• The latest 7 day QPF map shows that a wetter week is in store for most of the Southeast.  This is welcome news for areas where drought has expanded in recent weeks.  But the longer-term forecast is still for above normal temperatures through the summer, which will increase evaporation and evapotranspiration, putting more stress on…

    Posted in:
  • Brad Haire of the Southeast Farm Press reported this week that periods of dry weather punctuated by downpours led to problems with establishment of cotton around the state.  He quoted Jared Whitaker, UGA Cotton Specialist, as saying “The planting window was very dry during most of the period but interrupted with big rainfall events. With dry…

    Posted in: ,
  • Summer in the Northern Hemisphere is generally the time when the monsoon develops in India.  The monsoon provides the major rain that allows crops to grow in that country, and the failure of the monsoon causes immense suffering, crop damage and famine in the area. Even though you might think that “monsoon” is just a…

    Posted in: ,
  • This morning’s new Drought Monitor shows that while the total drought area decreased slightly from last week, the area of severe drought expanded in Georgia and Alabama.  With the high pressure center parked over us and excessive heat and little rain forecast for this weekend, the drought is likely to expand further in next week’s…

    Posted in:
  • Earlier this week Jonathan Belles at the WunderBlog discussed whether having the record earliest “D” tropical storm in the Atlantic Ocean predicted what the activity would be for the rest of the season.  You can watch a video and read about it here. Based on his statistics, seasons that are active early don’t really indicate…

    Posted in: ,
  • Need information about bugs, fungi, weeds and other staff that might be getting between you and a healthy forest? Register now for a Forest Health & Invasive Species Workshop to take place June 30, 2016 in Talbot County, Georgia. Attached is a flyer with information. To register please e-mail solomob@fvsu.edu.

    Posted in: , ,
  • The Packer reported this week that the sweet corn season is winding down in Georgia, just about at the average time for ending the harvest here.  They noted that Georgia corn yields are expected to be lighter than usual due to heavy rains in some areas, which could lead to reduced supplies going into the…

    Posted in: ,