Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending October 12, 2014.
GENERAL
According to the National Agriculture Statistics Service South Carolina Field Office, there were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, October 12th, 2014. The State average rainfall for the seven-day period was 0.2 inches. The State average temperature for the week was five degrees above the long-term average. Soil moisture ratings for topsoil were reported at 3% very short, 20% short, 73% adequate, and 4% surplus. Soil moisture ratings for subsoil were reported at 8% very short, 18% short, 72% adequate, and 2% surplus.
COUNTY AGENTS COMMENTS
“A week filled with cooler weather and light rain showers.”
–Danny Howard, Greenville County, District 10
“A dry week with above average temperatures allowed for cotton and peanut harvest to take place. It was also a good week to defoliate the cotton crop in preparation for harvest. The cotton crop appears to be pretty good condition with yields currently averaging around 800 – 900 pounds per acre. Peanuts are fair to good depending on the field.”
–Kyle Daniel, Georgetown County, District 30
“Good progress made on peanut harvest last week. Cotton defoliation is progressing. Small amount of cotton has been harvested as peanuts are taking a priority.”
–Charles Davis, Calhoun County, District 50
“Good weather conditions allowed farmers to harvest peanuts, and some cotton was picked. Good weather is needed to keep harvest progress up.”
–Mark Nettles, Orangeburg County, District 50
“A week of favorable weather with no rain and bright sunshine allowed cotton and peanut harvests to progress at a rapid pace.”
–Hugh Gray, Allendale County, District 80
Weather Summary
Seasonal conditions were observed on Monday with Anderson, Orangeburg and Ft. Moultrie all reporting a high temperature of 77 degrees. On Tuesday, light rains began falling along the north-south axis of the South Carolina mountains. Long Creek measured 0.53 inches while Winnsboro, Lake City and Walterboro all warmed to 81 degrees. Showers moved over the high-elevation counties again on Wednesday. Jocassee Dam measured 0.36 inches. Very warm afternoon temperatures of 92 degrees were recorded at Allendale and Barnwell.
Thundershowers developed on Thursday evening from Pickens County into Lexington County. Rainfall amounts of 1.21 inches fell at Liberty, 0.73 inches at Antreville and 0.56 inches at Columbia Metro AP. Warming sunshine on Friday afternoon continued for Saturday. Maximum temperatures on Saturday reached 90 degrees at Hartsville, Kingstree and Beaufort.
A sharp change occurred near midnight for much of the northern half of South Carolina as a shallow layer of colder air shifted southward with clouds and northeast surface winds. Rains over Greenville Downtown AP brought 0.54 inches, and 0.43 inches fell at Clemson AP. The Saturday Rock Hill AP high temperature of 87 degrees made a steady decline to a Sunday minimum of 59 degrees before gaining just one degree during the afternoon to 60 degrees.
Periods of rain moved over the Upstate through much of Sunday. Pickens received 1.56 inches and Keowee Dam measured 1.15 inches. Despite the week’s nearly every day rainfalls at Walhalla and Table Rock, the locations of Mullins, Conway, Clarks Hill, Manning and Walterboro were some of several that reported no rain during the week. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was five degrees above the long-term average.
The highest official temperature reported was 93 degrees at Cades on October 11. The lowest official temperature reported was 36 degrees at Jocassee 8WNW (Walhalla State Fish Hatchery in Oconee County) on October 7.* The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.06 inches at Clemson Oconee County AP on October 12. The state average rainfall for the seven-day period was 0.2 inches.
*A late report from Jocassee 8WNW (Walhalla State Fish Hatchery in Oconee County) for the previous week indicated a minimum temperature of 27 degrees on October 5, 2014. This is the state’s lowest observed temperature of the season.
SOIL: 4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 74 degrees, Charleston 75 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Charleston Harbor reported a water temperature of 76 degrees and Springmaid Pier at Myrtle Beach reported a surf water temperature of 75 degrees.
