MINNESOTA AG NEWS MONTHLY CROP-WEATHER Released: JANUARY 3, 2007 Issue No. CW-52-06 USDA, NASS, MINNESOTA FIELD OFFICE, IN COOPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE - CHANHASSEN MN, UNIV. OF MINN. EXTENSION SERVICE, DNR STATE CLIMATOLOGY OFFICE, USDA-FSA, AND USDA-NRCS The following comments are from Minnesota’s County Extension Educators, FSA (USDA - Farm Service Agency), and NRCS (USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service) Offices DODGE: Currently moisture levels are adequate due to recent rainfall. Unseasonable temperatures have eliminated all snow cover. Large amounts of grain is being carried over from 2005 and 2006 into the new year. Feed availability is adequate. FARIBAULT: Faribault county farmers had time to finish field work and fertilize for next year. As of yet, there is no snow cover. Farmers are getting concerned about spring moisture, though we did get rain this fall. Livestock is fairing well with mild weather. HUBBARD: A majority of the corn has been harvested with very few fields still standing. Feed availability is generally pretty good with somewhat of a shortage of hay, due to last summer’s drought conditions. Livestock conditions continue to be good. We have had very mild weather conditions to date, with no snow on the ground as of 12-20-2006. JACKSON: No snow to date. We received 0.75" of rain just before Christmas - over an inch in December. This should help surface [moisture] recharge. The temps have been above normal and the ice has melted so the alfalfa fields should be ok. Stock cows are still on corn fields and just now are starting to be fed additional hay. Due to rain and temperature changes, some health problems were reported in calves.. All fields have been harvested. KANABEC: Livestock are doing fine with this warm weather. Snow cover is minimal. KANDIYOHI: After finally getting some rain in Sept, the balance of the fall was very dry. All field work done. It appears that many farmers were trying to do secondary tillage on corn stalks to bury more residue for corn on corn and sugar beets on corn. We will need [frequent] spring and in-season rains to get a good crop. This year’s crop was raised on subsoil moisture, but there is no subsoil moisture in our area for the 2007 crop. The pre-Christmas rain and snow didn't amount to much. KITTSON: Fall weather conditions were ideal to complete harvest and majority of desired fieldwork. Weather conditions have been mild for December. Minimal snow cover at that time. Area elevators moving 2006 crop. Livestock feed supplies adequate. KOOCHICHING: We have about 5" of snow, the frost is about 6". Good [weather] for the cows and young stock. LAC QUI PARLE: Late fall and early winter has been very quiet. Fall work was all done under excellent conditions. Livestock and wildlife are in good shape. Very little rainfall since September, and soil moisture levels are low. We have absolutely no snow cover. LE SUEUR: Feed supplies are adequate. No snow. Warm temps have resulted in a shallow frost. Livestock are in excellent condition. No unharvested corn in the area. MAHNOMEN: No snow and mild temps have reduced the [feed volume needed] for cattle, which is good as summer drought reduced forage availability. We didn’t get the subsoil recharge [in the fall] as was hoped for. MARTIN: Excellent fall weather conditions have allowed for all crops to be harvested. No snow yet, but moisture would be welcomed. MORRISON: As of December 26th, only 1/2 to 1 inch of snow on the ground. Livestock conditions have been fairly good. It has been very warm during the last three weeks, after starting off so cold. Hopefully the alfalfa and fall seeded small grains are handling the everyday freezing and thawing. We are definitely still in a very serious drought. We are hoping for some good spring soaking rains before planting next April. MURRY: Little or no snow cover and very little unharvested crops. Livestock grazing is favorable with adequate feed availability due to the lack of snow. NICOLLET: Land rent is a hot topic. Farmers and lenders are concerned about this and other rising input costs. NOBLES: The weather has been very [mild] during this late fall and early winter, although frost is in about 1 to 2 feet. We have had 3/4`s of an inch of rain instead of snow, so we do have ice. Fields are tilled, and all the corn has been harvested. Livestock conditions are good, and mild temps will encourage excellent performance. NORMAN: All of the corn in Norman County has been harvested. There is very little snow cover. The only amounts of snow can be found in road ditches and along tree rows and forested areas. All field work and ditching was completed. Concern about subsoil moisture in