mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending April 26, 2009 Issue MN-CW-17-09 Agricultural Summary Spring tillage and seeding progressed under generally favorable weather conditions throughout the state, according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. Daytime highs soared into the low 90s across the south and precipitation was primarily confined to late in the week allowing 5 days suitable for fieldwork statewide. Soil moisture conditions held steady as much needed rains fell across southern Minnesota. Other farm activities included: calving, equipment maintenance and pasture land weed control. The opportunity for spring field work continued to vary across the state last week. Seedbeds were drying and working up well under warm temperatures and strong winds across the south. Statewide land prepared for corn was 56 percent complete with 40 percent planted as producers capitalized on nearly ideal weather. Drying was comparatively slower across the central and north where producers are beginning to work lighter, sandier, soil. Northwestern producers remain the most limited as fields range from relatively wet to inaccessible due to earlier flooding. Spring wheat planted was rated 13 percent complete, compared to the 5-year average of 23 percent. Soil moisture conditions are relatively unchanged from last week. Welcomed rains fell across the south late in the week; however, topsoil conditions remain 21 percent short to very short statewide. Surplus moisture conditions exist across the northwest as earlier floodwaters continue to dissipate. Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 5.0 Soil Moisture Table Very Short Short Adequate Surplus Topsoil Moisture (%) 3 18 54 25 Crop Progress Table Crop Progress as of April 26, 2009 Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr Crop Development Week Week Year Avg Percent Corn Land Prepared 56 15 3 28 Planted 40 0 1 18 Soybeans Land Prepared 10 3 1 7 Planted 2 NA 0 1 Spring Wheat Planted 13 4 5 23 Emerged 1 NA 0 5 Oats Planted 47 22 8 38 Emerged 2 0 0 9 Barley Planted 14 3 2 18 Emerged 1 NA 0 4 Green Peas Planted 33 NA 4 21 Sugarbeets Planted 13 0 9 31 Potatoes Planted 28 7 6 25 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 4/20/2009 through 4/26/2009 Temperature Precipitation High Low Week Depart Week Depart From Norm Ave from Total Past Four Since Norm Week Weeks 4/1 NW DIST 1 Crookston 74 27 42.6 -3.3 .32 -.03 -.63 -.61 Moorhead 82 30 46.0 -1.5 .28 -.07 .03 -.83 Warroad 69 25 40.8 -.7 .06 -.27 -.57 -.51 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 78 30 45.6 .9 .58 .12 -.38 -.64 Intl. Falls 71 25 40.8 -2.4 .48 .12 -.20 -.55 Itasca 80 22 42.7 .9 .28 -.15 -.67 -.68 NE DIST 3 Duluth 64 30 42.6 .1 .24 -.27 -.76 -1.33 Grand Marais 54 30 40.7 -.3 1.10 .77 1.89 .87 Hibbing 76 27 43.8 .8 .68 .29 -.26 -.53 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 88 32 47.8 1.4 .14 -.33 -1.31 -1.46 Browns Valley 89 31 48.8 .5 0 -.48 -.47 -1.30 Canby 90 32 48.9 -.2 .19 -.36 -1.27 -1.40 Dalton 88 32 47.0 -.6 .04 -.35 -.55 -.82 Fergus Falls 87 32 46.1 -.7 .05 -.34 .71 -.09 Montevideo 92 32 48.0 -.1 0 -.56 -1.60 -1.70 Morris 89 32 47.0 -1.0 0 -.50 -1.35 -1.51 CENT DIST 5 Becker 85 35 50.2 2.1 .46 -.16 -1.03 -1.13 Collegeville 88 35 51.2 1.7 .51 -.02 -.18 -.93 Hutchinson 90 35 51.8 2.8 0 -.53 -1.16 -1.31 Melrose 87 31 47.2 .2 .02 -.52 -1.16 -1.12 Olivia 89 25 48.4 .4 .06 -.52 -1.71 -1.57 St. Cloud 85 34 49.8 2.5 .85 .33 -.02 -.74 Staples 82 28 47.6 1.8 .18 -.31 -.98 -1.21 Willmar 89 32 50.0 2.0 0 -.52 -1.14 -1.40 EC DIST 6 Aitkin 70 32 46.8 2.3 .16 -.35 -.56 -.58 Forest Lake 82 34 49.7 1.6 .10 -.51 -1.59 -1.46 Hinckley 78 32 46.2 1.5 .02 -.56 -1.47 -1.34 MSP Airport 85 37 52.8 2.7 .87 .31 -.35 -.57 St. Paul - UofM 84 35 54.2 2.9 .79 .16 -.84 -.95 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 91 33 50.2 1.6 .13 -.54 -1.75 -1.74 Marshall 90 31 49.2 .4 .06 -.51 -1.72 -1.64 Pipestone 88 25 48.5 .4 .54 -.06 -.39 -.41 Redwood Falls 92 34 52.2 1.7 .37 -.25 -1.13 -1.33 Worthington 87 32 49.8 2.7 .14 -.52 -1.39 -1.40 SC DIST 8 Faribault 84 33 52.2 4.5 .44 -.26 -1.39 -1.26 Mankato 87 36 51.6 2.4 .39 -.35 -1.68 -1.73 Waseca 82 32 50.6 2.1 .36 -.43 -1.79 -1.77 Winnebago 87 33 53.6 4.1 .44 -.31 -1.32 -1.37 SE DIST 9 Preston 88 30 50.0 1.9 1.16 .35 -1.63 -1.49 Red Wing 82 39 51.4 2.1 .38 -.30 -1.63 -1.48 Rochester 92 32 52.3 4.3 1.49 .74 -.91 -.83 Rosemount 84 34 49.8 1.0 .12 -.59 -1.59 -1.59 Winona 90 36 51.8 2.5 1.57 .74 -1.15 -.98 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/