mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending Date Week Ending September 27, 2009 Issue MN-CW-39-09 Agricultural Summary Corn development remains behind last year and average, but good progress was made toward maturity in September due, in part, to above-normal temperatures during the month, according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. As of Sunday, 17 percent of the corn crop was rated mature, 21 percentage-points behind last year and 42 points behind average. However, corn at or beyond the dent stage reached 91 percent, just 6 points behind last year and average. On August 30th, corn denting was 15 points behind last year and 43 points behind average. Seventy percent of corn was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from a week ago. Temperatures were mild for most of the reporting period with daytime highs generally in the mid 60s to mid 70s over much of Minnesota. However, the recent stretch of mild weather came to a halt Sunday as a strong cold front brought gusty winds and falling temperatures to the state. Significant rain fell across southern Minnesota on Friday with precipitation amounts ranging from one-half to over 3 inches. Topsoil moisture supplies were 60 percent adequate to surplus, up from 53 percent last week. Soybean maturity continued to track the pace set in 2008. Eighty-one percent of soybeans were dropping leaves, up 32 points from last week and identical to last year. Thirty-six percent of soybeans were rated mature, 3 points behind last year, and 21 points behind average. Five percent of soybeans were harvested compared to 7 percent a year ago. Statewide, 65 percent of soybeans were rated in good to excellent condition, down 1 point from a week ago. Spring wheat and barley harvest was nearly complete at 98 and 99 percent harvested, respectively. Canola harvest advanced 34 points to 80 percent harvested. Sugarbeet harvest advanced 3 points to 11 percent complete as pre-pile harvest continued. Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 5.4 Soil Moisture Table Very Short Short Adequate Surplus Topsoil Moisture (%) 11 29 58 2 Crop Progress Table Crop Progress as of September 27, 2009 Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr Crop Development Week Week Year Avg Percent Corn Dent 91 76 97 97 Mature 17 4 38 59 Corn Silage Harvested 63 38 77 76 Soybeans Turning Yellow 97 85 97 97 Dropping Leaves 81 49 81 84 Mature 36 10 39 57 Harvested 5 1 7 15 Moisture 12 NA 13 13 Spring Wheat Harvested 98 86 100 98 Barley Harvested 99 90 100 99 Potatoes Harvested 52 37 54 62 Canola Harvested 80 46 84 92 Dry Beans Harvested 52 25 66 58 Sweet Corn Harvested 92 83 90 93 Sugarbeets Harvested 11 8 9 11 Crop Condition Table Condition as of September 27, 2009 in % Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc Pasture 10 21 35 33 1 Soybeans 2 6 27 52 13 Corn 2 5 23 52 18 Potatoes 0 1 9 67 23 Canola 0 13 42 34 11 Sunflowers 1 8 35 47 9 Dry Beans 2 6 26 58 8 Sugarbeets 1 2 27 57 13 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 9/21/2009 through 9/27/2009 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 4 Norm NW DIST 1 Crookston 79 43 62.8 9.2 .05 -.44 -.45 1.39 2012 -192 Moorhead 80 42 61.9 7.3 .74 .24 .01 -4.80 2223 -89 Warroad 77 43 62.0 11.1 .44 -.14 -.47 1.32 1674 -236 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 79 43 61.0 9.1 .58 -.12 -2.31 -5.04 1914 -9 Intl. Falls 77 37 57.8 7.7 1.00 .34 -1.04 -3.62 1623 -166 Itasca 76 44 61.0 11.0 1.10 .44 -.79 -4.32 1822 24 NE DIST 3 Duluth 76 45 61.4 9.6 .29 -.60 -2.56 -6.43 1697 -11 Grand Marais 68 48 59.8 7.4 .26 -.51 -2.79 -4.67 1160 -185 Hibbing 78 35 58.4 7.8 .24 -.48 -2.35 -6.53 1700 -51 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 76 49 61.8 7.2 .27 -.31 -1.45 -9.14 2175 -44 Browns Valley 78 46 60.2 3.8 1.80 1.40 1.57 -.25 2113 -344 Canby 80 46 60.8 2.4 1.72 1.19 -.41 -5.99 2364 -226 Dalton 78 52 63.3 7.5 .40 -.07 -.53 -2.86 2195 -103 Montevideo 81 47 61.9 5.0 3.53 3.05 1.55 -2.43 2237 -217 Morris 79 50 61.8 6.1 .81 .33 .43 -7.33 2156 -223 Wadena 76 42 60.2 7.7 .30 -.29 -1.94 -6.61m 1635m -347m Wheaton 79 48 60.8 4.9 .65 .18 .51 -6.01m 1913m -512m CENT DIST 5 Becker 79 51 64.0 9.1 .37 -.28 -2.64 -6.53 2346 103 Collegeville 78 48 62.4 4.5 .61 -.08 -1.09 -2.57 2340 -165 Hutchinson 78 46 63.7 6.7 .79 .33 -.13 -5.29 2415 -56 Melrose 79 45 60.8 5.3 .32 -.29 -1.58 -3.95 2044 -314 Olivia 78 46 60.2 4.1 1.22 .64 .02 -3.14 2190 -212 St. Cloud 79 48 62.1 7.8 .74 .13 -2.05 -4.52 2189 3 Staples 78 42 61.2 8.2 .18 -.41 -2.06 -4.11 2049 68 Willmar 79 47 63.2 6.9 .39 -.20 -2.26 -4.49 2349 -51 EC DIST 6 Aitkin 75 48 61.8 9.5 .25 -.39 -2.30 -4.10 1908 41 Forest Lake 81 53 65.9 9.7 .45 -.24 -2.69 -8.85 2405 53 Hinckley 76 41 61.6 9.4 .28 -.43 -2.82 -3.01 1830 -125 MSP Airport 78 49 65.2 7.3 .45 -.10 -2.12 -6.43 2630 57 St. Paul - UofM 77 49 64.4 5.0 .32 -.35 -2.74 -10.26 2474 -181 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 79 44 62.2 5.0 2.26 1.72 .35 -4.10 2350 -152 Pipestone 77 43 60.4 4.3 .77 .16 -1.72 -3.45 2164 -242 Redwood Falls 78 47 61.2 2.6 1.65 1.14 .33 -7.90 2489 -167 Worthington 79 44 60.4 4.3 1.62 1.09 -.54 -.78 2230 -115 SC DIST 8 Faribault 78 49 65.2 8.6 1.03 .38 -2.04 -5.08 2301 -91 Mankato 79 49 63.2 5.8 .66 .02 -2.31 -10.65 2278 -219 Winnebago 82 50 63.2 4.8 2.15 1.60 -.38 -7.17 2428 -103 La Crosse 79 49 65.2 5.5 .93 .23 -2.33 -5.49 2463 -253 SE DIST 9 Preston 78 47 64.0 7.3 1.16 .42 -1.86 -5.37 2209 -96 Red Wing 80 51 64.8 7.3 .65 -.09 -2.67 -3.76 2331 -152 Rochester 76 46 63.0 6.9 1.28 .64 -1.71 -4.30 2169 -103 Rosemount 77 48 63.4 6.3 .37 -.36 -2.98 -6.45 2243 -127 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/