mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending Date Week Ending October 24, 2010 Issue MN-CW-42-10 Agricultural Summary The soybean and sugarbeet harvests were virtually complete while the sunflower harvest neared completion, all ahead of average pace, according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. As of October 24, soybeans were 99 percent harvested, compared to 43 percent last year and 83 percent for the five-year average. Sugarbeets were 99 percent harvested, compared to 69 percent last year and 87 percent average. Sunflowers were 91 percent harvested, compared to 20 percent last year and 43 percent average. Corn harvested jumped 30 percentage points from the previous week to 77 percent harvested, compared to 6 percent last year and 41 percent average. Moisture content of harvested corn was 14 percent. This compares to last year's average moisture content of 29 percent and the five-year average moisture content of 21 percent for the same week. Producers have reported that little or no drying was required when harvesting this year's crop. Other producer activities include fall tillage and fertilizer application. Temperatures statewide were 3.7 degrees above average for the week. Dry, mild, and sunny conditions prevailed, though Wednesday saw wind gusts that exceeded 40 mph in some areas. Weekend rains fell across most of the state. Average precipitation varied from .9 inch in central areas to trace amounts in northwestern areas. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 9 percent short, 85 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Statewide, 6.5 days were rated suitable for fieldwork. Range and pasture condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 15 percent excellent. Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 6.5 Soil Moisture Table Very Short Short Adequate Surplus Topsoil Moisture (%) 0 9 85 6 Crop Progress Table Crop Progress as of October 24, 2010 Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr Crop Development Week Week Year Avg Percent Corn Harvested 77 47 6 41 Corn Moisture Content 14 15 29 21 Soybeans Harvested 99 96 43 83 Sunflowers Harvested 91 77 20 43 Sugarbeets Harvested 99 91 69 87 Crop Condition Table Condition as of October 24, 2010 in % Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc Pasture 1 6 25 53 15 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 10/18/2010 through 10/24/2010 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 66 27 44.0 2.3 0 -.40 -1.44 3.39 Itasca 64 29 43.8 4.5 .01 -.54 -2.35 1.98 Moorhead 66 26 48.1 5.1 .01 -.42 -1.84 4.25 Warroad 62 28 43.6 3.6 0 -.37 -1.73 6.39 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 66 27 44.0 2.3 .18 -.42 -2.09 1.27 Intl. Falls 65 22 42.0 2.5 .05 -.35 -1.76 6.69 NE DIST 3 Duluth 62 29 44.5 3.0 .38 -.11 -1.71 2.23 Grand Marais 58 28 44.5 1.7 .13 -.41 -1.97 -3.87 Hibbing 66 21 42.2 2.3 .33 -.19 -1.78 .33 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 66 32 47.2 4.3 1.30 .83 -.75 3.10 Browns Valley 74 29 48.6 4.2 .47 .07 -1.14 3.61 Canby 73 34 50.7 4.0 0 -.47 -1.96 6.83 Montevideo 73 32 48.2 3.3 .92 .48 -.88 8.33 Morris 70 29 45.5 1.7 .87 .35 -1.24 4.45 Wheaton 70 31 47.6 3.6 .45 .04 -1.31 3.23 Becker 67 33 50.0 6.0 .44 -.03 -1.63 6.36 CENT DIST 5 Collegeville 69 34 49.5 3.1 1.29 .76 -1.06 3.01 Hutchinson 68 30 48.4 3.2 .97 .54 -.74 9.48 Melrose 74 27 50.4 6.6 1.92 1.38 -.37 6.61 Olivia 71 30 49.6 5.0 .75 .35 -1.07 7.37 St. Cloud 67 29 47.0 3.9 .49 .01 -1.62 4.00 Staples 66 30 45.7 3.7 .17 -.40 -2.10 3.39 Wadena 66 28 43.8 2.4 .66 .09 -1.71 6.34 Willmar 70 29 46.6 2.2 .92 .45 -1.12 10.67 Aitkin 67 29 46.6 4.6 .88 .33 -1.39 1.15 EC DIST 6 Forest Lake 70 34 49.7 4.3 .27 -.27 -2.08 2.68 Hinckley 64 25 42.2 .7 1.46 .87 -.97 8.43 MSP Airport 68 36 52.4 5.9 .52 .05 -1.41 2.84 St. Paul - UofM 67 34 49.3 2.5 .36 -.19 -1.96 2.95 Lamberton 62 33 51.8 6.3 1.23 .81 -.60 10.25 SW DIST 7 Marshall 74 36 50.6 4.9 .07 -.36 -1.73 14.89 Pipestone 71 26 47.9 3.6 0 -.48 -2.11 12.89 Redwood Falls 73 33 51.2 4.3 1.03 .62 -.67 8.04 Sioux Falls 72 29 51.6 5.9 0 -.41 -1.82 10.24 Faribault 68 32 50.4 5.3 .05 -.43 -2.04m 7.73m SC DIST 8 Waseca 69 31 49.8 4.4 .33 -.22 -1.96 11.05 Winnebago 73 33 51.7 5.0 .18 -.36 -1.94 10.35 La Crosse 71 31 51.8 3.4 1.55 1.10 -.51 8.35 Preston 71 25 47.8 1.9 .37 -.12 -1.86 6.26 SE DIST 9 Rochester 70 28 51.0 6.2 .44 -.03 -1.62 4.49 Rosemount 69 33 49.3 3.3 .93 .39 -1.40 6.05 Winona 67 34 50.5 3.6 .53 .07 -1.57 11.17 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/