mn-crop-weather State Minnesota Weekly Crop-Weather Week Ending Date Week Ending October 7, 2012 Issue MN-CW-40-12 Agricultural Summary Corn and soybean harvest continued well ahead of last year and the five- year average pace, according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. As of October 7, 95 percent of the state's soybeans were harvested, compared to 69 percent last year and 55 percent average. The average moisture content of harvested soybeans was 9 percent. The corn harvest was 78 percent complete, compared to 16 percent last year and 11 percent average. The average moisture content of harvested corn was 14 percent. Statewide, 6.4 days were rated suitable for fieldwork during the week. Variable weather conditions were seen across the state this week. The season's first significant snow storm crossed northwestern Minnesota. Record snowfall amounts were recorded on Thursday in some areas, while most of the state remained dry throughout the week. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 45 percent very short, 41 percent short, and 14 percent adequate, compared to 44 percent very short, 41 percent short, and 15 percent adequate a week earlier. Other harvest activities continued ahead of average pace. Sunflowers were 67 percent harvested, compared to 28 percent last year and 20 percent average. Sunflowers were rated 84 percent in good to excellent condition. Sugarbeets were 41 percent harvested, compared to 15 percent last year, and 37 percent average. Sugarbeets were rated 78 percent in good to excellent condition. The dry bean and potato harvests were nearly complete. Dry beans were 97 percent harvested, compared to 90 percent last year and 87 percent average. The potato harvest was 95 percent complete, compared to 84 percent last year and 82 percent average. Pasture and range condition was rated 35 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 12 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 6.4 Soil Moisture Table Very Short Short Adequate Surplus Topsoil Moisture (%) 45 41 14 0 Crop Progress Table Crop Progress as of October 7, 2012 Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr Crop Development Week Week Year Avg Percent Corn Harvested 78 53 16 11 Corn Moisture Content 14 16 19 23 Soybeans Harvested 95 76 69 55 Soybeans Moisture Content 9 10 11 12 Potatoes Harvested 95 83 84 82 Sugarbeets Harvested 41 20 15 37 Sunflowers Harvested 67 36 28 20 Dry Beans Harvested 97 93 90 87 Crop Condition Table Condition as of October 7, 2012 in % Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc Pasture 35 27 25 12 1 Sugarbeets 1 2 19 61 17 Sunflowers 1 2 13 62 22 Weather Information Table Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 10/1/2012 through 10/7/2012 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 86 27 47.0 -2.2 .60 .07 -1.56 -6.31 Itasca M M M M M M M -4.35m Moorhead 77 26 45.8 -5.6 .38 -.18 -1.96 -5.62 Warroad 82 25 46.2 -1.5 1.30m .71m -.76m -1.24m NC DIST 2 Grand Rapids 75 29 45.4 -3.6 .04 -.68 -2.60 5.75 Intl. Falls 69 25 42.2 -4.2 .48 -.09 -1.55 -2.18 NE DIST 3 Duluth 74 25 45.6 -2.8 0 -.77 -2.97 3.41 Grand Marais 69 32 47.7 -1.2 0 -.75 -2.47 .56 Hibbing 75 18 42.0 -3.9 .06 -.60 -2.24 1.93 WC DIST 4 Alexandria 77 26 47.0 -4.1 .01 -.59 -2.54 -2.00 Breckenridge 86 22 48.1 -2.5 .08 -.59 -2.47 -4.43 Browns Valley 80 22 47.7 -3.8 0 -.55 -2.23 -5.63 Canby M M M M M M -2.35m -5.33m Montevideo 86 22 47.6 -4.7 0 -.62 -2.64 -2.86 Morris 85 21 46.2 -5.0 0 -.65 -2.64 -5.75 Wheaton 87 26 48.4 -3.1 0 -.61 -2.76 -2.31 CENT DIST 5 Becker 79 24 48.4 -4.4 0 -.77 -3.36 -1.14 Collegeville 73 29 49.7 -4.2 0 -.71 -3.03 -1.84 Hutchinson 78 20 49.7 -3.1 0 -.55 -2.06 .92 Melrose 83 23 46.8 -4.0 0 -.70 -2.72 -1.76 Olivia M M M M M M -2.36m -4.19m St. Cloud 77 21 46.8 -4.4 0 -.67 -2.87 -2.15 Wadena 83 25 46.8 -2.2 0 -.70 -2.38 2.31 Willmar 83 21 47.0 -5.9 0 -.63 -2.80 -4.88 EC DIST 6 Aitkin 80 21 49.9 .5 0 -.74 -2.75m 10.57m Forest Lake 81 27 52.1 -1.3 0 -.73 -2.87 .68 MSP Airport 78 28 51.2 -3.3 0 -.60 -2.35 .26 Mora 77 22 46.9 -3.3 .02 -.70 -2.83 1.19 St. Paul - UofM 77 27 50.6 -2.8 0 -.73 -2.77 -2.50 SW DIST 7 Lamberton 83 21 48.5 -4.6 0 -.58 -2.00 -2.55 Marshall 83 28 50.8 -2.5 0 -.57 -1.86m -3.35m Pipestone 82 18 46.4 -5.8 0 -.63 -2.08 .05 Redwood Falls 80 23 48.8 -4.9 0 -.56 -2.05 -1.75 Worthington 81 22 48.7 -4.5 0 -.55 -2.43 -6.08 SC DIST 8 North Mankato 79 25 50.4 -3.4 0 -.58 -2.69 -9.64 Owatonna 79 26 49.6 -4.5 0 -.65 -2.82 -1.98 Waseca 79 18 49.0 -4.8 0 -.67 -2.69 -8.34 Winnebago 80 21 51.2 -2.9 0 -.63 -2.43 -5.04 SE DIST 9 Cannon Falls 75 25 48.8 -3.8 0 -.61 -2.53 5.87m Preston 77 22 49.1 -4.1 0 -.61 -2.48 -8.12 Red Wing 78 29 51.4 -2.6 0 -.62 -2.84 4.35 Rochester 79 28 51.6 -2.1 0 -.59 -2.33 -7.40 Rosemount 78 23 51.0 -2.6 0 -.71 -2.82 .33 Winona Dam 75 34 53.0 -1.5 0 -.61 -2.69 -7.34 m=some missing data 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/