nd-crop-weather STATE NORTH DAKOTA CROP, LIVESTOCK & WEATHER REPORT RELEASE DATE, MONTH ENDING DATE Released: January 3, 2006 For Month Ending: January 1, 2006 ISSUE ND-CW0106 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY General: Temperatures were above normal across the state during December, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office. The mild winter conditions have allowed ranchers to continue to graze livestock. As a result, ranchers were able to retain sufficient hay and forage supplies which were rated 96 percent adequate to surplus. Reporters noted that producers were busy hauling grain and livestock to market. Some grain storage problems were also reported. Statewide average snow cover was 5.5 inches on January 1 compared with 6.2 inches last year. The northeast and west central districts reported the most snow cover with 9.8 and 8.8 inches, respectively. The northwest district reported the least snow cover with an average of 0.7 of an inch followed by 2.9 inches in the north central district. County and secondary roads were rated 92 percent open and 8 difficult to travel. Road conditions were 10 percent drifted, 31 icy, 4 muddy and 55 dry. Roads were reported to be 100 percent open in the northwest, west central and central districts. FIELD CROPS REPORT Crops: As of January 1, snow cover protection for alfalfa was rated 37 percent poor, 57 adequate and 6 excellent. More snow was reported as needed in the western part of the state to protect the winter wheat. LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT Livestock: Mild weather conditions during December provided good conditions for cattle to graze on corn stocks. Cattle conditions were rated 1 percent poor, 13 fair, 73 good and 13 excellent. Sheep conditions were rated 1 percent poor, 15 fair, 71 good and 13 excellent. Hay and forage supplies were rated 4 percent short, 87 adequate and 9 surplus. WEATHER SUMMARY Weather: December 2005 will go down as a warm month for the state. Many areas saw temperatures averaging anywhere from 4 to 6 degrees above the monthly seasonal normals. Temperatures started off cold for the first week of the month. Arctic air moved in from Canada and sent temperatures well below normal. The second week saw a moderating trend in temperatures. Another brief shot of arctic air arrived around the third week of the month. The rest of the month saw fairly mild temperatures. Many areas set records for the warmest overnight low temperature on Christmas Eve. Precipitation across the state varied for the month. Areas in the eastern and south central parts of the state saw above average precipitation. Areas in the southeast were hit especially hard with snow and ice during the middle and end of the month. Areas in the west and north central recorded below average precipitation. Outlook, January: The outlook for January 2006 indicates a mild start to the month. Temperatures will continue to be above seasonal normals for the first week. Precipitation also looks to be below normal for the first week and a half. No major storm systems look to affect the state through the middle part of the month. Conditions may change toward the second half of the month as the jet stream shifts to a more wintry weather pattern for the northern plains. This could bring active weather to the state for the third week of the month, with increased chances for precipitation. Temperatures look to be near average or slightly below. Temperatures may warm to slightly above average again by month’s end. Overall, temperatures look to be slightly above seasonal averages, while precipitation looks to be near normal for the month. WEATHER INFORMATION TABLE TEMPERATURE, December 1-31, 2005 District & Temperature Stations High Low Average Depart/Norm 1/ Degrees F NORTHWEST NA NA NA NA Bowbells 41 -8 17 5 Williston 43 -8 18 4 Mohall 39 -6 17 4 Minot 42 -4 19 7 NORTH CENTRAL NA NA NA NA Baker 36 -10 13 3 Bottineau 34 -8 13 5 Rugby 36 -5 16 3 NORTHEAST NA NA NA NA Cando 33 -5 14 0 Cavalier 35 -1 17 6 Forest River 34 -2 16 6 Grand Forks 35 1 18 8 Langdon 32 -5 14 5 St. Thomas 33 2 18 8 WEST CENTRAL NA NA NA NA Hazen 46 -4 21 7 Turtle Lake 43 -6 19 4 Watford City 44 -5 20 3 CENTRAL NA NA NA NA Carrington 39 -6 17 6 Harvey 41 -4 19 7 Jamestown 41 -4 19 6 Robinson 42 -6 18 7 Streeter 41 -6 18 6 EAST CENTRAL NA NA NA NA Dazey 36 -4 16 5 Fargo 34 -3 16 4 Hillsboro 32 -5 14 5 SOUTHWEST NA NA NA NA Beach 46 -10 18 2 Bowman 45 -10 18 0 Dickinson 46 -7 20 3 Hettinger 46 -9 19 1 SOUTH CENTRAL NA NA NA NA Mandan 48 -4 22 8 Linton 43 -5 19 4 SOUTHEAST NA NA NA NA Edgeley 43 -1 21 8 Oakes 36 -3 17 3 Wyndmere 38 -3 18 4 1/ 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/