mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending Date Week Ending September 25, 2011 Issue MN-CW-38-11 Agricultural Summary Harvest was underway for corn and soybeans, according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. As of September 25, 2 percent of corn was harvested, compared to 2 percent last year and 3 percent for the five- year average. Soybeans were 3 percent harvested compared to 6 percent last year and 9 percent average. Other harvest activities included corn chopped for silage at 82 percent complete, dry beans at 50 percent, and potatoes at 48 percent. The sugarbeet harvest advanced 1 percentage point to 4 percent harvested, compared to 16 percent last year and 12 percent average. The sweet corn harvest was virtually complete at 97 percent. Dry conditions persisted despite scattered rain showers that fell early in the week. Amounts varied from near zero in southwestern areas to almost an inch in northwestern areas. Topsoil moisture supplies held steady from last week and were rated 13 percent very short, 35 percent short, 50 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Fall-like weather prevailed as below average temperatures were observed at most reporting stations. Temperatures were 3.6 degrees below normal statewide, and 5.7 days were rated suitable for fieldwork. Ninety-six percent of corn was in the dent stage, compared to 97 percent average, while 52 percent of corn was mature, compared to 58 percent average. Corn condition ratings were nearly equal to last week. Ninety-one percent of soybeans were turning yellow, compared to 97 percent average, while 74 percent of soybeans were dropping leaves, compare to 84 percent average. Thirty-six percent of the state's soybeans were mature, compared to 52 percent average. Soybean condition ratings were nearly equal to last week. Pasture condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 5.7 Soil Moisture Table Very Short Short Adequate Surplus Topsoil Moisture (%) 13 35 50 2 Crop Progress Table Crop Progress as of September 25, 2011 Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr Crop Development Week Week Year Avg Percent Corn Dent 96 92 100 97 Mature 52 28 75 58 Harvested 2 0 2 3 Corn Silage Harvested 82 68 91 80 Soybeans Turning Yellow 91 73 99 97 Dropping Leaves 74 41 87 84 Mature 36 7 58 52 Harvested 3 NA 6 9 Sugarbeets Harvested 4 3 16 12 Dry Beans Leaves Yellowing 95 92 100 NA Dropping Leaves 87 73 96 NA Harvested 50 31 63 60 Potatoes Harvested 48 38 60 59 Sweet Corn Harvested 97 89 95 94 Crop Condition Table Condition as of September 25, 2011 in % Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc Pasture 6 19 32 34 9 Soybeans 4 13 34 41 8 Corn 3 11 29 47 10 Sugarbeets 5 15 35 39 6 Potatoes 1 2 25 55 17 Dry Beans 4 11 43 34 8 Sunflowers 2 9 40 43 6 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 9/19/2011 through 9/25/2011 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 76 33 54.6 .3 .87 .38 -.79 -1.72 2157 75 Itasca 71 31 49.2 -1.5 .49 -.17 -2.01 .40 1825m 116m Moorhead 78 35 55.0 -.4 .17 -.33 -1.63 4.85 2366 184 Warroad 71 32 49.7 -1.9 1.37 .78 -.27 .26 1794 -23 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 72 34 48.8 -3.8 .56 -.14 -1.95 1.54 1967 148 Intl. Falls 71 28 48.0 -2.7 .76 .08 -.89 -1.65 1776 82 NE DIST 3 Duluth 68 36 49.4 -3.1 .31 -.61 -2.41 -.02 1760 136 Grand Marais 71 41 50.8 -2.2 .79 .01 -1.10 -2.26m 1071m-219m Hibbing 68 31 46.8 -4.4 .53 -.20 -1.50 -4.28 1722 62 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 72 36 52.4 -2.9 .44 -.15 -1.60 5.64 2207 110 Browns Valley 79 30 52.3 -4.9 .34 -.07 -1.23 2.31 2251 -66 Canby 79 35 54.0 -5.1 .16 -.38 -1.86 .12 2431 -13 Montevideo 77 33 52.8 -4.9 .19 -.30 -1.25 1.00 2356 39 Morris 75 34 51.6 -4.9 .37 -.11 -1.50 1.86 2221 -23 Wheaton 77 37 53.4 -3.3 .41 -.07 -1.42 4.23 2292 -3 CENT DIST 5 Becker M M M M .22 -.45 -2.35 4.18 2319m 204m Collegeville 75 36 53.2 -5.4 .30 -.40 -2.26 7.42 2501 144 Hutchinson 74 38 52.6 -4.8 .27 -.20 -1.70 5.79m 2410 110 Melrose 71 34 51.0 -5.3 .35 -.27 -2.01 2.53 2233 3 Olivia 75 35 52.6 -4.2 .04 -.55 -2.35 -.44 2322 59 St. Cloud 73 34 51.8 -3.2 .19 -.43 -2.05 2.83 2290 227 Wadena 71 33 49.5 -3.7 .60 .01 -1.48 -5.88m 1317m-556m Willmar 74 34 51.2 -5.1 .65 .05 -1.06 4.63 2246 64 EC DIST 6 Aitkin 70 32 49.3 -3.6 .54 -.11 -1.91 3.13 2154 387 Forest Lake 75 37 53.6 -3.3 .31 -.40 -2.38 .14 2399 183 Hinckley 70 32 48.6 -4.3 .62 -.10 -1.59 .21m 1846m -7m MSP Airport 75 41 56.4 -2.2 .09 -.47 -2.34 .39 2700 276 St. Paul - UofM 72 38 53.0 -5.9 .30 -.39 -2.45 5.44 2439 52 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 79 30 53.3 -4.6 .04 -.51 -2.36 1.16 2475 118 Marshall 79 37 54.8 -3.7 0 -.50 -1.88 -.86 2445 30 Pipestone 77 30 51.2 -5.6 0 -.62 -1.98 4.81 2267 -5 Redwood Falls 78 33 54.3 -5.1 0 -.52 -2.31 -2.27 2539 41 Worthington 78 32 53.0 -3.8 .17 -.37 -1.56 4.24 2344 128 SC DIST 8 Faribault M M M M M M M -4.78m 613m-1648m North Mankato 73 37 52.9 -5.6 .26 -.39 -2.02 -2.79 2384 27 Waseca 73 37 54.0 -3.9 .30 -.37 -2.26 -.46 2454 155 Winnebago 76 35 54.0 -5.2 .21 -.34 -1.67 -1.51 2535 150 SE DIST 9 Preston 76 34 55.0 -2.4 .80 .04 -1.38 -3.92 2388 207 Red Wing 74 39 54.2 -4.1 .23 -.54 -2.65 -.39 2538 196 Rochester 75 39 55.4 -1.4 .29 -.37 -1.06 -2.07 2367 221 Rosemount 73 36 54.2 -3.6 .14 -.61 -2.84 2.30 2458 220 Winona 73 44 56.2 -2.6 .43 -.32 -1.93 .90 2461m 80m 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/