MINNESOTA AG NEWS MONTHLY CROP-WEATHER Released: March 5, 2007 Issue No. CW-09-07 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/m/ 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 for the Month of January 2007 CROW WING: We measured the snow cover yesterday at 8 inches. We're getting more snow and as of 10:30 am 2/28/07 we had 10.3 inches. Contractors are reporting frost depth at 42+ inches. Livestock look good; currently calving. An estimated 25-30% of farmers are buying hay. CHIPPEWA: Some concern about dry soil conditions coming into spring. Frost is down about three feet. Livestock are doing well, and calving has started. Feed supplies are adequate. We received over 20" of snow this past week. FARIBAULT: February ended with 25 inches of snow on the ground. According to our frost monitoring station, we measure 14+ inches of frost. This winter has not been abnormally hard on livestock, and producers who have an ample supply of feed and forage. FILLMORE: We currently have 29+ inches of snow cover. Frost is approximately 5-10 feet. Feed availability is adequate and, livestock look good. HUBBARD: We received the first substantial snowfall of the season on February 24-25 (approximately 12 inches). Frost depth ranges from 6-13 feet due to the lack of snow cover during the extended extreme cold in early February. Good feed supply for livestock. Major concerns for this coming season are how the alfalfa crop will make it through the winter and the potential for a continued drought in the area. ITASCA: Most of the month we were without snow cover. We received 10 inches of snow on February 24th. Extreme cold temperatures persisted with an average low of eighteen degrees. Livestock conditions are good. Early calves are starting to come with regularity. JACKSON: Most snow was melted away before the storm on February 24. Feed availability is [fair]. Hay jockeys are buying hay locally and hauling it south to Missouri and Oklahoma. Livestock are in good condition, but did suffer from two cold spells. KANDIYOHI: Our topsoil and subsoil moisture remain short after the recent snow fall of 20+ inches. There is some concern about winter kill on alfalfa with the hard deep frost. Hay is still in good supply. KOOCHICHING: We have about 8 to 12 inches of snow on the ground. The cows and calves seem to be doing fine here. Cattle are using well water as ponds and small steams are frozen solid. Most have adequate hay supplies. LAC QUI PARLE: County had little or no snow until the last week. We had a cold snap in mid February, but overall winter has been easy on livestock and wildlife. LINCOLN: About 16 inches of new wet snow was received at the end of February. MARTIN: Received approximately 10 inches of snow last week. Another storm system is anticipated next few days. Good moisture condition for spring. MAHNOMEN: We received 12-14 inches of needed snow from the last two storms. Survival of winter wheat and alfalfa is uncertain due to open soil and heavy frost earlier this winter. Good feed supply for cattle producers. More corn going in, but producers may change plans depending on the spring weather and market conditions. MORRISON: This winter’s first [adequate] snow cover came with the recent storms, giving the county approximately 2 feet of snow pack. This should help significantly with the drought conditions. Frost is 3-4 feet deep. NOBLES: As of March 4th, we have about 20 inches of snow. Frost is about 4 ft deep. Feed for cattle is good, but bedding is going fast. NORMAN: Snow cover during most of February has been limited with some precipitation in the last week of the month. Livestock remain in good condition, feed availability adequate. Producers are hauling in grain to elevators. There are some new fertilizer and feed policies due to volatility in the market. OLMSTED: Olmsted County reported a record snowfall of 20.1 inches of snow fall. This broke the previous February record of 19.4 inches in 1959. Average air temperature for February was 10.5 degrees, 7.9 degrees cooler than the average. Current soil moisture is considered normal for Southeastern Minnesota compared to the 1971-2000 average. OTTER TAIL: Snow depth is about 12-15 inches. Frost has gone deep. There are many reports of frozen water lines and septic systems. Feed supply is adequate due to a good forage harvest for most of the area. Moisture has been very short until recently. Runoff will be significant this spring due to the deep frost. PENNINGTON: Coldest temperatures with little to no snow cover caused frost to penetrate deep. Livestock are doing well, but hay supplies are limited for most producers due to drought conditions in 2006. POLK: About 10" of snow fell in the West