mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Monthly Crop-Weather Released: March 2, 2009 Issue No: CW-09-09 COOPERATING WITH THE MN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 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 BECKER- MAHNOMEN: Snow cover is approximately 2 feet. Feed supplies are still adequate even though livestock have been consuming extra feed as snow cover is still deep. Temperatures have been milder this month compared to January. The ground has a surplus of moisture as we were extremely wet at freeze up. BROWN: Frost very deep this winter with some reports of frozen water pipes. Feed availability is excellent. Livestock are in good condition. Much concern about milk prices. Limited thawing due to cold temperatures. Snow cover on fields is minimal. Moisture supplies are adequate. Active cash flow planning. CARVER: Warmer temperatures and a break from snow have made it easier on producers and livestock. CROW WING: Getting more snow to cover ground. A few patches of soil were showing. Feed availability is good. Livestock are in good condition. Many farmers are busy calving. Moisture looks great. DOUGLAS: This area has nearly 100% snow cover with a thick crust of ice on top of the snow. GRANT: With the extremely cold weather and heavy snow, livestock are in need of larger feed quantities which, coupled with prices of livestock and input costs, is causing many producers to consider ways of reducing production costs. The snow cover will also benefit the ground water restoration and winter wheat and alfalfa survival. It is also causing concern about the amount and extent of flooding that will occur at snow melt. The amount of snow and low average temperatures may mean a later spring planting season. HUBBARD: Most producers planning for spring planting by ordering seed and contacting fertilizer dealers. The snow cover persists with 4 to 10 inches covering most fields and 12 inches plus in wooded areas. Rain received earlier this month has created a hard crust on the snow. Livestock feed continues to be adequate and livestock condition seems good. Some corn standing in the field waiting for spring harvest. ITASCA: Temperature went up mid month and melted quite a bit of snow but it was cold most of the month. Cold temperatures and feed prices have been a challenge for farmers to keep the condition of cattle good. JACKSON: Jackson received 4 inches of snow the last week of February. Frost is getting 5 to 6 feet deep in unprotected areas. February was warmer and milder than December and January. Livestock are in good condition. Feed stocks are adequate. KANABEC: Received another 6 to 8 inches of snow that should help with extra soil moisture if it does not run off with a thaw. Frost is 18 to 24 inches. There is plenty of hay and grain at this point and the livestock are doing well. KOOCHICHING: Two feet of hard packed snow on the ground at the present time. The cows are doing well, getting ready for calving. My fall calves are doing very good, eating up a storm. Hay stocks are very good. LAC QUI PARLE: Overall, with the above freezing temperatures earlier in the month, the area saw a lot of snow melt away. Grain seems to be storing well for now, but producers will need to keep a close eye on it. LINCOLN: Fields are mostly bare after 2/3 of the snow melted. Lots of snow in the trees and ditches. Lambing is about done. Calving is soon to begin. Lots of corn being marketed. Ample feed available. MCLEOD: Warm temperatures and rain in mid-February almost cleared out the snow entirely. Very little snow cover for the month until February 26. Accumulation of 5-7 inches of snow on that date. Feed availability is good and farmers have reported that the mild weather has helped the livestock, which suffered through bitter cold temperatures in January. Moisture supply is average or slightly above average. The depth of frost is roughly 36 inches. MARSHALL: The ground is covered with 2 to 6 inches of snow at this time. MORRISON: Approximately 10 to 15 inches of snow cover. Feed availability has been okay so far this winter. Livestock