mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending Date Week Ending April 18, 2010 Issue MN-CW-CW-15-10 Agricultural Summary Sunny skies and above average temperatures have helped small grain and corn planting advance ahead of average, according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. Spring wheat planting advanced to 43 percent, compared to 4 percent last year and 4 percent for the five-year average. Oats was 66 percent planted, 47 points ahead of last year and 53 points ahead of average. Barley was 45 percent planted, compared to 3 percent last year and 4 percent average. Corn planting advanced to 13 percent, compared to 0 percent last year and 1 percent average. Sugarbeet planting was 15 percent complete, well ahead of the five-year average. Statewide there were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Temperatures were about 10 degrees above average during the week. The week began with active weather that included thunderstorms and some hail reports Monday afternoon and evening in the south central part of the state. More thunderstorms followed early Tuesday morning bringing heavier rainfall amounts to central and western regions. In most areas rainfall amounts did not significantly disrupt spring fieldwork, and most farmers were back in the fields by the week's end. The rain helped start the alfalfa and pasture growing season. Generally favorable tillage conditions prevailed. Soil moisture conditions were relatively unchanged from last week with 79 percent rated adequate to surplus statewide. Strong southerly winds reduced topsoil moisture, and areas in the north continued to experience dry conditions and show high fire danger ratings as precipitation levels were generally less than average. Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 5.3 Soil Moisture Table Very Short Short Adequate Surplus Topsoil Moisture (%) 6 15 72 7 Crop Progress Table Crop Progress as of April 18, 2010 Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr Crop Development Week Week Year Avg Percent Corn Land Prepared 30 9 13 6 Corn Planted 13 1 0 1 Soybeans Land Prepared 9 3 3 2 Spring Wheat Planted 43 10 4 4 Spring Wheat Emerged 2 NA 0 0 Barley Planted 45 13 3 4 Barley Emerged 3 NA 0 0 Oats Planted 66 34 19 13 Oats Emerged 13 0 0 1 Sugarbeets Planted 15 1 0 2 Potatoes Planted 27 NA 6 4 Green Peas Planted 21 NA 0 2 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 4/12/2010 through 4/18/2010 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 74 28 49.0 7.4 .39 .09 -.59 -.31 Itasca 74 24 47.6 10.0 .48 .08 -.71 -.31 Moorhead 76 27 53.5 10.1 .40 .10 -.76 -.35 Warroad 74 28 46.8 9.7 0 -.28 -.53 -.27 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 70 28 51.4 10.5 .05 -.38 -1.38 -.96 Intl. Falls 68 24 48.2 9.1 .03 -.28 -.89 -.57 NE DIST 3 Duluth 73 32 49.0 10.2 .08 -.40 -1.38 -.80 Grand Marais 67 29 47.2 8.9 .09 -.20 -.74 -.59 Hibbing 69 22 49.8 10.6 .08 -.28 -.66 -.42 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 75 32 54.0 11.6 .62 .18 -.94 -.38 Browns Valley 77 26 52.8 8.5 .35 -.12 -1.45 -.85 Canby 78 33 55.6 10.3 .06 -.47 -1.92 -1.25 Dalton 75 37 54.0 10.4 .70 .35 -.62 -.10 Montevideo 79 29 55.7 11.5 0 -.52 -1.64 -1.27 Morris 75 30 53.6 9.6 1.09 .62 -.57 -.03 Wheaton 77 32 53.9 10.6 .80 .34 -.87 -.35 CENT DIST 5 Becker 71 32 54.8 10.4 1.01 .43 -1.06 -.38 Collegeville 72 36 55.9 10.4 .98 .49 -.81 -.19 Hutchinson 72 35 56.4 11.4 3.92 3.41 2.13 2.72 Melrose 73 31 53.0 10.1 .93 .43 -.86 -.27 Olivia 77 30 55.5 11.5 .16 -.40 -1.68 -1.06 St. Cloud 71 30 53.8 10.3 .90 .40 -.88 -.31 Staples 73 28 53.1 11.2 .25 -.20 -1.48 -.88 Wadena 75 27 51.0 10.1 .35 -.10 -1.24 -.64 EC DIST 6 Aitkin 69 29 52.2 11.3 .15 -.32 -1.49 -.95 Forest Lake 76 34 55.3 11.1 .78 .22 -.85 -.23 Hinckley 72 28 51.2 10.2 .68 .15 -1.09 -.43 MSP Airport 74 38 57.1 10.6 1.36 .83 -.24 .46 St. Paul - UofM 73 39 56.0 10.0 .94 .35 -.85 -.12 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 77 32 55.8 11.1 1.37 .73 -.47 .24 Marshall 78 34 56.4 11.5 .25 -.29 -1.48 -.78 Pipestone 78 29 54.4 10.0 .31 -.25 -1.48 -.81 Redwood Falls 78 34 57.7 11.0 .46 -.13 -1.42 -.76 Worthington 77 29 54.8 11.5 .97 .33 -.60 .14 SC DIST 8 Faribault 77 31 54.9 10.9 .44 -.21 -1.54 -.78 Mankato 77 31 56.2 10.7 .41 -.33 -1.93 -1.08 Waseca 77 35 57.4 12.7 .87 .12 -1.52 -.68 Winnebago 78 34 57.0 11.2 .62 -.08 -1.45 -.82 SE DIST 9 Preston 80 27 54.1 9.2 .01 -.76 -1.55 -.76 Red Wing 79 35 56.4 10.7 .51 -.13 -.97 -.33 Rochester 75 35 53.6 9.0 .07 -.64 -1.75 -1.11 Rosemount 77 34 54.8 9.6 .70 .04 -1.20 -.35 Winona 82 33 56.3 10.6 0 -.79 -2.11 -1.36 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) 201-6030 E-mail: nass-mn@nass.usda.gov Homepage: http://www.nass.usda.gov/mn/