nd-crop-weather STATE NORTH DAKOTA CROP, LIVESTOCK & WEATHER REPORT RELEASE DATE, WEEK ENDING DATE Released: April 4, 2005 For Week Ending: April 3, 2005 ISSUE ND-CW1405 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY General: Mild weather this past week improved conditions as spring fieldwork starts, according to the North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Producers continue to prepare machinery and line up inputs for spring fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 6 percent very short, 22 short, 65 adequate and 7 surplus. FIELD CROPS REPORT Crops: Field conditions across the state are improving. Some fertilizer applications have been carried out. The statewide average starting date for fieldwork is expected to be April 14, the same as last year. The record late starting date for fieldwork was May 13, 1979. The expected starting dates range from April 8 in the southeast district to April 22 in the north central district. LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT Livestock: Mild weather conditions during the month helped maintain feed resources. Calving and lambing proceeded during March with little difficulty due to mild conditions. Calving was 53 percent complete and lambing was 72 percent complete compared with 56 and 71 percent last year, respectively. Shearing was 83 percent complete. Cattle, calves, sheep and lamb conditions were rated mostly good to excellent. Hay and forage supplies were rated 2 percent very short, 17 short, 75 adequate and 6 surplus. This compares to last year's rating of 1 percent very short, 12 short, 80 adequate and 7 surplus. Grain and concentrate supplies were 1 percent very short, 6 short, 84 adequate and 9 surplus. Pasture conditions have improved from last week and were 6 percent growing and 94 percent still dormant. Livestock Condition Week Ending April 3, 2005 Crop Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent (Percent) Cows 0 2 13 68 17 Calves 0 1 12 68 19 Sheep 1 2 15 65 17 Lambs 0 2 15 67 16 SOIL TEMPERATURE SUMMARY Soil Temperatures: Average soil temperatures on April 3 ranged from a low of 32 degrees F in Langdon to a high of 47 in Williston. These readings reflect daily average temperatures under 4 inches of bare soil recorded by the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN). SOIL TEMPERATURE TABLE Average Soil Temperatures*, April 3, 2005 Station Temperature Station Temperature Degrees F Degrees F NORTHWEST CENTRAL Bowbells 36 Carrington 43 Minot 40 Robinson 37 Williston 47 Streeter 39 NORTH CENTRAL EAST CENTRAL Baker 42 Dazey 40 Bottineau 36 Fargo 38 Rolla 35 SOUTHWEST NORTHEAST Bowman 45 Cavalier 38 Dickinson 41 Grand Forks 38 SOUTH CENTRAL Langdon 32 Linton 43 WEST CENTRAL SOUTHEAST Turtle Lake 42 Oakes 40 Watford City 44 Wyndmere 39 * Thermometers located 4 inches under bare soil. Source: NDAWN, Department of Soil Science, NDSU. SOIL MOISTURE TABLE Soil Moisture: North Dakota, April 3, 2005 Date V. Short Short Adq. Surplus (Percent) TOPSOIL This Week 6 22 65 7 Last Week NA NA NA NA April 4, 2004 5 21 63 11 SUBSOIL This Week 12 21 61 6 Last Week NA NA NA NA April 4, 2004 7 31 58 4 WEATHER SUMMARY Weather: Fairly mild and dry weather ended the month of March and began the month of April. Little precipitation fell across the state during the week. Some areas in central and western North Dakota saw scattered showers on March 29 and 30. Temperatures for the week remained above seasonal averages. Temperatures warmed into the 60s to low 70s across most of the state for the beginning of the week. Temperatures then cooled off closer to seasonal norms for the remainder of the week. The weekend saw fair weather and mild temperatures in the 50s and 60s. Outlook, April 4-10: The first week of April looks to begin on a wet note. A storm system moving out of the Rockies will bring scattered showers and possible thundershowers across the state on Monday and Tuesday. Rainfall amounts should generally be under 0.25 of an inch. Temperatures will remain well above average to start out the week, with highs in the upper 50s to lower 70s and lows in the upper 30s to mid-40s. Temperatures will cool down closer to seasonal norms for midweek. Rain and snow showers will be possible in the eastern areas on Wednesday morning. The week should end with mostly clear skies and temperatures remaining above average, with highs in the mid-50s to mid-60s and lows generally in the 30s. WEATHER INFORMATION TABLES Temperature & Precipitation: Districts and Stations North Dakota, Week ending April 3, 2005 Average Seasonal Precipitation District Temperature Beginning April 1 Averages Past Depart Past Depart Week Normal 1/ Week Total Normal 1/ (Degrees F) (Inches) Northwest (1) 45 13 N. Central (2) 43 12 Northeast (3) 45 13 W. Central (4) 46 11 NOT Central (5) 44 11 AVAILABLE E. Central (6) 47 14 Southwest (7) 46 11 S. Central (8) 48 13 Southeast (9) 49 14 1/ Normal is the 1961-90 average. NA=Not Available. Weather data collected from NDAWN stations and compiled by UND Aerospace Regional Weather Information Center. Temperature & Precipitation: Districts and Stations North Dakota, Week ending April 3, 2005 Temperature Seasonal Precipitation Stations Past Week Beginning April 1 by Past Depart District High Low Week Total Normal 1/ (Degrees F) (Inches) (1) Bowbells 59 26 Williston 69 26 Mohall 62 27 Minot 65 27 (2) Baker 62 24 Bottineau 63 21 Rugby 63 22 (3) Cando 62 26 Cavalier 65 25 Forest River 65 30 Grand Forks 61 30 Langdon 59 26 St. Thomas 60 28 (4) Hazen 71 19 NOT Turtle Lake 69 21 AVAILABLE Watford City 69 26 (5) Carrington 67 21 Harvey 64 21 Jamestown 68 23 Robinson 66 22 Streeter 67 20 (6) Dazey 67 26 Fargo 67 27 Hillsboro 68 30 (7) Beach 70 23 Bowman 73 19 Dickinson 72 22 Hettinger 73 19 (8) Mandan 71 24 Linton 71 24 (9) Edgeley 70 26 Oakes 72 26 Wyndmere 69 29 1/ Normal is the 1961-90 average. NA=Not Available. Weather data collected from NDAWN stations and compiled by UND Aerospace Regional Weather Information Center. CONTACT INFORMATION North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA Cooperating with: NDSU Extension Service, Farm Service Agency, ND Ag Weather Network (NDAWN) and UND Aerospace Regional Weather Information Center FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: David Knopf, Director North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service NDSU, IACC Bldg., Room 448 P.O. Box 3166 Fargo, ND 58108-3166 Telephone: (701) 239-5306 E-Mail: nass-nd@nass.usda.gov Internet: http://www.nass.usda.gov/nd/