nd-crop-weather STATE NORTH DAKOTA CROP, LIVESTOCK & WEATHER REPORT RELEASE DATE, WEEK ENDING DATE Released: October 24, 2005 For Week Ending: October 23, 2005 ISSUE ND-CW4305 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY General: Dry conditions aided potato, sugarbeet and soybean harvest, which neared completion, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office. Corn and sunflower harvest made good progress, although reporters indicated a hard frost would accelerate crop dry down. On average, there were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork statewide. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 15 short, 81 adequate and 3 surplus, compared with the 5-year (2000-2004) average of 17 percent very short, 28 short, 51 adequate and 4 surplus. FIELD CROPS REPORT Crops: Harvest progress of the remaining crops was ahead of last year, but behind average, except soybeans. Sugarbeet harvest made good progress, with a total of 98 percent lifted, but was still behind the average of 99 percent. Potatoes dug reached 97 percent complete by week's end, slightly ahead of last year, but behind average. Soybeans were 96 percent harvested, an increase of 9 percentage points from the previous week and ahead of average. The corn for grain harvest, at 29 percent complete, was almost a week behind average. Sunflowers were 39 percent harvested, an increase of 22 percentage points combined during the week. LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT Livestock: Weaning calves was in full swing. Livestock producers have begun to market spring calves and bring livestock feed to winter feeding areas. Pasture condition ratings increased slightly to 49 percent good to excellent from 46 percent the previous week. Stockwater supplies were rated 86 percent adequate to surplus, up from the previous week's 85 percent. CROP PROGRESS TABLES Crop Development Progress 1/ October 23, 2005 with Comparisons Week Ending 2000- Crop Oct 23, Oct 16, Oct 23, 2004 2005 2005 2004 Avg. (Percent) CORN Harvested for Grain 29 13 8 47 POTATOES Dug 97 94 96 99 SOYBEANS Harvested 96 87 81 92 SUGARBEETS Lifted 98 81 95 99 SUNFLOWER Harvested 39 17 11 48 1/ Crop development percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage. NA = Not Available Crop and Pasture Condition Week Ending October 23, 2005 Crop Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent (Percent) Corn 1 5 22 52 20 Sunflower 1 5 19 56 19 Pasture and Range 4 14 33 44 5 Harvest Progress by District October 23, 2005 Crop NW NC NE WC C EC SW SC SE (Percent) Corn 15 18 29 64 25 18 52 48 32 Soybeans NA 95 92 95 99 97 NA 98 96 Sunflowers 27 30 23 29 58 36 28 78 39 NA = Not Available SOIL MOISTURE TABLE Soil Moisture: North Dakota Week Ending 2000- Date Oct 23, Oct 16, Oct 23, 2004 2005 2005 2004 Avg. (Percent) TOPSOIL Very Short 1 1 9 17 Short 15 14 19 28 Adequate 81 80 63 51 Surplus 3 5 9 4 SUBSOIL Very Short 4 4 16 19 Short 22 21 18 29 Adequate 70 70 58 49 Surplus 4 5 8 3 WEATHER SUMMARY Weather: Generally quiet weather conditions across the state, along with above average temperatures for the third week of October. Tuesday brought light shower activity to some areas. Highs reached into the mid-60s to mid-70s across the state on Monday and cooled to the mid-50s to mid-60s midweek. The weekend brought scattered rain and snow showers across the Red River Valley on Saturday. The weekend also had much cooler temperatures. High temperatures reached only into the low 40s across the central and east under overcast skies. The west saw dry weather along with slightly warmer temperatures, with highs in the mid and upper 40s. Lows were generally in the 30s across the state for the weekend. Outlook, October 24-30: Fairly seasonal weather across the state to close out the month of October. This will mean mostly clear skies and temperatures near seasonal normals. High temperatures will reach into the low 50s across the east on Monday and Tuesday and into the 60s across the western areas. Overnight lows will be in the upper 20s to low 30s. A system will bring some cloudy skies and slightly cooler temperatures on Wednesday to the Valley region. A weak low pressure system will move into the western and central areas on Saturday and bring cloudy conditions along with a slight chance of showers. High temperatures for week's end will be in the upper 40s in the northeast to the upper 50s southwest. WEATHER INFORMATION TABLES Temperature & Precipitation: Districts and Stations North Dakota, Week ending October 23, 2005 Average Seasonal Precipitation District Temperature Beginning April 1 1/ Averages Past Depart Past Total Depart Week Normal 2/ Week Normal 2/ (Degrees F) (Inches) Northwest (1) 44 3 0.05 12.87 -0.76 N. Central (2) 42 1 0.07 19.26 4.30 Northeast (3) 43 1 0.19 18.01 3.14 W. Central (4) 47 3 0.00 13.80 0.13 Central (5) 44 0 0.00 15.45 0.78 E. Central (6) 45 2 0.00 22.24 5.48 Southwest (7) 45 2 0.00 13.55 0.55 S. Central (8) 48 5 0.00 16.55 2.55 Southeast (9) 48 4 0.01 23.03 6.52 1/ Precipitation amounts may vary due to an inaccurate snowfall melt. 2/ Normal is the 1971-2000 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 October 23, 2005 Temperature Seasonal Precipitation Stations Past Week Beginning April 1 1/ by Past Depart District High Low Week Total Normal 2/ (Degrees F) (Inches) (1) Bowbells 64 21 0.09 12.00 -2.30 Williston 71 25 0.01 10.14 -1.03 Mohall 60 26 0.10 11.81 -2.72 Minot 62 27 0.00 17.51 3.01 (2) Baker 62 25 0.01 19.70 5.28 Bottineau 60 23 0.18 20.05 4.70 Rugby 60 25 0.02 18.02 2.92 (3) Cando 59 26 0.09 17.54 4.22 Cavalier 58 28 0.38 17.96 2.51 Forest River 60 31 0.07 19.14 4.28 Grand Forks 60 30 0.05 19.85 4.53 Langdon 55 29 0.30 17.23 1.85 St. Thomas 59 30 0.25 16.31 1.45 (4) Hazen 71 26 0.00 16.19 2.35 Turtle Lake 67 24 0.00 12.30 -1.88 Watford City 71 23 0.00 12.92 -0.08 (5) Carrington 63 22 0.01 12.72 -3.89 Harvey 62 22 0.00 16.81 4.04 Jamestown 66 24 0.00 21.50 6.42 Robinson 66 24 0.00 12.90 -1.34 Streeter 67 25 0.00 13.30 -1.32 (6) Dazey 63 28 0.00 20.14 3.54 Fargo 63 28 0.00 23.08 6.40 Hillsboro 63 29 0.00 23.51 6.50 (7) Beach 70 20 0.00 15.42 2.93 Bowman 71 20 0.00 11.51 -1.06 Dickinson 71 22 0.00 14.75 1.02 Hettinger 72 21 0.00 12.54 -0.69 (8) Mandan 71 25 0.00 16.76 2.27 Linton 71 26 0.00 16.34 2.84 (9) Edgeley 70 22 0.00 22.21 6.34 Oakes 69 26 0.00 23.39 7.42 Wyndmere 72 30 0.02 23.49 5.79 1/ Precipitation amounts may vary due to an inaccurate snowfall melt. 2/ Normal is the 1971-2000 average. NA=Not Available. Weather data collected from NDAWN stations and compiled by UND Aerospace Regional Weather Information Center. CONTACT INFORMATION USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office 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 USDA, NASS, North Dakota Field Office 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/