National Agricultural Summary weather March 24 to 30, 1986 HIGHLIGHTS: Warm, dry spurred land preparation and seeding across most of the Nation. The warmth promoted small grain growth, but the lack of moisture slowed growth in some Great Plains States. In Texas, moisture was short as small grains moved into the critical heading stage. Soil moisture was generally adequate, but more moisture is needed in the Plains States. Fieldwork averaged 5 days or more in most areas of the Nation. Rain limited fieldwork to less than 5 days in most Corn Belt States and in the Northeast. Corn planting gained momentum across the southern half of the United States. Planting ranged from just beginning in North Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, South Carolina, and Virginia to 70 percent (%) complete in Texas. Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi planted sorghum. Sorghum planting was 61% finished in Texas. Cotton planting progressed rapidly in Arizona and Texas. Winter wheat was mostly good. Spring small grain seeding gained momentum. transplanting reached 23% completion in Livestock was mostly good. Pastures greening in northern areas. Tobacco Georgia. began SMALL GRAINS: Additional warmth promoted small grain growth across the Nation, but the lack of moisture slowed growth growth in most in most Plains States. Wheat was mostly good to fair. Wheat development ranged from greening in Minnesota in Minnesota to heading in the Southeast. Kansas wheat grew well, but wind and warm weather depleted soil moisture. Wind damage was light to moderate, but disease began increasing. Nebraska's wheat was mostly good. Winterkill was very light, and disease nonexistent except for a few reports of soil-borne mosaic in the southeastern part of the State. In Oklahoma, wheat development was 1 week ahead of normal. Forty-five percent of the acreage was jointing compared with 35% last year and 30% normally. Wheat was mostly good. Growers applied fertilizer and sprayed to control alfalfa weevils. Texas wheat was good to fair. In the Plains, small grains suffered from the lack of moisture and producers increased irrigation. Most wheat reached the boot stage, and some early seeded wheat headed-out. Most small grains from the Blacklands into central and south Texas were heading but lacked rainfall for good head development and yields. Scattered fields were wilting from dryness. Wheat and small grain development prospered in the Southeast with development ahead of normal in most areas. Wheat jointing was 9 points ahead of normal in Georgia. Wheat was 26% headed in Louisiana compared with 17% normally. Ninety percent of Arizona's wheat and barley was jointing, and 40% of of the acreage was heading. Growth was ahead of normal with crop conditions good to excellent. Small grains were excellent in California and continued maturing. Spring seeding of small grains was underway throughout the northern and central Plains and Rocky Mountains States. Seeding was just beginning in a few Corn Belt States. Oat and barley seeding was 90% finished in Kansas. ranged from just beginning in Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia, and Arkansas to 70% finished in Texas. Texas seeding was 28 points ahead of normal. Early planted corn was up to good stands from the Blacklands south to the Rio Grande Valley. Corn was 69% seeded in Louisiana, 9 points ahead of normal. In Louisiana, half the corn acreage was emerged. Georgia corn producers advanced seeding to 52% completion with crop condition fair to good. Mississippi corn producers were planting corn 7 points faster than normal but were 2 points slower than last year. Sorghum seeding moved into Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. Mississippi's acreage was 2% seeded with seeding just starting in the other two States. Seeding ran 3 points ahead of normal in Louisiana. Sorghum was 61% seeded in Texas. Dryness caused scattered replanting in the Blacklands. Early planted sorghum was up to good stands from the Blacklands to the Rio Grande Valley. seeding was limited to Arizona, California, and Texas. In Texas, cotton planting declined in the Rio Grande Valley and at Coastal Bend but moved fast along the Upper Coast. Planting increased in south central Texas and a few fields were seeded Cotton in the southern Blacklands. Seeding reached 9% completion. Planting continued in California with 20% of the desert acreage planted. Cotton seeding was active in Arizona with 35% 35% of of the acreage seeded,· 5 points ahead of last year. In Texas, rice seeding was above normal by 6 points and was 9 times greater than in 1985. Planting moved briskly along the Upper Coast but declined in many areas. Louisiana's rice was 19% planted and 9% emerged. Seeding was just underway in Mississippi. Tobacco transplanting advanced to 23% complete in Georgia. Transplanting and replanting was active in Florida. Seedbed preparation and seeding was active from Virginia to Kentucky. FRUIT AND NUTS: Peaches were severely severely damaged from earlier frost and freezing temperatures in Arkansas, Louisiana, and some areas of Texas. Some peaches were damaged in Georgia, but the full extent is not yet known. California, early Apples were past Florida's citrus bloom peaked, and new foliage was abundant. Early orange harvest neared completion, and Temple harvest slowed. Grapefruit movement was active. Citrus producers irrigated and treated groves for insects in Texas. Arizona citrus harvest continued. In variety grapes formed bunches. full bloom, and pears were blooming. Citrus harvest progressed normally, but large Navel oranges were culled because of rind puff and granulation. Persimmons and walnuts bloomed. Pecans and pistachios leafed out. Florida's VEGETABLES: Low temperatures covered vegetable areas, but conditions improved by week's end as temperatures returned to normal. Vegetable shipments increased due due to gains in snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, escarole, squash, and strawberries. In the Rio Grande Valley, onion harvest increased, but carrot and cabbage harvest slowed. Spinach, broccoli, carrots, and greens were harvested in the San Antonio-Winter Garden Frost damaged early planted vegetables in east Texas. Lettuce packing tapered off in Yuma, Arizona. Mixed vegetable harvest continued in Yuma and in (Continued to back cover) |