mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending Date Week Ending September 14, 2008 Issue MN-CW-37-08 Agricultural Summary Minnesota's small grain harvest is nearly complete as the spring wheat crop reached 97 percent harvested during the past week, according to USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. Precipitation received across the state was generally welcomed by farmers and increased topsoil moisture supplies. The majority of the soybean crop reached the yellowing stage of development while some of the earliest planted corn was mature. Crop progress of both corn and soybeans, however, remained behind last year and average. Field Crops Summary The average temperature for the week was 56.6 degrees, 3.0 degrees below normal. Statewide topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday, September 12th were 9 percent very short, 30 short, 55 adequate, and 6 surplus. Statewide, on average, there were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week. As of Sunday, September 14th, 97 percent of corn had reached the dough stage compared to 100 percent last year and 97 percent average. Eighty-one percent of corn was in the dent stage compared to 99 percent last year and 87 percent average. Corn was 6 percent mature, compared to 61 percent last year, and 31 percent average. Soybeans were 70 percent turning yellow compared to 94 percent last year and 83 percent average. Eighteen percent of soybeans were dropping leaves compared to 71 percent last year and 49 percent average. As of Friday, September 12th, 62 percent of corn and 65 percent of soybeans were rated in good or excellent condition. Sixty-five percent of dry beans, 77 percent of sunflowers and sugarbeets, and 31 percent of pasture were rated in good or excellent condition. Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 5.4 Soil Moisture Table Very Short Short Adequate Surplus Topsoil Moisture (%) 9 30 55 6 Crop Progress Table Crop Progress as of September 14, 2008 Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr Crop Development Week Week Year Avg Percent Corn Dough 97 94 100 97 Dent 81 61 99 87 Mature 6 2 61 31 Corn Silage Harvested 35 17 77 56 Soybeans Turning Yellow 70 41 94 83 Dropping Leaves 18 5 71 49 Spring Wheat Harvested 97 87 100 91 Sugarbeets Harvested 3 0 7 5 Potatoes Harvested 36 30 46 45 Sweet Corn Harvested 78 69 90 83 Canola Harvested 60 53 97 89 Dry Beans Harvested 37 16 36 30 Crop Condition Table Crop Condition as of September 12, 2008 in % Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc Corn 5 9 24 52 10 Soybeans 3 7 25 49 16 Potatoes 0 1 9 50 40 Sugarbeets 1 1 21 46 31 Dry Beans 2 4 29 49 16 Sunflowers 0 2 21 55 22 Pasture 12 24 33 29 2 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 9/8/2008 through 9/14/2008 Temperature Precipitation G D D High Low Week Depart Week Depart From Norm Since Depart Ave from Total Past Four Since May from Norm Week Weeks 4/1 14 Norm NW DIST 1 Moorhead 74 39 57.1 -2.6 1.70 1.19 2.70 7.11 1991 -122 Warroad 73 36 54.8 -1.0 1.49 .85 1.46 3.13 1590 -178 Grand Rapids 75 36 53.7 -2.7 .82 .09 -1.07 -.95 1751 -14 NC DIST 2 Intl. Falls 70 33 51.1 -3.7 2.29 1.55 .93 2.65 1432 -219 Itasca 73 34 52.4 -2.5 2.23 1.52 .88 2.65 1621 -40 Duluth 70 38 53.7 -2.5 1.25 .22 -.09 1.33 1503 -61 NE DIST 3 Grand Marais 62 42 53.0 -3.6 .75 -.06 .15 5.71 1099 -122 Hibbing 73 31 50.0 -5.1 .77 .01 -1.23 -1.55 1464 -146 Alexandria 71 41 55.7 -3.8 1.31 .65 -.67 -1.42 1952 -74 WC DIST 4 Browns Valley 73 36 55.8 -5.7 1.20 .76 .80 3.55 2056 -180 Canby 77 42 60.0 -3.2 .30 -.27 -1.82 -2.29 2234 -115 Fergus Falls 73 40 57.4 -2.2 1.32 .80 .24 .71 1954 -100 Montevideo 74 37 58.6 -3.2 1.58 1.04 -.04 -2.39 2099 -132 Morris 73 34 56.5 -4.2 1.43 .93 -.32 -1.96 1979 -188 Becker 73 38 57.7 -1.8 1.34 .56 1.72 -.25 2120 74 CENT DIST 5 Collegeville 73 42 58.8 -3.7 1.29 .52 -.56 .93 2172 -96 Hutchinson 79 40 59.1 -2.7 .79 .21 1.56 -.86 2158 -86 Olivia 78 38 56.4 -4.3 1.30 .63 1.55 .98 2024 -160 St. Cloud 70 34 55.7 -3.3 2.30 1.58 .65 .69 1996 1 Staples 71 33 53.8 -3.7 1.27 .66 -.53 -1.98 1735 -72 Willmar 74 39 57.4 -3.7 1.02 .34 .13 -3.23 2118 -65 Aitkin 68 40 53.8 -2.9 1.10 .40 -1.47 -2.21 1768 58 EC DIST 6 Forest Lake 76 42 59.6 -1.2 .82 .01 -1.77 -1.73 2110 -25 Hinckley 71 31 52.8 -4.2 3.05 2.26 3.02 5.46m 1559m -235m MSP Airport 78 45 61.0 -1.6 .96 .30 .11 -4.46 2418 85 St. Paul - UofM 77 43 61.3 -2.5 .91 .13 -1.11 -6.40 2358 -38 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 78 39 58.6 -3.2 .83 .20 -.97 -2.78 2194 -78 Pipestone 72 38 56.2 -4.8 .62 -.04 -1.50 -1.05 2017 -174 Redwood Falls 81 38 59.3 -4.0 .74 .13 .42 -1.54 2220 -183 Worthington 73 41 57.7 -3.0 .22 -.41 -1.37 1.04 2149 13 SC DIST 8 Faribault 79 39 59.0 -2.4 .47 -.32 -1.86 -1.83 2135 -42 Mankato 78 38 59.4 -2.6 .26 -.50 -2.03 -4.68 2150 -117 Waseca 81 35 59.0 -2.9 .65 -.13 -2.12 -1.66 2119 -93 Winnebago 82 39 60.2 -2.7 .41 -.23 -1.88 -3.34 2274 -16 SE DIST 9 Preston 77 35 60.2 -.9 .41 -.48 -2.30 5.73 2101 5 Red Wing 75 41 59.5 -2.7 .60 -.26 -1.27 -2.19 2186 -68 Rochester 79 40 59.3 -1.3 .37 -.40 -1.75 -.52 2143 78 Rosemount 78 41 59.2 -2.2 .80 -.07 -1.21 -3.61 2123 -29 Winona 77 44 58.6 -4.0 .39 -.47 -1.98 2.34 2102 -187 m=some data missing Corn growing degree days (GDD) are calculated by subtracting a 50 degree base temperature from the average of the maximum and minimum temperature for the day. The daily maximum is limited to 86 degrees and minimum of 50 degrees. Contact Information 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 USDA-NASS MINNESOTA FIELD OFFICE Minnesota Department of Agriculture PO Box 7068, St. Paul, MN 55107 Phone: (651) 296-2230 E-mail: nass-mn@nass.usda.gov Homepage: http://www.nass.usda.gov/mn/