CONDENSED STATE SUMMARIES
These summaries provide brief descriptions of condition and activities important on a national scale. Detailed reports of crop and weather conditions during the growing season are contained in State issues of Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletins published by field offices of the Statistical Reporting Service, U.S.D.A. in cooperation with NOAA State Climatologists.
ALABAMA: Mostly fair and very cold first half of period, becoming cloudy aud quite warm with occasional rain last half. Hard freeze all sections Tuesday night with readings in 70’s by Friday. Precipitation very heavy extreme north, light extreme south, and moderate to heavy elsewhere. Early planting late spring Irish potatoes underway, but interrupted by weekend showers. Considerable land prepared. Planting will resume as fields dry. Other fieldwork slow and consisted of limited stalk cutting, plowing, fertilization. Farmers mostly occupied preparing records, making plans, and caring for livestock and poultry. Cold weather stopped or slowed growth of small grain. Slight freeze damage occurred in scattered localities. Overall crop condition mostly fair to good.
ARIZONA: No snow at any reporting station, Skies mostly clear and temperatures much above normal. No precipitation reported. Warm weather past week accelerated small grain emergence and growth. Planting continues active central and southwest, completion expected mid-February. Shredding and plowing cotton well along most areas, Safflower planting continues limited scale. Fall-planted sugar beets making good progress. Mixed vegetable harvest Salt River Valley near seasonal volume. Spring lettuce growth generally slow. Lettuce planting making good progress Pima and Pinal Counties. Harvest lettuce and vegetables continued Yuma area. Land preparations for melons and tomatoes continue. Land preparation for spring planting underway Cochise County. Harvest of sweet oranges, some navels, few lemons, grapefruit and tangerines continue Salt River Valley. Navel orange harvest nearing completion. Harvest of navel and sweet oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and tangerines continued limited scale Yuma area. Most ranges providing near average feed. Supplemental feeding higher elevations. Stock water short to adequate. Livestock condition fair.
ARKANSAS: Weekly temperatures near seasonal normals except near 5° below normal northeast. Weekly averages wid-30's northeast and mid-40's southwest. Daily extremes: 9° to 75°, Precipitation 0.50 to 2.00 inches southeast half over weekend. Heaviest extreme south, Trace to 0.25 inch elsewhere. Heaviest total 2.44 inches at El Dorado, Wet fields continue limit field activity. No freezing weather during week to firm up fields to support harvest machinery. Little progress with end-of-season gathering of cotton and soybeans, Mild weather stimulated growth small grains, and these crops good to excellent. Livestock generally on full maintenance rations with feed supplies mostly adequate.
CALIFORNIA: Very warm first half of week, cooler last half. Record January maximum temperatures at Santa Maria, in Los Angeles Basin, at several desert locations. Average temperatures for week 5° or more above normal over State, 10° to 14° above normal south of Tehachapis and interior basins. Moderate rain and strong winds northwestern 1/3 on Friday and Saturday, much valley fog at midweek, Break in storm activity and warmer weather aided crop development. Small grains generally good condition. Some barley and wheat replanting expected. Sugar beets show good growth. Alfalfa being cut for greenchop south. Cotton plowdown active as fields dry. Cultural practices continue vineyards and orchards. Warmer weather causing almond buds to swell. Navel orange harvest active; some freeze damage showing. Harvest lemons continues; very little frost damage. Fruit sizing well; some brown rot showing up. Harvest avocados continues, quality mostly good; some frost damage. Picking grapefruit and tangerines continues, Warmer temperatures increasing valley, foothill range grass growth. Supplemental feeding continues Eastside, San Joaquin Valley, areas north. Record snow depth Sierras promises adequate stock water summer months, Calving, lambing operations active Sacramento Valley, north coast, Imperial asparagus underway; very light volume. Broccoli supplies light to moderate, Imperial cabbage light. Salinas carrots light, to be completed around February 1. Imperial volume light. South coast cauliflower moderate. Bay area and central coast light, increasing as weather improves. Celery supplies all districts lighter due market conditions. Imperial lettuce increased; moderate volume. Winter potato harvest continuing. Very light strawberry supplies southern California.
COLORADO: Unseasonal warmth. Temperature averages 10° to 20° above normal. Maximums in 60's and 70’s east portion. Scattered light rains east. Light to moderate rain or snow mountains. Few northern mountains locally heavier. Winter wheat and barley condition good most areas. Strong winds drying surface soil. Light damage to wheat by blowing soil. Moisture needed most areas, Continued warm weather could cause winter wheat to break dormancy too soon. Range and pasture supplying ample forage. Crop residue stili providing some feed, Hay and forage supplies adequate, limited supplemental feeding. Livestock condition generally good.
FLORIDA: Average weekly temperatures plummeted 9° to 12° below normal as a cold wave swept into Florida on Tuesday, bringing the most severe freeze of the 1970-71 season and the worst freeze since December 1962. Record low temperatures were set throughout State 20th and 21st. Rapid warming on Thursday and Friday brought temperatures back to above normal on weekend, Scattered showers accompanied frontal passage. Showers more numerous in south Florida where precipitation averaged 0.50 inch. Freeze damaged sugarcane in colder locations, limited lateral bud and more terminal bud damage. Plant cane minor damage. Small grain growth slowed, most pastures damaged by freeze, grazing short, supplemental feeding resumed, cattle condition declined. Most all citrus areas below freezing January 20 and 21. Light to hard ice in some fruit, no loss determination yet. Defoliation of young trees moderate to heavy. Old trees moderate to light. Vegetable damage moderate to severe. Reduced winter supplies in prospect most commodities, variable supplies. Cabbage, tomatoes, celery lead shipments. Escarole fair supply. Dade winter potatoes sustained minor burns. More severe Fort Myers. Spring potatoes where uncovered damaged, but should