eastern part of county. Concern for soil (wind) erosion on open fields. OLMSTED: Zero snow cover. Tile lines are running. Frost depth 12 to 12.5 inches. OTTER TAIL: Early December cold has been replaced by late December warm weather which has been good for livestock feed consumption; there seems to be enough feed in the area. Livestock are in very good shape. Less than 1 inch of new snow is on the ground in surrounding areas. Frost is less than 12 inches. There is very little unharvested corn although there has been a little left in some areas for the wildlife. All other crops are harvested. PINE: About 1" snow cover. Frost depth is 6" to 1 ft. Livestock in good condition. Corn all harvested, 65% of fieldwork completed. PIPESTONE: Little or no snow cover and very little unharvested crops. Livestock grazing is favorable with adequate feed availability due to the lack of snow. POLK: Very little to no snow cover as of 12-21-06. Very good crop harvest in the Crookston area. Very little sub-soil moisture. Unseasonable dry and warm. First recordable snowfall on Dec 30 in evening. Approximately 4 inches of wet sticky snow. RENVILLE: Livestock conditions in the county have been excellent up to this point as we have had over 1/2 inch of rain in late November, and again the third week of December. No snow cover at this time. Feed availability has been good. RICE: All crops have been harvested. A great fall for tillage, fertilization, and manure hauling. Feed supplies are good and livestock doing well with the mild winter weather. SIBLEY: Good feed supply, no snow cover, frost about 6 inches, livestock good, crops all out, soil moisture low. STEARNS: Trace amount of snow cover on 12/23. Mild weather conditions this fall and winter find livestock in excellent condition; feed supplies are adequate. No corn in the field as of December 23. TRAVERSE: Only a trace of snow has fallen and very little remains. Very little corn remains unharvested. The above average temperatures have aided with livestock health and feed supplies. Thank you for your comments. Jacob Carter Douglas A. Hartwig Mathematical Statistician Director ============================================================================================ PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER, 2006: Temperatures during December averaged from 9.2 degrees above normal in the Northeast District to 11.1 degrees above normal in the Northwest District. Temperature extremes included a low of -16 degrees at Warroad and Olivia, and a high of 67 degrees at Browns Valley. Precipitation averaged from 0.33 inches above normal in the West Central District to 1.19 inches above normal in the Southwest District. Greatest monthly precipitation of 2.13 inches was recorded in Minneapolis. Precipitation and Temperature Summary for December 2006 Temperature Precipitation High Low Month Dept. Month Dept. Ave for Total for Month Month NW DIST 1 Crookston 40 -11 21.3 10.7 .94 .44 Moorhead 50 -9 25.5 13.0 1.06 .49 Warroad 38 -16 17.7 9.7 .81 .18 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 51 -10 23.5 11.4 1.36 .50 Intl. Falls 41 -12 18.2 9.7 1.00 .30 Itasca 47 -14 21.4 12.0 1.18 .43 NE DIST 3 Duluth 41 -7 23.9 9.9 1.22 .28 Grand Marais 43 -1 27.4 8.0 2.08 1.29 Hibbing 46 -11 20.4 9.6 .78 .05 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 50 -8 25.0 11.3 .68 .10 Browns Valley 67 -5 25.6 10.1 1.08 .55 Canby 61 -5 27.8 8.9 .95 .25 Fergus Falls 50 -10 24.6 11.8 1.27 .77 Montevideo 57 -5 27.0 11.5 .36 -.35 Morris 56 -6 24.6 10.0 1.22 .64 CENT DIST 5 Becker 48 -4 26.0 11.6 1.84 1.01 Collegeville 53 -5 27.3 11.3 1.51 .77 Hutchinson 50 -4 27.0 11.3 1.50 .75 Olivia 54 -16 25.4 10.1 2.03 1.51 St. Cloud 47 -5 25.6 11.2 1.53 .84 Staples 51 -11 23.0 10.5 1.05 .45 Willmar 53 -5 25.8 11.1 1.18 .52 EC DIST 6 Aitkin M M M M M M Forest Lake 50 -3 27.4 11.4 1.49 .52 MSP Airport 50 -1 29.1 10.4 2.13 1.13 St. Paul - UofM 48 -2 29.5 10.1 1.85 .81 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 57 -3 27.2 10.0 1.91 1.33 Pipestone 52 -7 24.6 8.1 1.23 .63 Redwood Falls 56 -3 27.6 9.6 1.98 1.38 Worthington 52 -5 26.4 9.9 1.87 1.17 SC DIST 8 Faribault 49 -1 27.8 10.1 1.74 .72 Mankato 52 -2 28.2 10.3 1.66 .67 Waseca 50 -3 27.4 10.6 1.37 -.03 Winnebago 51 -3 27.6 10.1 1.97 .96 SE DIST 9 Preston 50 2 28.0 9.5 1.40 .11 Red Wing 49 1 27.8 9.3 1.56 .70 Rochester 48 0 29.0 11.7 2.03 1.01 Rosemount 50 -2 28.4 12.5 1.89 .76 Winona 51 4 29.4 8.0 1.05 .02 m=some data missing MONTHLY NEWS REPORT Minnesota Crop-Weather Report Publication No. 387190 USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office MN Dept. Of Agriculture P.O. Box 7068 St Paul, MN 55107 Phone: (651)296-2230 E-Mail: nass-mn@nass.usda.gov Homepage:http://www.nass.usda.gov/mn