Drought By The Numbers

Some notes from the weekly Crop Progress and Condition Bulletin, U.S.Department of Agriculture, Alabama Field Office issued at 3 o’clock this afternoon:

* Drought conditions continue to worsen daily. During the past week, no significant changes.

* Some Alabama farmers are putting planting on hold to wait for more moisture.

* Autauga County Extension Agent, Leonard Kuykendall, stated that farmers who were not finished planting have stopped due to lack of soil moisture. Ponds, wells and streams are drying up. The area is over 14 inches of rain below normal for this year and and 47 inches short since January, 2005. The first five months of 2007 will be the driest on record.

* Mr. Kuykendall reported that waist-high corn almost ready to tassel, that another disaster with corn is probable.

* In NE Alabama, Jackson County, Agent Donald E. Mann stated that the county continues to suffer from extreme drought. The corn is starting to twist up in the late morning instead of late afternoon.

* Henry County Extension Agent, James D. Jones, Jr., reported that cotton and peanuut plantings are approaching the end with little or no moisture present in the soil. Pastures in the area are dry and short. Cattlemen are feeding hay as quickly as it can be baled. Hay yields are only about 50% of normal.

Here is a list of communities around the state that have received less than 10 inches of rain so far in 2007. Compiled by the Agricultural Department:

* 9.73 inches at Russellville which is 16.35 inches below normal

* 8.68 inches at Gadsden Airport, a shortfall of 17.93 inches (simply amazing)

* 8.85 inches at Thorsby, Chilton County, a deficiency of 17,14 inches.

* 8.84 inches at Tuscaloosa Airport, deficiency 16.95 inches.

* 8.79 inches at Marion Junction, a shortage of 16.39 inches.

* 9.95 inches at Livingston, a deficiency of 16.23 inches.

IN CONTRAST/A FEW BETTER REPORTS

* 20.06 inches at Geneva, a shortage of 2.98 inches

* 24.76 inches at Brewton, a shortage of only 2.12 inches

The 8.68 inches so far at Gasden is only 33% of normal for the year so far.

Category: Pre-November 2010 Posts