.m. over the Florence Regional AP. Little, to no measurable rain, accompanied the passing weather. The Sandhill observation site noted a 24-hour open pan evaporation water loss of 0.31 inches. Much cooler conditions were observed on Wednesday. At the noon hour, temperatures ranged from 57 degrees at Rock Hill, to 67 degrees at Beaufort. Shaw AFB in Sumter and the Orangeburg AP observed a 5:00 p.m. relative humidity value of sixteen percent.

On Thursday morning, the thermometer fell to freezing for parts of the Upstate and the usual cold locations within the Piedmont and Midlands. Caesars Head, Table Rock, Chesnee and Cedar Creek, all recorded 29 degrees. Chester and Rock Hill reached a freezing 32 degrees. Spotty frost was seen by the public as far south as rural Lexington County, Kershaw County and eastward to Bishopville. A gradual increase in daytime warmth occurred over the weekend. Much of the State experienced afternoon temperatures in the middle 70’s on Friday, the upper 70’s on Saturday and around 80 degrees on Sunday. Hartsville, Dillon and Columbia recorded a Sunday maximum temperature of 82 degrees. The State average temperature for the seven-day period was near normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 84 degrees at Givhans on April 10. The lowest official temperature reported was 28 degrees at Ninety Nine Islands on April 13. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 0.05 inches at Cedar Creek ending at 7:00 a.m. on April 11. The State average rainfall for the period was 0.00 inches.

SOIL: 4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 69 degrees, Charleston 67 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were below normal. Ocean water temperatures at nearby Johnny Mercer Pier in Wrightsville Beach, NC, were reported at 66 degrees.

Tags: crop progress, crop weather and condition, USDA reports