The Georgia Agricultural
Experiment Station
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
The University of Georgia
Research Report Number 673
August 2001
As the fall of 2000 approached Georgia, small grain producers again were confronted with planting into hot, dry soil for the third consecutive year. A wet November over much of the state eased the challenge and the crop was planted at a near normal pace. Wheat acreage planted was estimated at 300,000 acres, the same as the previous year, but 20 percent more than two years ago. Oat acreage was 70,000 acres, a 17 percent increase over last year. Acres planted to rye remained steady at 230,000 acres.
Rainfall amounts recorded monthly at the six test locations during the 2000-2001 growing season are presented in the following table. Lack of adequate rainfall occurred during most of the small grain growing season this year. Most areas of the state continue to receive less than normal rainfall. Only one location -- Plains -- of the five in Georgia received above normal rainfall for the nine-month average and most of that (58%) occurred during March and June.
| 2000-2001 Rainfall1 | |||||||
| Month | Year | Cahoun2 | Griffin | Midville | Plains | Tifton | Marianna, FL |
| ------------------------------------------- inches ------------------------------------------- | |||||||
| October | 2000 | 0.22 | 0.65 | 0.57 | 0.45 | 1.11 | 0.71 |
| November | 2000 | 4.95 | 5.06 | 3.78 | 4.00 | 3.37 | 4.43 |
| December | 2000 | 1.59 | 3.77 | 3.24 | 4.97 | 3.25 | 3.21 |
| January | 2001 | 4.37 | 2.77 | 1.96 | 2.25 | 1.91 | 2.16 |
| February | 2001 | 3.25 | 3.24 | 1.45 | 0.45 | 0.63 | 0.82 |
| March | 2001 | 6.38 | 9.79 | 8.30 | 10.67 | 9.95 | 10.00 |
| April | 2001 | 2.05 | 3.23 | 1.44 | 2.39 | 1.69 | 1.99 |
| May | 2001 | 3.75 | 2.65 | 2.09 | 1.33 | 1.51 | 2.52 |
| June | 2001 | 5.36 | 5.46 | 4.00 | 11.57 | 6.95 | 8.24 |
| - | |||||||
| Total (9 months) | 31.92 | 36.62 | 26.83 | 38.08 | 30.37 | 34.08 | |
| Normal (9 months) | 41.90 | 37.68 | 32.11 | 36.27 | 32.51 | 38.51 | |
| 1. Data
collected by Dr. G. Hoogenboom, Georgia Station, Griffin, GA. 2. Floyd County location. |
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Overall, the 2000-2001 small grain growing season in Georgia was characterized by a cold fall and winter. The cold weather helped keep in check small grain diseases and insects. There were some trouble spots and buildup of cereal leaf beetle as this insect continues to increase in population across the state. Low levels of disease and insects helped farmers produce high yields and test weights.
Although heavy rain, high wind and hail brought in by Tropical Storm Allison during June caused damage and lodging in many producers' fields, only one of our tests (Plains) was affected. Wet fields and high humidity in June delayed harvest, decreased crop quality (especially test weight) and caused seed sprouting in the head. Georgia wheat yields for the 2000-2001 season are estimated at 53 bushels per acre (1 bu/ac off last year's record) from 220,000 acres harvested, producing an increase of 8 percent in production over last year.