Polk area during the last week of February. Lack of snow cover resulted in deep frost and some breaks in local water mains and sewer pipes. Some movement of grains from farm to elevator has been occurring this past month. RICE: As of February 26, we have 8-10 inches of snow. Land rents are working higher. Livestock are doing fairly well, and feed supplies are adequate. Farmers are busy enrolling for 2007. ROCK: Five inches of snow fell February 23-25, with more expected this week. Feed availability and livestock conditions are good. Calving has started. Good moisture supply. Some manure is being spread now. Nutrient management planning is in full swing for crop year 2007. RENVILLE: This past week our area received close to 15" of snow. Feed supplies seem to be adequate for the area. At this time it's difficult to believe that some farmers will be out in the fields planting early peas in a month!!!! SIBLEY: Snow is about 24 inches deep. Farmers were cleaning barns before the heavy snows came. This snow should help soil moisture in the area since the ground was starting to soften up. STEARNS: The county was short on snow until the last week’s storm which brought 12 to 15 inches. This should help [protect] the alfalfa and grasses. The moisture is really needed in central MN. Livestock are doing well, and feed supplies are adequate. STEVENS: Received 13 inches of snow the weekend of February 24-25. Frost is three feet deep. County [subsoil] is dry. TRAVERSE: Very little snow until the last week of February when about 8" fell in Traverse County. Frost depth remains in the 2-3' range. WADENA: About 2 feet of new snow from the week. Wind caused some drifting. Cattle are starting to calve. Some early calves were lost in the cold weather. Forage supplies seem adequate. Producers are getting ready for summer with improved outlook for the year. WRIGHT: Very little snow cover until last week of the month. Soil moisture is low. The snow should help streams recharge. Looking forward to a mild March after the severe cold of mid-Feb. PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE SUMMARY FOR February, 2007: Temperatures during February averaged 8.9 degrees across the state, 7.4 degrees colder than normal. Average temperature in the Northwest District was 3.2 degrees, 8.0 degrees colder than normal. Temperature extremes included a low of -34 degrees at Itasca, and a high of 54 degrees at Lamberton. Precipitation averaged from 0.13 inch above normal in the Northeast District to 1.28 inches above normal in the South Central District. Greatest monthly precipitation of 2.46 inches was recorded in Preston. Precipitation and Temperature Summary for February 2007 Temperature Precipitation High Low Month Dept. Month Dept. Ave for Total for Month Month NW DIST 1 Crookston 38 -28 2.6 -8.6 .45 -.09 Moorhead 42 -28 6.6 -7.5 .86 .27 Warroad 32 -32 .5 -7.9 .77 .22 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 44 -27 7.9 -6.1 .97 .36 Intl. Falls 36 -32 2.6 -8.3 .52 -.12 Itasca 41 -34 4.5 -5.8 1.04 .41 NE DIST 3 Duluth 41 -25 8.0 -6.8 1.49 .66 Grand Marais 34 -20 12.4 -6.1 .39 -.17 Hibbing 43 -30 5.6 -7.1 .49 -.11 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 42 -21 8.5 -6.8 .48 -.19 Browns Valley 46 -17 10.3 -6.8 1.46 .79 Canby 51 -17 12.2 -8.3 1.75 1.00 Fergus Falls 42 -24 6.6 -6.8 1.17 .59 Montevideo 50 -17 11.6 -5.1 2.04 1.13 Morris 46 -22 6.7 -8.7 1.82 1.13 CENT DIST 5 Becker 27m-22m 1.5m-14.6m 1.34 .65 Collegeville 48 -21 12.4 -5.8 1.71 .98 Hutchinson 47 -21 11.6 -5.7 1.03 .50 Olivia 49 -19 10.1 -6.5 1.57 1.12 St. Cloud 48 -22 10.9 -5.2 1.50 .91 Staples 45 -30 6.4 -7.1 .88 .27 Willmar 47 -19 10.6 -5.6 1.73 1.11 EC DIST 6 Aitkin 46 -26 8.5 -5.8 1.05 .37 Forest Lake 53 -23 11.3 -5.6 1.06 .26 MSP Airport 47 -17 13.4 -6.7 1.35 .56 St. Paul - UofM 47 -19 13.5 -8.1 1.02 .24 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 54 -15 12.0 -6.7 .93 .40 Pipestone 46 -22 9.3 -8.7 1.52 1.01 Redwood Falls 51 -16 11.5 -8.3 1.15 .54 Worthington 45 -17 10.2 -7.8 1.31 .70 SC DIST 8 Faribault 49 -20 10.4 -7.1 1.84 1.12 Mankato 51 -16 11.0 -8.4 1.82 1.20 Waseca 46 -24 9.4 -8.5 2.02 1.07 Winnebago 44 -18 10.5 -8.3 2.43 1.74 SE DIST 9 Preston 45 -25 9.6 -9.6 2.46 1.60 Red Wing 53 -21 11.2 -7.3 1.20 .56 Rochester 43 -21 10.5 -7.9 1.62 .87 Rosemount 49 -20 11.7 -5.4 1.95 1.09 Winona 52 -17 12.3 -9.6 2.03 1.19 m=some data missing ============================================================================================== MINNESOTA AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE PO Box 7068, ST. PAUL MN 55107 MONTHLY NEWS REPORT Minnesota Crop-Weather Report Publication No. 387190 PRSRT STD POSTAGE & FEES PAID USDA-NASS PERMIT NO. G-38Address Service Requested