The Season

The Fall of 1999 was the second year in a row that most Georgia small grain producers faced the challenge of planting a small grain crop into dry soils. They met the challenge as planting continued at a normal pace throughout the season. Wheat acreage planted was estimated at 300,000 acres, an increase of 20 percent over the previous year. Oat acreage increased 20 percent, while rye acreage declined 8 percent.

Severe drought growing conditions that the state of Georgia has been experiencing for the past two years continued through the completion of the 2000 small grain crop year. Rainfall amounts recorded monthly at the five test locations during the 1999-2000 growing season are presented in the following table. Most areas of the state continue to receive record low rainfall. Locations at Calhoun, Plains, and Tifton received only about 55 percent of normal rainfall, averaging around 15 inches less than long-term eight-month average.

1999-2000 Rainfall¹

Month	Year	Calhoun²	Griffin	Midville	Plains	Tifton

		----------------------------------------------inches------------------------------------------------
October	1999	2.97	3.69	4.27	1.93	0.73
November	1999	1.80	3.55	1.49	2.08	1.26
December	1999	1.12	2.73	1.64	2.83	2.32
January	2000	3.69	5.70	4.98	3.41	3.34
February	2000	1.63	0.96	1.08	0.96	1.90
March	2000	3.58	3.17	4.83	5.72	4.72
April	2000	5.04	1.31	0.85	1.24	1.32
May	2000	1.07	1.51	1.18	0.31	0.03

Total (8 months)		20.90	22.62	20.32	18.48	15.62
Normal (8 months)		37.91	33.43	28.12	31.55	28.09

1. Data collected by Dr. G. Hoogenboom, Georgia Station, Griffin, GA.
2. Floyd County location.

Overall, the 1999-2000 small grain growing season in Georgia was characterized by a mild and dry winter followed by a very dry and hot spring. Lack of adequate vernalization was a problem especially for the late maturing varieties. There were some trouble spots of buildup but low levels of disease and insects helped farmers produce excellent yields and test weights. Farmers not rotating ground planted to small grains is an increasing production problem.

Small grain harvest progressed rapidly during a very hot and dry May and June. Growers harvested 240,000 acres of wheat for grain. This was a 7 percent increase above last year of harvested wheat and a near record estimated 52 bushels per acre produced 29 percent more than 1999. Oat yields increased 2 bushels per acre, while rye yields were unchanged at 21 bushels per acre.