mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending Date Week Ending August 14, 2011 Issue MN-CW-32-11 Agricultural Summary Weekend rain across the state ended an otherwise dry week, according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. For the week ending August 14, 5.8 days were rated suitable for fieldwork, the second highest of the season. Topsoil moisture supplies rated surplus were 17 percent, compared to 24 percent last week. Reporters noted the need for rain in southern areas of the state, while wet conditions persisted in northwestern and central areas. Precipitation was reported at every station; however, amounts were below average statewide. The North Central District was the only district to receive above normal precipitation at nearly a half- inch. The statewide average temperature was 1.5 degrees cooler than normal, a departure from the hot conditions prevalent in earlier weeks. Producers continued to scout for soybean aphids and spray when necessary. Seventy-three percent of corn was in the milk stage, moving closer to the five-year average of 76 percent. Twenty-seven percent of corn was in the dough stage, and 2 percent was in the dent stage, compared to 6 percent last year and 8 percent average. Corn condition ratings were nearly equal to the previous week. Soybeans blooming were estimated at 93 percent, and 70 percent were setting pods, compared to 90 percent last year and 85 percent average. Soybean condition ratings improved slightly from the previous week. Eighty-eight percent of spring wheat was turning ripe and 21 percent was harvested, while 95 percent of barley was turning ripe and 21 percent was harvested. Ninety-seven percent of oats were turning ripe, and harvest was 51 percent complete. Condition ratings for all three small grains declined slightly this past week. Other harvest activity included potatoes at 9 percent complete, canola at 6 percent complete, and sweet corn at 25 percent complete. Range and pasture conditions were rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 21 percent excellent, down slightly from the previous week. Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 5.8 Soil Moisture Table Very Short Short Adequate Surplus Topsoil Moisture (%) 0 8 75 17 Crop Progress Table Crop Progress as of August 14, 2011 Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr Crop Development Week Week Year Avg Percent Corn Milk 73 40 89 76 Dough 27 8 49 37 Dent 2 0 6 8 Soybeans Blooming 93 88 99 98 Setting Pods 70 48 90 85 Oats Turning Ripe 97 91 100 97 Harvested 51 23 80 72 Spring Wheat Turning Ripe 88 76 100 90 Harvested 21 6 71 46 Barley Turning Ripe 95 77 100 91 Harvested 21 7 67 58 Dry Beans Blooming 95 87 99 NA Setting Pods 73 49 88 NA Fully Podded 25 1 46 NA Potatoes Harvested 9 5 15 14 Canola Harvested 6 3 19 15 Sweet Corn Harvested 25 17 30 27 Crop Condition Table Condition as of August 14, 2011 in % Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc Pasture 1 4 15 59 21 Soybeans 2 5 20 53 20 Corn 2 5 18 58 17 Oats 1 5 23 60 11 Barley 1 2 23 63 11 Spring Wheat 2 7 29 51 11 Sugarbeets 3 13 29 42 13 Potatoes 0 3 13 52 32 Canola 0 13 38 46 3 Dry Beans 1 6 21 48 24 Sunflowers 1 6 44 40 9 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 8/8/2011 through 8/14/2011 Temperature Precipitation G D D High Low Week Depart Week Depart From Norm Since Depart Ave from Total Past Four Since May from Norm Week Weeks 4/1 17 Norm NW DIST 1 Crookston 85 53 68.5 -1.0 .76 .08 1.23 .21 1532 0 Itasca 82 48 66.6 .7 .07 -.79 -2.26m .38m 1331m 60m Moorhead 85 55 70.2 -.3 .19 -.39 3.83 7.57 1707 106 Warroad 83 49 65.0 -2.1 .16 -.51 -.63 1.76 1271 -83 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 83 46 66.2 -.3 1.37 .51 2.55 3.39 1447 94 Intl. Falls 81 39 62.4 -2.9 1.15 .45 -1.16 .39 1276 4 NE DIST 3 Duluth 81 50 65.8 .8 1.17 .24 3.05 3.29 1249 71 Grand Marais 79 47 61.2 -2.3 .34 -.35 .95 -.43m 703m-144m Hibbing 80 38 62.4 -2.6 .88 .07 -.56 -1.84 1243 10 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 80 56 68.3 -.9 .35 -.47 2.71 7.37 1618 81 Browns Valley 85 53 68.8 -2.6 .06 -.61 -.43 3.36 1633 -58 Canby 86 57 70.2 -2.1 .23 -.41 -1.41 3.15 1754 -15 Montevideo 84 54 67.7 -3.3 .30 -.44 -.80 2.69 1726 38 Morris 82 55 67.5 -2.9 .50 -.29 .17 3.92 1642 -1 Wheaton 85 57 69.0 -2.5 .57 -.02 2.41 5.16 1670 -6 CENT DIST 5 Becker M M M M .63 -.36 .47 8.11 602m-961m Collegeville 84 56 70.5 -.9 1.25 .38 1.20 8.17 1820 110 Hutchinson 86 55 69.9 -.4 .76 -.19 .26 8.46m 1761 67 Melrose 82 54 68.6 -1.7 .07 -.74 .73 5.65 1637 0 Olivia 83 52 67.2 -2.6 .30 -.48 -1.68 2.48 1723 54 St. Cloud 84 52 68.7 .1 .79 -.11 .74 4.35 1682 159 Wadena 80 51 66.0 -1.1 .35 -.38 -1.66m -3.89m 796m-585m Willmar 82 52 67.2 -2.1 .61 -.26 1.33 5.65 1670 63 EC DIST 6 Aitkin 83m 62m 72.5m 6.6m 0m -.93m .38m 5.01m 1460m 154m Forest Lake 86 53 69.1 -.7 0 -1.07 .14 3.47 1733 113 Hinckley 79 46 64.6 -2.1 .04 -.93 1.51 2.00m 1335m -39m MSP Airport 84 58 71.8 -.1 .62 -.33 -.83 2.98 1962 197 St. Paul - UofM 81 55 69.4 -2.1 1.06 .04 3.21 7.86 1781 50 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 84 54 68.4 -2.1 .31 -.48 -1.97 4.73 1833 101 Marshall 85 54 69.4 -2.3 .12 -.60 -1.63 2.28 1784 27 Pipestone 84 49 67.2 -3.5 .58 -.12 -.16 7.82 1666 5 Redwood Falls 85 53 69.4 -2.9 .17 -.68 -2.74 .53 1871 52 Worthington 82 52 67.6 -1.8 .25 -.56 -1.71 7.27 1738 110 SC DIST 8 Faribault M M M M M M M .37m 613m-1041m North Mankato 80 54 67.6 -3.2 .70 -.33 -1.73 .93 1766 47 Waseca 82 51 67.2 -2.9 .51 -.58 -1.66 3.66 1836 158 Winnebago 86 55 70.4 -.3 .13 -.87 -3.35 1.56 1877 144 SE DIST 9 Preston 83 49 67.0 -2.4 .25 -.83 -2.86 -1.06 1765 179 Red Wing 84 58 70.4 -.8 .01 -.89 -.31 2.61 1855 152 Rochester 81 51 66.8 -2.2 .19 -.82 -3.31 .36 1769 203 Rosemount 81 53 68.6 -1.2 1.16 .09 -1.57 6.21 1800 169 Winona 83 57 69.6 -1.7 .53 -.41 3.52 3.66 1784m 52m m=some data missing Corn growing degree days (GDD) are calculated by subtracting a 50 degree base temperature from the average of the maximum and minimum temperature for the day. The daily maximum is limited to 86 degrees and minimum of 50 degrees. 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/