by\u00a0Adam N. Rabinowitz and Yangxuan Liu<\/p>\n
Southern Georgia has seen a lot of rain during the month of May.\u00a0 The table below shows the precipitation and number of rainy days in 2018 compared to the average from 2015-2017 for four selected areas in southern GA.\u00a0 Precipitation in 2018 has been, on average, more than twice that of the previous three years.\u00a0 The number of rainy days has also been more than twice the previous three-year average.<\/p>\n
| Southern Georgia Rainfall Data for May 1 through May 29<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| <\/td>\n | 2018<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | 2015-2017 Average<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| <\/td>\n | Precip. (in)<\/td>\n | # Rainy days<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | Precip. (in)<\/td>\n | # Rainy days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tifton<\/td>\n | 6.91<\/td>\n | 14<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | 2.02<\/td>\n | 6.33<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Camilla<\/td>\n | 5.16<\/td>\n | 13<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | 3.26<\/td>\n | 5.33<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Midville<\/td>\n | 6.74<\/td>\n | 14<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | 2.98<\/td>\n | 7.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plains<\/td>\n | 7.11<\/td>\n | 14<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | 2.94<\/td>\n | 6.33<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: https:\/\/weather.uga.edu<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Subsequently, planting issues have occurred for farmers who typically plant cotton and peanuts during the month of May.\u00a0 According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, only 65% of cotton and 73% of peanuts have been planted through May 27th<\/sup>.\u00a0 This compares to an average of 72% for cotton and 81% for peanuts for the similar period during 2015-2017.\u00a0 With saturated fields and more rain in the forecast, farmers need to start thinking about whether all their intended plantings will occur following sound agricultural practices.\u00a0 It is also important to think about how this relates to their crop insurance policy, planting deadlines, and prevented planting eligibility for 2018.<\/p>\n Over 90% of Georgia peanut and cotton farmers typically select some form of crop insurance coverage.\u00a0 Included in this coverage is a prevented planting provision that provides payments when extreme weather conditions prevent expected plantings by the final planting date or during the late planting period.\u00a0 The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) announces the final and late planting dates, which vary by crop, coverage type, and county.\u00a0 The table below identifies the final planting date and the end of the late planting period for peanuts and cotton in GA.\u00a0 Coverage during the late planting period is reduced by 1% for each day after the final planting date, up to the end of the late planting period.<\/p>\n If planting by these deadlines is not possible, it is important that farmers maintain proper records that document the cause.\u00a0 Keep in mind that planting decisions must be based on sound agronomic and crop management practices.\u00a0 If it appears that it will be difficult to finish planting by the final planting date or during the late planting period, farmers should contact their crop insurance agent and discuss their options.<\/p>\n |