mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending Date Week Ending October 31, 2010 Issue MN-CW-43-10 Agricultural Summary Favorable harvest conditions were interrupted by a large storm early in the week which brought rain, snow, and high winds, according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. Precipitation amounts varied; the heaviest amounts were received in northeastern areas with an average of 2.8 inches. Amounts were lighter in the southern part of the state and ranged from 0.9 inch in the southwest to 0.7 inch in south central and southeastern areas. Wind gusts of 50 mph or stronger were recorded at locations throughout the state Tuesday and Wednesday. Measureable snow fell in northern and central areas. A few reporters noted that saturated fields have slowed harvest progress. Statewide 2.7 days were rated suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 2 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 30 percent surplus. As of October 31, corn was 87 percent harvested, compared to 11 percent last year and 60 percent for the five year average. Corn moisture content was 14 percent, unchanged from the previous week but lower than the five-year average of 20 percent. Sunflowers harvested advanced 3 percentage points from the previous week to 94 percent, compared to 23 percent last year and 60 percent average. Range and pasture condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 8 percent poor,20 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Crop Condition Table Condition as of October 31, 2010 in % Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc Pasture 1 8 20 55 16 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 10/25/2010 through 10/31/2010 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 56 27 39.2 1.9 2.19 1.84 .56 5.23 Itasca 55 24 38.8 3.5 2.29 1.79 .01 3.76 Moorhead 58 25 38.8 .1 1.90 1.52 .15 5.77 Warroad 54 25 39.5 3.7 2.32 1.98 .76 8.37 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 56 22 38.7 .9 2.18 1.64 -.09 2.91 Intl. Falls 56 21 38.1 2.4 1.17 .79 -.52 7.48 NE DIST 3 Duluth 56 22 36.8 -1.2 3.29 2.80 1.52 5.03 Grand Marais 54 29 41.7 1.8 2.15 1.64 -.01 -2.23 Hibbing 56 19 37.8 1.6 2.95 2.49 1.11 2.82 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 57 23 38.8 -.2 1.83 1.41 1.20 4.51 Browns Valley 56 22 38.6 -1.9 1.39 1.02 .27 4.63 Canby 61 26 40.6 -2.2 .52 .06 -1.38 6.89 Montevideo 61 24 41.6 .7 1.20 .78 .37 9.11 Morris 57 25 38.8 -1.0 1.24 .77 .03 5.22 Wheaton 57 26 38.9 -1.0 1.51 1.13 .29 4.36 Becker 59 26 41.7 1.5 2.32 1.85 .37 7.78 CENT DIST 5 Collegeville 60 25 41.6 -.8 2.45 1.94 1.53 4.95 Hutchinson 59 25 41.6 .2 1.76 1.33 1.03 10.81 Melrose 59 24 40.0 .1 1.62 1.13 1.36 7.74 Olivia 58 26 41.3 .6 .62 .23 -.31 7.60 St. Cloud 60 23 40.6 1.3 2.10 1.64 .59 5.64 Staples 57 21 38.6 .6 2.39 1.86 .24 5.25 Wadena 57 20 38.2 .7 1.48 .95 -.16 7.29 Willmar 58 23 40.4 -.1 1.25 .80 .23 11.47 Aitkin 59 23 40.8 2.4 2.77 2.24 1.41 3.39 EC DIST 6 Forest Lake 62 24 43.8 2.0 1.01 .48 -.96 3.16 Hinckley 59 21 40.2 1.9 3.09 2.52 2.14 10.95 MSP Airport 63 28 43.8 1.1 1.09 .61 -.29 3.45 St. Paul - UofM 61 26 42.8 -.2 1.18 .64 -.71 3.59 Lamberton 62 25 42.5 .8 .76 .36 .26 10.61 SW DIST 7 Marshall 61 27 42.0 .2 1.37 .94 -.32 15.83 Pipestone 61 23 41.2 .8 .81 .36 -1.17 13.25 Redwood Falls 61 25 42.0 -.9 .75 .34 .14 8.38 Sioux Falls 64 24 42.4 .6 .89 .50 -.80 10.74 Faribault 63 25 44.3 2.7 1.02 .53 -.91 8.26 SC DIST 8 Waseca 62 23 42.4 .7 .69 .13 -1.22 11.18 Winnebago 73 25 44.8 1.9 .42 -.10 -1.51 10.25 La Crosse 66 27 46.4 1.4 .60 .14 .24 8.49 Preston 65 21 44.2 1.8 .68 .19 -1.02 6.45 SE DIST 9 Rochester 63 24 43.4 2.2 .35 -.13 -1.17 4.36 Rosemount 62 26 43.3 1.3 1.00 .44 -.32 6.49 Winona 64 27 46.4 3.0 .73 .25 -.68 11.42 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/