Excerpts from from the weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report issued each Monday afternoon from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Alabama Field Office, Montgomery:
RAIN SITUATION
* Gadsden only 32.49 inches of rain this year, a deficiency of 13.23
* Pinson 47.02 inches already an excess of 0.27
* Russellville has a deficiency of 13.89 inches so far.
* Thorsby, in the center of Alabama, a deficiency of 9.44 inches.
* Alexander City, East Central Alabama, a shortage of 12.34 inches
* Jasper has received 51.55 inches, an excess of 3.58 inches.
HOW DRY IS IT?
* 100% of Alabama now abnormally dry
* 93% moderately dry
* 44.6% severely dry
* 12% extremely dry
* 64% of Alabama was abnormally dry three months ago
* 100% of Alabama was free of drought at this time a year ago
CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
* 36% of winter wheat has been planted
* 79% of soybeans harvested
* 76% of cotton harvested
* 80% of peanuts have been dug
PASTURE AND RANGE LAND AND TOP SOIL MOISTURE
* 28% pasture and range land very poor condition
* 36% of state has very short top soil moisture
* 61% was very short a week ago
So, recent rains have helped.
