Another week with little rain and temperatures in the 90s and
low 100s has caused
severe drought conditions to expand into southwest and central
Georgia. Only in south
central Georgia did drought conditions improve last week.
Timely rains in the next few weeks will be critical for many
in Georgia agriculture.
Even among some producers who have been irrigating, concern is
growing over the level of
water remaining in some irrigation ponds.
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Lack of Topsoil Moisture
Critical
The Georgia
Agricultural Statistics Service
reports that moisture is short to very short in 81 percent of the
state’s soils. Last year
at this time, soil moisture was short to very short in 46 percent
of the soils. The
average over the past five years is 33 percent.
GASS rated more than 50 percent of soybeans and pastures in
poor to very poor
condition. A third of the state’s cotton is rated poor to very
poor.
The lack of topsoil moisture is most critical in southwest
Georgia, according to the
Aug. 14 Crop
Moisture Index
values. The CMI is a measure of soil moisture in the root zone of
crops.
Crops Damaged
The CMI value for southwest Georgia shows a potential for
dryland crops to be ruined
because of dryness. Actual crop losses will depend on the growth
stage of a crop and its
ability to withstand drought conditions. Timely rains will save
some crops.
The CMI indicates that dryness may severely cut crop yields in
west central and central
Georgia.
Soils in northeast and east central Georgia are excessively
dry, with crop yield
prospects reduced.
Abnormally dry soils are found in northwest and north central
Georgia, and crop yield
prospects are deteriorating.
The topsoil moisture in south central and southeast Georgia is
rated as short.
Through mid-August, all major cities in Georgia were below
normal for monthly rainfall.
Rainfall totals (and monthly deficits) through Aug. 17 were:
Athens, 0.55 inches (-1.61
inches); Atlanta, 0.10 (-2.02); Augusta, 0.49 (-2.06); Columbus,
0.80 (-1.39); Macon, 0.22
(-1.88); and Savannah, 1.61 (-2.59).
4 Regions in Severe
Drought
Long-term conditions according to the
Drought Severity Index
indicate that northeast, west central, central and southwest
Georgia are in severe
drought. North central, east central and southeast Georgia are in
moderate drought.
Mild drought conditions are found in the northwest and south
central regions of the
state.
The PSDI is most useful in hydrological aspects of
drought.
Stream flows across the state are generally running in the
10th percentile range. Many
water systems have begun either partial or total outdoor watering
bans.
Above-normal Rainfall
Needed
Soil moisture loss from evapotranspiration ranged from 1.25 to
1.5 inches across the
state last week. Above-normal rainfall will be needed just to
keep up with soil moisture
loss through evapotranspiration.
To end the long-term drought, more than half a foot of rain is
needed across most of
the state. The best hope for long-term drought relief is a
tropical weather system.
You can get updates on drought conditions in Georgia and
across the Southeast at the
of Georgia drought Web
site. Or call your county Extension
Service agent.
Get updated weather conditions at the Georgia
Automated Environmental Monitoring Web site.
