mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending Date Week Ending April 11, 2010 Issue MN-CW-14-10 Agricultural Summary Small grain planting remained ahead of last year and the five-year average as mostly dry conditions prevailed across the state, according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. Spring wheat planting advanced to 10 percent, 9 points ahead of last year and 10 points above the five-year average. Oats was 34 percent planted, 31 points ahead of last year and 31 points ahead of average. Barley was 13 percent planted, compared to 1 percent last year and 1 percent average. Statewide land prepared for corn was 9 percent complete with localized planting underway. Most producers were waiting for ground temperatures to warm up to begin full scale fieldwork. In northern areas frost was still coming out in spots. Statewide there were 5 days suitable for fieldwork. Other farm activities included fertilizer application and harvesting the 2009 corn crop. Temperatures were generally above average during the week with daytime highs ranging from the low 40s to upper 50s in the north to near 70 in the south by week's end. Scattered showers fell across southwest and east central Minnesota on Tuesday. Rainfall amounts were light as most reporting stations recorded a quarter inch or less of precipitation. Topsoil moisture was rated mostly adequate. Areas in the north continue to deal with dry conditions. Some producers were hoping for rain to eliminate the remaining frost and green up pastures. A few reporters mentioned conditions were nearly ideal for calving. Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 5.0 Soil Moisture Table Very Short Short Adequate Surplus Topsoil Moisture (%) 6 13 68 13 Subsoil Moisture (%) 4 9 74 13 Crop Progress Table Crop Progress as of April 11, 2010 Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr Crop Development Week Week Year Avg Percent Corn Land Prepared 9 NA 1 1 Corn Planted 1 NA 0 0 Soybeans Land Prepared 3 NA 1 0 Spring Wheat Planted 10 1 1 0 Barley Planted 13 2 1 1 Oats Planted 34 7 3 3 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 4/5/2010 through 4/11/2010 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 61 24 42.9 5.4 0 -.26 -.84 -.39 Itasca 65 18 41.6 7.6 .10 -.28 -1.12 -.40 Moorhead 67 24 45.6 6.0 0 -.28 -1.08 -.44 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 68 19 43.8 6.3 0 -.40 -1.25 -.59 Intl. Falls 60 16 38.8 3.4 .05 -.23 -.78 -.29 Duluth 64 18 43.2 7.7 0 -.47 -1.20 -.39 NE DIST 3 Grand Marais 63 27 41.8 5.9 0 -.27 -.81 -.40 Hibbing 64 13 40.0 4.2 0 -.32 -.25 -.15 Alexandria 68 28 46.7 7.9 0 -.42 -1.48 -.56 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 68 28 46.7 7.9 0 -.42 -1.48 -.56 Browns Valley 67 18 44.0 3.3 0 -.46 -1.66 -.72 Canby 69 27 46.2 4.3 .02 -.49 -1.88 -.78 Dalton 67 30 45.8 6.0 .01 -.34 -1.30 -.45 Morris 69 26 44.5 4.2 .02 -.42 -1.56 -.66 Wheaton 68 27 45.4 5.9 0 -.44 -1.57 -.69 CENT DIST 5 Becker 67 24 46.2 5.2 0 -.54 -1.91 -.81 Collegeville 71 28 48.0 6.0 0 -.47 -1.74 -.69 Hutchinson 69 29 46.6 5.1 .06 -.42 -1.67 -.69 Melrose 67 26 44.8 5.6 0 -.47 -1.66 -.70 Olivia 71 24 45.2 4.6 .13 -.39 -1.65 -.67 St. Cloud 70 22 45.8 5.8 0 -.47 -1.64 -.71 Staples 64 21 44.2 5.9 0 -.44 -1.62 -.68 Wadena 66 21 43.6 6.5 0 -.44 -1.53 -.54 EC DIST 6 Aitkin 66 22 43.6 6.1 0 -.44 -1.51 -.62 Forest Lake 70 28 47.8 7.1 0 -.52 -1.45 -.45 Hinckley 61 21 42.6 4.9 0 -.50 -1.54 -.58 MSP Airport 69 32 49.4 6.3 .29 -.22 -1.43 -.37 St. Paul - UofM 67 29 47.8 5.1 .25 -.30 -1.64 -.48 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 63 34 46.6 5.2 .42 -.19 -1.61 -.49 Marshall 70 26 46.3 4.8 .32 -.20 -1.63 -.49 Pipestone 66 20 43.3 2.2 .25 -.28 -1.65 -.56 Redwood Falls 73 29 47.5 4.2 .23 -.33 -1.67 -.63 Worthington 69 27 45.4 5.5 .75 .14 -1.37 -.18 SC DIST 8 Faribault 68 26 45.4 4.7 .27 -.34 -1.68 -.57 Mankato 71 28 46.1 3.9 .30 -.41 -2.10 -.75 Waseca 69 26 46.2 4.9 .24 -.48 -2.13 -.80 Winnebago 74 27 47.2 4.7 .19 -.45 -1.78 -.74 SE DIST 9 Preston 65 22 44.0 2.1 .61 -.10 -1.25 -.00 Red Wing 67 30 48.3 6.0 .35 -.24 -1.24 -.20 Rochester 67 25 46.0 4.6 .15 -.51 -1.26 -.47 Rosemount 68 27 46.2 4.3 .43 -.20 -1.71 -.40 Winona 65 15 44.8 2.3 .22 -.50 -1.76 -.57 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/