Weather

State Climatologist David Stooksberry last week has predicted a prolonged drought in the southeast. I don't think anyone I have spoken to is surprised by that news. Even the areas which were too wet a week ago (and there were not too many of them) are dry.

Temperatures are really hot for this time of the year. The say they will moderate starting tomorrow. They are also predicting rainfall in the 40 to 50% range. So far this year we haven't worn out any rain gauges at these percents in most places.

Late last week I noticed a big ridge of high pressure sitting over Georgia and they said it would go out to Bermuda. We never get rain when there is a Bermuda High. Apparently there is an upper level low pressure trough over the peninsula of Florida that should help.

Our weather pattern this year so far has been last year amplified. Meaningful rainfall came from the northwest and moved to the southeast. It rained out before it covered much of the peanut belt. This year is a hotter and drier version of that so far.

Also, the planting intentions were determined by USDA prior to the worst of the Spring drought. Farmers were still optimistic. I think a combination of dry weather and cost have combined to trim the dryland acres in Georgia. It may be better to just take prevented planted credit and let the land lay out this year.

For the peanuts that were planted and are up this could be beneficial if it starts raining but it is essentially too late to think about planting dryland at this juncture. One final observation; when the wheat straw in Georgia has a beautiful golden color as it is baled up you know it has been really dry. We haven't even been able to get a good dew in many places.