mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending Date Week Ending October 9, 2011 Issue MN-CW-40-11 Agricultural Summary Producers continued to make rapid progress on the soybean harvest this past week aided by above normal temperatures and continued dry conditions, according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. As of October 9, the soybean harvest jumped 48 percentage points from last week to 83 percent complete, compared to 74 percent last year and 60 percent for the five-year average. The average moisture content of harvested soybeans was 10 percent. Statewide, 6.5 days were rated suitable for fieldwork. Some reporters noted that dry conditions have made fall tillage difficult. The statewide average temperature was 15 degrees above normal for the week. Precipitation amounts were light with virtually no precipitation in northwestern and southeastern areas and about .3 inch in central and southwestern areas. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 18 percent very short, 43 percent short, and 39 percent adequate, compared to 19 percent very short, 35 percent short, and 46 percent adequate during the previous week. Ninety-four percent of corn was in the mature stage, compared to 98 percent last year and 87 percent average. Corn was 20 percent harvested, compared to 15 percent last year and 13 percent average. The average moisture content of harvested corn was 18 percent. Corn condition was rated 4 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. The dry bean harvest was virtually complete at 95 percent, compared to 94 percent last year and 89 percent average. Potatoes were 88 percent harvested, compared to 90 percent last year and 86 percent average. Sunflowers were 36 percent harvested, compared to 44 percent last year and 20 percent average. Sugarbeets were 16 percent harvested, compared to 55 percent last year and 50 percent average. Pasture and range condition was rated 11 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 6.5 Soil Moisture Table Very Short Short Adequate Surplus Topsoil Moisture (%) 18 43 39 0 Crop Progress Table Crop Progress as of October 9, 2011 Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr Crop Development Week Week Year Avg Percent Corn Mature 94 80 98 87 Harvested 20 6 15 13 Moisture Content 18 23 19 23 Soybeans Dropping Leaves 99 94 100 99 Mature 97 81 97 94 Harvested 83 35 74 60 Moisture Content 10 13 11 12 Sugarbeets Harvested 16 13 55 50 Sunflowers Harvested 36 8 44 20 Dry Beans Harvested 95 77 94 89 Potatoes Harvested 88 73 90 86 Crop Condition Table Condition as of October 9, 2011 in % Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc Pasture 11 16 36 34 3 Soybeans 3 10 32 45 10 Corn 4 10 29 46 11 Sugarbeets 8 19 39 30 4 Sunflowers 2 11 51 33 3 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 10/3/2011 through 10/9/2011 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 90 43 69.0 19.9 0 -.46 -.94 -2.65 2366 207 Itasca 85 44 65.1 19.1 .10 -.53 -1.91 -.66 2011m 246m Moorhead 89 47 68.8 18.5 .32 -.17 -1.43 4.19 2595 328 Warroad 84 39 63.4 16.6 0m -.47m -.63m -.71m 1965 88 NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 81 43 62.6 14.4 .88 .21 -1.09 1.12 2138 250 Intl. Falls 82 41 62.3 16.2 .06 -.46 -1.31 -2.70 1947 197 NE DIST 3 Duluth 80 45 61.0 13.2 .13 -.52 -1.99 -1.03 1905 212 Grand Marais 71 43 56.0 7.6 .01 -.65 -1.35 -3.56m 1165m-196m Hibbing 79 33 58.6 12.1 .42 -.22 -1.27 -4.87 1879 159 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 85 50 66.1 16.0 .47 -.07 -.98 5.03 2401 219 Browns Valley 90 46 66.3 14.7 .09 -.32 -1.21 1.59 2453 39 Canby 86 53 67.6 13.8 .40 -.10 -1.52 -.49 2639 80 Montevideo 88 41 66.2 14.0 .95 .49 -.68 1.01 2561 141 Morris 86 46 66.1 15.1 .22 -.32 -1.35 1.05 2416 80 Wheaton 87 48 66.9 15.6 .02 -.43 -1.45 3.34 2495 108 CENT DIST 5 Becker 86 45 66.2 15.5 .07 -.47 -1.90 3.12 2555 352 Collegeville 86 45 67.4 13.8 .40 -.21 -1.71 6.56 2719 251 Hutchinson 86 36 66.0 14.0 .13 -.30 -1.42 5.04m 2611 210 Melrose 84 42 65.1 14.2 .24 -.35 -1.79 1.58 2418 98 Olivia 88 42 67.2 15.6 .35 -.13 -1.62 -1.10 2524 163 St. Cloud 86 42 67.8 17.8 .83 .28 -1.02 2.53 2504 358 Wadena 84 49 65.5 17.2 .58 -.03 -1.03 -6.50m 1495m-449m Willmar 86 46 67.2 16.1 .32 -.21 -1.29 3.87 2444 169 EC DIST 6 Aitkin M M M M M M -1.67m 2.25m 2219m 380m Forest Lake 87 44 68.6 16.6 0 -.60 -2.25 -.95 2605 286 Hinckley 84 38 62.4 14.6 .17 -.47 -1.95 -.87m 2014m 91m MSP Airport 88 50 72.2 18.8 0 -.49 -1.84 -.56 2940 403 St. Paul - UofM 86 45 68.6 14.9 0 -.60 -2.25 4.28 2639 136 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 87 49 68.8 16.2 .33 -.14 -1.76 .50 2691 229 Marshall 87 51 68.8 15.9 .24 -.22 -1.52 -1.55 2660 135 Pipestone 85 47 67.6 16.2 .37 -.18 -1.87 4.05 2474 105 Redwood Falls 89 44 69.9 15.8 .27 -.17 -1.63 -2.93 2776 160 Worthington 85 48 67.6 16.2 .15 -.31 -1.75 3.43 2549 236 SC DIST 8 Faribault M M M M M M M -5.92m 613m -1750m North Mankato 86 43 68.8 15.3 0 -.58 -2.13 -3.98 2589 119 Waseca 86 41 67.4 14.9 0 -.58 -1.97 -1.55 2648 242 Winnebago 86 43 67.5 13.8 0 -.55 -1.72 -2.58 2741 241 SE DIST 9 Preston 84 33 65.0 12.6 0 -.58 -1.15 -4.31 2569 284 Red Wing 87 39 67.1 14.1 0 -.56 -2.33 -1.50 2732 280 Rochester 85 44 67.8 16.2 0 -.53 -1.26 -2.53 2564 319 Rosemount 88 42 67.8 14.9 0 -.60 -2.36 1.17 2658 314 Winona 84 37 65.4 11.9 0 -.55 -1.12 .80 2628m 133m 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/