mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending Date Week Ending September 18, 2011 Issue MN-CW-37-11 Agricultural Summary Harvest of canola, sweet corn and dry beans advanced following another relatively dry week, according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. As of September 18, canola and sweet corn harvests were nearing completion at 98 and 89 percent harvested respectively while dry beans were 31 percent harvested. Potato harvest advanced 9 percentage points to 38 percent harvested, 10 points behind last year and 11 points behind average. Pre-pile harvest of sugarbeets continued with 3 percent of the crop harvested. Statewide, 6.5 days were rated suitable for fieldwork. Overnight temperatures on September 15 fell into the low 30s to mid 20s setting record lows in several Minnesota communities. Reporters noted the freezing temperatures ended the growing season in portions of the state, but indicated the impact on row crops was unclear. Corn and soybean condition ratings declined during the week. Statewide, 46 percent of corn was rated in good condition with 10 percent rated excellent. Forty-three percent of soybeans were in good condition, 8 percent in excellent. Ninety-two percent of corn was in the dent stage, 9 points higher than a week ago and 1 point ahead of average. Twenty-eight percent of corn was rated mature compared to 46 percent last year and 37 percent average. Forty-one percent of soybeans were dropping leaves, up 32 points from last week, but 23 points behind last year and 18 behind average. Seven percent of soybeans were rated mature, compared to 22 percent last year and 23 percent average. Topsoil moisture supplies declined. Fifty-one percent of the state's topsoil was rated adequate with 34 percent short and 14 percent very short. A majority of reporting stations ranged from 1 to 3 inches below normal for precipitation over the last four weeks. Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 6.5 Soil Moisture Table Very Short Short Adequate Surplus Topsoil Moisture (%) 14 34 51 1 Crop Progress Table Crop Progress as of September 18, 2011 Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr Crop Development Week Week Year Avg Percent Corn Dent 92 83 97 91 Mature 28 10 46 37 Corn Silage Harvested 68 40 80 65 Soybeans Turning Yellow 73 39 93 89 Dropping Leaves 41 9 64 59 Mature 7 NA 22 23 Sugarbeets Harvested 3 1 12 8 Dry Beans Leaves Yellowing 92 73 100 NA Dropping Leaves 73 40 9 NA Harvested 31 NA 48 43 Potatoes Harvested 38 29 48 49 Canola Harvested 98 88 100 82 Sweet Corn Harvested 89 81 91 88 Crop Condition Table Condition as of September 18, 2011 in % Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc Pasture 5 17 34 37 7 Soybeans 4 13 32 43 8 Corn 4 12 28 46 10 Sugarbeets 5 15 35 39 6 Potatoes 0 2 20 55 23 Dry Beans 3 9 35 40 13 Sunflowers 1 8 48 37 6 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 9/12/2011 through 9/18/2011 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 89 29 53.2 -3.9 .13 -.39 -1.81 -2.10 2100 73 Itasca 87 29 50.8 -2.5 .02 -.67 -2.53 .58 1779m 111m Moorhead 81 30 54.3 -3.8 .06 -.45 -1.83 5.18 2303 180 Warroad 80 27 50.2 -4.0 .18 -.45 -1.67 -.52 1754 -21 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 84 26 48.9 -6.0 .19 -.53 -2.38 1.68 1936 164 Intl. Falls 77 19 46.5 -6.7 .39 -.34 -1.68 -1.72 1738 83 NE DIST 3 Duluth 82 30 50.4 -4.4 .64 -.36 -2.32 .59 1732 156 Grand Marais 70 33 49.6 -5.7 .74 -.07 -1.79 -2.27m 1041m -201m Hibbing 81 20 46.1 -7.6 .28 -.48 -1.90 -4.08 1693 76 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 84 32 53.0 -5.0 .41 -.22 -1.63 5.79 2161 123 Browns Valley 91 28 54.8 -5.1 0 -.42 -1.27 2.37 2190 -59 Canby 92 32 56.9 -4.8 .03 -.53 -2.09 .50 2373 6 Montevideo 88 30 55.4 -4.9 .12 -.40 -.88 1.30 2304 58 Morris 87 31 56.0 -3.2 .05 -.43 -1.63 1.97 2176 -3 Wheaton 88 33 55.8 -3.6 0 -.49 -1.54 4.30 2241 12 CENT DIST 5 Becker 88 29 57.4 -.6 .35 -.39 -2.69 4.63 2319 264 Collegeville 83 35 56.4 -4.7 .30 -.45 -1.48 7.82 2447 164 Hutchinson 87 34 56.6 -3.3 .06 -.47 -1.98 5.99m 2362 130 Melrose 85 30 55.0 -4.0 .07 -.57 -2.23 2.80 2192 26 Olivia 89 30 56.0 -3.3 .24 -.41 -1.81 .11 2274 78 St. Cloud 88 29 53.2 -4.4 .39 -.29 -2.00 3.26 2244 239 Wadena 87 26 52.0 -3.7 .18 -.42 -1.71 -5.89m 1280m -543m Willmar 85 30 54.8 -4.0 .07 -.58 -1.56 4.58 2204 86 EC DIST 6 Aitkin 86 28 51.7 -3.6 0 -.68 -2.41 3.24 2118 399 Forest Lake 90 31 57.4 -2.0 0 -.77 -2.94 .54 2351 202 Hinckley 83 27 52.7 -2.8 0 -.76 -2.08 .31m 1819m 15m MSP Airport 90 36 57.8 -3.4 .20 -.42 -2.62 .86 2643 294 St. Paul - UofM 87 33 57.5 -3.8 .04 -.70 -2.92 5.82 2400 90 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 91 29 55.8 -4.6 .01 -.59 -2.59 1.67 2417 132 Marshall 90 32 56.7 -4.4 .20 -.33 -2.04 -.36 2385 46 Pipestone 91 29 55.8 -3.7 .17 -.48 -1.81 5.43 2214 9 Redwood Falls 91 30 55.8 -6.1 .12 -.46 -1.56 -1.75 2479 61 Worthington 87 29 54.0 -5.3 .03 -.56 -1.85 4.61 2289 139 SC DIST 8 Faribault M M M M M M M -4.11m 613m-1579m North Mankato 88 33 55.6 -5.3 .16 -.56 -2.50 -2.40 2337 54 Waseca 88 32 56.8 -3.7 .23 -.51 -2.72 -.09 2408 181 Winnebago 89 32 56.6 -5.0 .30 -.30 -1.79 -1.16 2482 175 SE DIST 9 Preston 88 30 56.5 -3.3 .05 -.80 -1.90 -3.96 2330 218 Red Wing 89 35 58.4 -2.4 .16 -.68 -2.82 .15 2489 220 Rochester 87 31 55.1 -4.1 .31 -.42 -1.08 -1.69 2314 234 Rosemount 89 32 57.5 -2.6 .20 -.62 -3.12m 2.91m 2407 240 Winona 87 36 58.1 -3.1 .13 -.69 -2.34 1.22 2408m 102m 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/