conditions are getting to be a little messy with more snow and occasional melting conditions. Most farmers are waiting before doing purchasing for 2009. OLMSTED: Fields are covered with snow and ice. Deep frost this year. Temperatures are close to zero for 2 months. Received 3 to 5 inches of snow on February 26. OTTERTAIL: Plenty of snow cover except on windswept areas. Livestock feed remains in adequate supply. Livestock seem to be doing well. Spring moisture should be good on the light soils and a bit excess on heavier soils. PENNINGTON: Temperatures have been below normal with more snowfall than past several years. Rainfall early in the month along with snow has left many drainage systems frozen shut. This will add to the potential for spring flooding. Hay reserves are getting depleted with concern building over the forecast of a late spring. PINE: Snow cover is 5 to 8 inches. Frost depth 1 ˝ to 2 feet. Hay supplies plentiful at sales barn in neighboring county. Farm signup slow. POLK: Two to six inches of snow cover. Feed availability is adequate. Livestock are in good condition. Soil moisture is 100% adequate to surplus. FSA program sign-up for DCP/ACRE is slow. SIBLEY: Sibley County has about 7 inches of snow cover. WINONA: Shortage of hay, both dairy operations and beef operations are purchasing hay from out west. Snow cover 2 ˝ to 3 inches. Depth of frost is 5 to 6 inches. Livestock are in good condition. WRIGHT: Getting real snow for the first time this month. The milder weather of the past few weeks was welcome after January’s bitter cold. No winter weather worries. Thank you for your comments. Nicolas Wieland Agricultural Statistician Douglas A. Hartwig Director PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY, 2009: Temperatures during February averaged from 2.4 degrees below normal in the West Central District to 2.2 degrees above normal in the South Central District. Temperature extremes included a low of -31 degrees at International Falls, and a high of 53 degrees at Pipestone, Worthington. Precipitation averaged from 0.06 inch above normal in the Southeast District to 0.65 inch above normal in the Northwest District. Greatest monthly precipitation of 1.51 inches was recorded in Aitkin. Precipitation and Temperature Summary for February 2009 Temperature Precipitation High Low Month Dept. Month Dept. Ave for Total for Month Month NW DIST 1 Crookston 44 -22 9.8 -1.4 1.16 .62 Moorhead 39 -19 11.6 -2.5 1.00 .41 Warroad 40 -29 7.4 -1.0 1.47 .92 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 42 -21 15.4 1.4 .99 .38 Intl. Falls 40 -31 8.0 -2.9 1.15 .51 Itasca 44 -24 11.4 1.1 1.11 .48 NE DIST 3 Duluth 40 -18 15.2 .4 1.08 .25 Grand Marais 40 -9 17.9 -.6 1.25 .69 Hibbing 41 -26 12.8 .1 .53 -.07 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 39 -16 13.7 -1.6 .91 .24 Browns Valley 45 -18 13.8 -3.3 1.28 .61 Canby 48 -12 17.0 -3.5 .99 .24 Dalton 42 -20 12.6 -1.2 .65 .07 Fergus Falls 40 -28 11.0 -2.4 .94 .36 Montevideo 45 -14 16.2 -.5 .61 -.30 Morris 42 -18 12.2 -3.2 .95 .26 CENT DIST 5 Becker 46 -14 16.9 -.2 .97 .28 Collegeville 41 -15 18.4 -.0 1.09 .36 Hutchinson 45 -10 19.8 2.5 1.15 .62 Melrose 43 -18 14.8 -.0 .81 .16 Olivia 43 -12 17.5 .9 1.17 .72 St. Cloud 43 -20 16.3 .2 .80 .21 Staples 45 -20 13.2 -.3 .96 .35 Willmar 43 -11 16.6 .4 1.01 .39 EC DIST 6 Aitkin 46 -21 14.6 .3 1.51 .83 Forest Lake 49 -14 19.4 2.5 .74 -.06 Hinckley 44 -22 15.0 .5 .67 -.11 MSP Airport 47 -5 20.8 .7 .93 .14 St. Paul - UofM 46 -8 22.6 1.0 .73 -.05 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 52 -11 19.2 .5 .63 .10 Marshall 51 -11 19.0 .4 .99 .41 Pipestone 53 -16 18.8 .8 .49 -.02 Redwood Falls 47 -10 20.2 .4 1.19 .58 Worthington 53 -9 20.2 2.2 1.02 .41 SC DIST 8 Faribault 49 -13 19.4 1.9 1.48 .76 Mankato 47 -10 21.5 2.1 1.12 .50 Waseca 46 -8 20.2 2.3 1.22 .27 Winnebago 49 -9 21.1 2.4 1.35 .66 SE DIST 9 Preston 50 -16 21.2 2.0 .96 .10 Red Wing 49 -14 20.4 1.9 .68 .04 Rochester 47 -7 20.7 2.3 .71 -.04 Rosemount 46 -9 19.1 2.0 1.15 .29 Winona 51 -13 23.0 3.1 .91 .07 m=some data missing 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/