Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending July 13, 2014.
GENERAL: According to the National Agriculture Statistics Service’s Alabama Field Office, there were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, July 13, 2014. Precipitation estimates for the state ranged from 0.01 inches of rain in Montgomery to 2.60 inches in Muscle Shoals. Average mean temperatures ranged from 78.2°F in Haleyville to 82.9°F in Montgomery.
EXTENSION/FSA COMMENTS:
All crops are finally planted. Some soybeans are really late because of delays in the wheat harvest. Some of the last wheat harvested was of poorer quality resulting in price dockage for producers. Cotton is really late because of these cool spells we are getting.
— Tim Malone, FSA CED, Marion, Winston Counties.
Widely scattered showers in the region were short lived and provided little relief in an area that is becoming considerably dry. Fall army worm and bermudagrass stem maggot reports increased in some counties.
— Henry Dorough, ACES REA, Blount, Calhoun, Jefferson, Marshall, St. Clair Counties.
A good sweeping rain is needed. Some areas received rain last week, but it was very spotty.
— Jack Tatum, ACES REA, Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Lee, Randolph, Shelby, Talladega, Tallapoosa Counties.
A mid-week rain over parts of Elmore and Montgomery counties brought some needed moisture. Cotton layby activities were in full swing.
— Jeffery Smith FSA CED, Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa Counties.
Plant bug treatments have been applied to cotton. Aphid numbers have flared up in Elmore County cotton.
— Don Moore, Director of AL Experiment Station, Autauga County.
Cotton is immature and needs a perfect growing season to catch up. Peanuts look good considering the delays in planting. Corn looks good. The dry weather these last few weeks has benefited the hay producers.
— Karen McDonald-Minor, FSA CED, Monroe County.
Scattered showers on Thursday brought much need moisture to otherwise stressed crops. About 70 percent of the county received good rainfall last week.
— Willie Durr, ACES CEC, Houston County.
A number of other reports were received across central and south Alabama indicating dry conditions and the need for rain to benefit crops and pasture.
ACRONYMS: ACES – Alabama Cooperative Extension System; CEC – County Executive Coordinator; CED – County Executive Director; FSA – Farm Service Agency; PT – Program Technician; REA – Regional Extension Agent
