mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending Date Week Ending November 29, 2009 Issue MN-CW-48-09 Agricultural Summary Light rain and snow slowed corn harvest compared to recent weeks, according to the USDA, NASS Minnesota Field Office. Producers harvested 12 percent of the state's corn crop during the week compared to 23 percent a week ago and 20 percent two weeks ago. Statewide, corn harvest was rated 78 percent complete. Average moisture of corn being harvested was 21 percent, 1 percentage-point below last week, but 3 points higher than last year and 4 points above the 5-year average. Respondents continue to note additional drying time and propane availability as corn harvest progress factors. Sunflower producers harvested 10 percent of the crop bringing statewide progress to 85 percent complete. Fall tillage and fertilizer application was ongoing in addition to harvest activities with 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork, statewide. Temperatures during the week remained relatively mild for late November. Highs Monday and Tuesday ranged from the upper 30s and mid 40s north and central to the low 50s south. Strong northwest winds ushered in colder air on Wednesday with highs in the 30s statewide. Friday's highs ranged from the 50s southwest to the upper 20s along the North Shore, while mid to upper 30s were common throughout the state on Sunday. Light rain fell across portions of the state Monday into Tuesday with a mix of rain and snow on Wednesday. Precipitation amounts were light with most reporting stations recording less than one-half inch of precipitation. However, 1.32 inches were recorded in Mankato for the week's high total. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 97 percent adequate to surplus, while subsoil moisture was rated 93 percent adequate to surplus. Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 5.2 Soil Moisture Table Very Short Short Adequate Surplus Topsoil Moisture (%) 0 3 73 24 Subsoil Moisture (%) 0 7 82 11 Crop Progress Table Crop Progress as of November 29, 2009 Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr Crop Development Week Week Year Avg Percent Corn Harvested 78 66 96 98 Moisture 21 22 18 17 Sunflowers Harvested 85 75 95 96 Crop Condition Table Condition as of November 29, 2009 in % Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc Pasture 9 13 35 41 2 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 11/23/2009 through 11/29/2009 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 46 20 31.6 12.2 .16 -.01 -.55 -.59 Moorhead 46 19 32.6 11.6 .30 .12 -.60 -.65 Warroad 44 19 30.8 13.1 .23 .00 -.66 -.68 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 48 19 32.5 11.5 .21 -.07 -.36 -.35 Intl. Falls 45 17 30.2 12.0 .21 -.05 -.18 -.21 Itasca 47 19 31.7 13.4 .45 .21 -.17 -.22 NE DIST 3 Duluth 46 23 34.4 11.9 .19 -.23 -1.00 -.92 Grand Marais 48 23 37.6 10.5 .28 -.05 .08 .12 Hibbing 48 15 32.0 12.3 .40 .16 -.07 -.09 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 46 23 33.6 11.3 .17 -.04 -.67 -.72 Browns Valley 47 24 35.2 11.0 .12 -.09 -.79 -.84 Canby 52 23 35.6 8.8 0 -.31 -1.49 -1.55 Montevideo 50 23 35.0 10.8 .22 -.05 -1.12 -1.18 Morris 49 22 34.0 10.8 .09 -.10 -.80 -.87 Wadena 47 19 34.1 13.3 .32 .08 -.51 -.58 Wheaton 45 22 33.6 11.1 .35 .15 -.39 -.45 CENT DIST 5 Becker 54 21 37.8 14.0 .50 .13 -1.19 -1.25 Hutchinson 52 23 38.0 13.2 .34 .02 -1.07 -1.12 Melrose 50 23 36.0 12.9 .12 -.14 -.91 -.98 Olivia 49 23 36.1 12.0 .10 -.16 -1.06 -1.12 St. Cloud 52 20 35.8 12.7 .12 -.16 -1.10 -1.16 Staples 49 21 34.2 13.0 .46 .22 -.17 -.24 Willmar 50 24 36.7 13.0 .21 -.07 -1.13 -1.20 EC DIST 6 Aitkin 51 20 37.2 14.9 .04 -.29 -.52 -.54 Forest Lake 55 21 39.1 13.8 .20 -.19 -1.46 -1.53 Hinckley 50 19 35.8 12.4 .41 .01 -1.29 -1.37 MSP Airport 52 24 38.4 11.4 .20 -.19 -1.44 -1.51 St. Paul - UofM 54 23 38.3 10.5 .19 -.22 -1.61 -1.69 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 53 24 37.0 11.5 .33 .07 -.96 -1.02 Marshall 52 23 36.6 10.9 .20 -.12 -1.33 -1.39 Pipestone 52 22 36.4 11.9 .28 .00 -1.14 -1.21 Redwood Falls 51 25 35.6 9.3 .21 -.09 -1.12 -1.18 Worthington 52 23 36.9 12.3 .79 .47 -.08 -.14 SC DIST 8 Faribault 60 22 39.3 12.8 .23 -.18 -1.49 -1.56 Mankato 59 24 39.2 12.8 1.32 .93 -.54 -.62 Waseca 60 24 39.0 13.3 .65 .17 -1.27 -1.35 Winnebago 60 26 39.8 13.3 1.08 .72 -.53 -.60 SE DIST 9 Preston 58 20 40.3 13.3 .37 -.08 -1.57 -1.64 Red Wing 60 23 40.2 13.3 .29 -.07 -1.23 -1.29 Rochester 53 23 38.8 13.1 .21 -.20 -1.44 -1.51 Rosemount 58 22 39.2 14.3 .23 -.24 -1.78 -1.86 Winona 59 24 41.2 13.1 .57 .12 -1.34 -1.41 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/