mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending Date Week Ending May 1, 2011 Issue MN-CW-17-11 Agricultural Summary Planting progress inched forward as 3 percent of Minnesota's spring wheat was planted as of May 1, according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. Last year spring wheat was 96 percent planted, and the five-year average was 41 percent. Corn planting was underway at 1 percent, compared to 84 percent last year and 46 percent average. Other planting activity included oats at 9 percent planted, barley at 3 percent planted, and sugarbeets at 2 percent planted. These crops were at least 35 percentage points behind their respective averages. Above average precipitation prevailed during the week statewide. Steady rain fell across much of central and southern Minnesota on April 26. The Twin Cities International Airport received a record setting 1.46 inches of rain. The rain changed to snow over parts of northern and central Minnesota into the early morning of April 27. One inch of snow was measured in Duluth. Over the weekend, wet and windy conditions prevailed, with winds gusting in excess of 30 to 50 mph over areas of western, central and southern Minnesota. Statewide average temperatures measured 3.3 degrees below normal. Producers rated 1.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 56 percent adequate and 44 percent surplus, nearly unchanged from the previous week. Anticipated start date for full scale fieldwork was delayed for a second week to May 6. Pasture condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Several flood warnings have been cancelled; however, some areas along the Minnesota River are still under flood warning. Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 1.3 Soil Moisture Table Very Short Short Adequate Surplus Topsoil Moisture (%) 0 0 56 44 Crop Progress Table Crop Progress as of May 1, 2011 Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr Crop Development Week Week Year Avg Percent Corn Land Prepared 4 2 93 57 Planted 1 0 84 46 Soybeans Land Prepared 1 1 43 18 Planted 0 0 17 6 Oats Planted 9 4 94 59 Emerged 0 0 57 22 Spring Wheat Planted 3 0 96 41 Emerged 0 0 61 16 Barley Planted 3 1 96 39 Emerged 0 0 59 16 Sugarbeets 2 0 96 47 Approximate Date to Begin Full-Scale Fi5/6 5/1 4/13 4/21 Crop Condition Table Condition as of May 1, 2011 in % Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc Pasture 3 9 27 53 8 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 4/25/2011 through 5/1/2011 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 70 24 49.8 1.3 .23 -.16 .63 .70 Itasca 69 25 47.4 3.0 .62 .16 1.73 1.80 Moorhead 70 27 47.6 -2.3 .05 -.34 .71 .59 Warroad 71 27 46.2 2.0 1.10 .74 2.23 2.31 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 69 27 44.8 -2.2 1.43 .94 1.10 1.28 Intl. Falls 68 25 43.8 -1.9 .98 .59 1.87 2.35 NE DIST 3 Duluth 65 29 42.2 -2.6 1.75 1.22 1.19 1.62 Grand Marais 62 31 41.5 -1.0 1.00 .62 .65 .92 Hibbing 68 23 42.6 -2.8 1.29 .87 1.10 1.31 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 62 26 46.5 -2.4 .40 -.10 -.40 -.49 Browns Valley 67 27 48.2 -2.6 .34 -.14 -.42 -.62 Canby 63 30 47.8 -3.6 1.01 .46 -.29 -.30 Montevideo 64 30 47.6 -2.9 .56 -.02 -.37 -.39 Morris 63 27 46.6 -3.8 .39 -.13 -.64 -.78 Wheaton 67 27 48.6 -1.3 .20 -.27 -.53 -.54 CENT DIST 5 Becker 66 32 45.4 -4.9 1.54 .90 .48 1.02 Collegeville 67 30 48.8 -3.1 1.27 .70 .45 .25 Hutchinson 62 30 46.7 -4.1 1.68 1.13 1.65 1.69 Melrose 64 22 46.0 -3.5 1.17 .60 .30 .11 Olivia 64 30 46.8 -3.6 1.11 .52 .31 .32 St. Cloud 65 30 44.7 -4.9 1.04 .51 -.03 -.05 Wadena 68 26 47.0 -.4 .66 .15 .30 .40 Willmar 64 29 45.4 -3.9 1.02 .48 .54 .62 EC DIST 6 Aitkin M M M M M M -.35m -.29m Forest Lake 68 33 46.0 -4.4 1.66 1.03 .27 .51 Hinckley 65 26 42.0 -4.9 1.55 .94 .37 .56 MSP Airport 65 33 46.4 -5.9 1.99 1.40 .55 .40 St. Paul - UofM 64 32 45.8 -6.0 2.27 1.61 .62 .64 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 63 31 47.6 -3.4 1.08 .40 -.16 -.22 Marshall 62 25 46.5 -4.7 .67 .07 .13 .16 Pipestone 65 18 44.4 -6.0 .57 -.06 .59 .61 Redwood Falls 62 32 46.4 -6.4 .93 .31 1.45 1.35 Worthington 63 30 46.0 -3.4 .69 .03 .47 .42 SC DIST 8 Faribault 63 31 45.1 -4.8 1.84 1.11 1.17 1.07 North Mankato 62 32 44.8 -7.3 1.33 .61 -.19 -.29 Waseca 62 32 45.3 -5.5 1.35 .54 1.21 1.13 Winnebago 63 32 47.0 -4.6 1.14 .36 .69 .67 SE DIST 9 Preston 64 25 44.3 -5.8 1.63 .80 1.37 1.20 Red Wing 65 36 46.2 -5.3 1.55 .84 -.05 -.09 Rochester 63 34 44.5 -5.6 1.43 .67 1.00 .91 Rosemount 64 33 46.1 -4.7 2.29m 1.54m .66m .59m Winona 66 34 46.8 -4.6 1.31 .47 .89 .79 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/