Scattered showers were beneficial for some in parts of the State, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Georgia Field Office. Daily average high temperatures were in the lower to upper 90's. Low temperatures were in the low 70's. Soil moisture conditions were rated at 17% very short, 43% short, 39% adequate, and 1% surplus.

Army worms continued to be present in some fields. Over three-quarters of corn is mature, and over one fourth of the fields have been harvested for grain. Almost all of the soybean crop has bloomed and over one-half is setting pods. Some fields of sorghum have been harvested. Virtually all of the cotton is setting bolls and almost a quarter of the cotton bolls are starting to open. Peach harvest is almost complete. Over one-half of the tobacco crop has been harvested.

Of the state's corn crop, 65% is rated good to excellent. 76% of the soybean crop is in fair to good condition. 44% of cotton is rated good to excellent, and more than half of the state's peanut crop is rated good to excellent.

Other activities for the week included routine care of livestock and applying fungicides and insecticides to cotton and peanuts. County Extension Agents reported an average of 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork.

DISTRICT COUNTY AGENT COMMENTS

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DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST

Very spotty afternoon showers around the county. We got a random 0.1 inch of rain for the week of Aug 9-15, 2010.

DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL

Spotty thunderstorm activity failed to relieve moisture shortage county-wide this week. Armyworms, heavy infestations. Heavy spotty rains.

DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST

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DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL

Scattered thunder showers have been very beneficial. Incredibly dry and getting worse each day. Dry and excessively hot with few scattered showers; armyworms remained very active; soybean bloom picking up but moisture needed soon on this crop; millet beginning to ripen; rolled some hay that the worms haven't gotten. An inch to almost 2 rec'd over county Saturday. Incredibly dry and getting worse.

DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL

We only received .32 of an inch of rainfall. We are very dry and need rainfall.

Still dealing with huge infestations of armyworms in forages. Anthracnose found in soybeans along with some Frog eye. Welcome rains scattered around the county; dryland crops suffering; growers waiting on moisture level in corn to drop to begin harvesting.

Fall armyworms have just consumed much of our forage in a very short time. Tremendous numbers of worms attacking most of the county. Farmers can't spray fast enough. The worms combined with the extreme heat have wreaked havoc on pastures and hayfields. Many will be feeding hay and marketing calves early due to this disaster that has hit almost overnight.

Still a lot of scattered showers with no general rains. Some crops fairing well, others in dry spots suffering. Becoming very critical due to extended drought.

DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL

Fall armyworms have infested what seems like every acre of hay and pasture in the county. Peanuts and cotton are both being sprayed for worms (of all kinds!). Continued dry weather will most likely affect yield in cotton, peanuts and soybeans. Corn harvest is underway and is moving along at a fast pace.

We have reached a critical time for dry land cotton and soybeans with peanuts needing another good rain before the end of the month. Continuous days at or over 96 degrees with very little rain the last two weeks has just about literally cooked any chance of good dry land crops. If we don't get rain from the current tropical depression, our cotton and soybeans potential will be severely hurt.

Corn harvest is underway with very good yields. I have measured several fields and they have gone from 212 bu/A to 250 bu/A. Across the board, we'll have a very uniform, high yielding corn crop in the county. Corn stalks/leaves are very dry, like tissue paper, and it wouldn't take much to blow it down. Corn is still in the 16-18% moisture range due to heavy dews and humidity.

Finding a good many loppers in soybeans with some foliage losses nearing 26%. Like everyone else, armyworms are eating every Bahia and Bermuda field they can find. Stinkbugs are with us but not in a huge number. We've had the worst outbreak of armyworms that I have ever seen in my 25 years as Extension Agent.

DISTRICT 7 - SOUThWEST

Scattered showers late last week. Nothing this week, anywhere. Heat index still above 100 degrees by early afternoon. Irrigated corn yields are good, in spite of the heat, rust, and leaf blight issues. Dryland corn is a different story. It is much, much worse. Dryland peanuts, corn, and soybeans; same story as corn.

DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL

Dry and hot. Picking tobacco as fast as we can to keep from burning up in field. Prices been good. A lot of dryland cotton blooming at the top. Irrigation ongoing were possible. Peanut crop looks good but loosing yield to drought and heat. Armyworms in hay and pastures. Spraying most for them. Fixing soil for fall vegetable planting. cutting hay. Poultry growers getting ready and excited about Pilgrims Pride reopening soon.

Pastures and Hayfields have recently been negatively impacted with army worm infestations.

The newly released USDA crop estimate for cotton pegs yield much higher than we have potential for in county. Of course it could keep raining and we have a very late frost. That is a long shot however.

DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST

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