nd-crop-weather STATE NORTH DAKOTA CROP, LIVESTOCK & WEATHER REPORT RELEASE DATE, WEEK ENDING DATE Released: April 10, 2006 For Week Ending: April 9, 2006 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY General: Limited planting of small grains and fertilizer applications began across the state, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office. Warm temperatures and limited precipitation helped dry fields, though many remained flooded in the eastern districts. Reporters in these areas noted that some county and township roads were still flooded and muddy. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 3 percent very short, 10 short, 71 adequate and 16 surplus, compared with the five-year (2001-2005) average of 6 percent very short, 20 short, 61 adequate and 13 surplus. FIELD CROPS REPORT Crops: Less than one-half of one percent of all small grains were planted. Spring wheat planting progress was behind both last year and average. The statewide average starting date for fieldwork is expected to be April 18, compared with last year’s start of April 14. The expected starting dates ranged from April 12 in the west central district to April 26 in the northeast district. LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT Livestock: Calving and lambing continued to proceed with little difficulty due to mild conditions. Calving was 65 percent complete, compared with 64 percent last year. Lambing was 76 percent complete, while shearing was 89 percent complete. Cow, calf, sheep and lamb conditions were all rated mostly good to excellent. Hay and forage supplies were rated 2 percent short, 88 adequate and 10 surplus, compared with last year’s rating of 2 percent very short, 17 short, 74 adequate and 7 surplus. Grain and concentrate supplies were rated 1 percent short, 89 adequate and 10 surplus. Pastures and ranges were 19 percent growing, compared with 23 percent a year ago. CROP PROGRESS TABLE Planting: Percent Completed North Dakota, Week Ending April 9, 2006 with Comparisons 1/ Week Ending 2001- April 9, April 2, April 9, 2005 2006 2006 2005 Avg Percent Percent Percent Percent SMALL GRAINS Barley 0 0 1 1 Durum Wheat 0 NA 1 0 Spring Wheat 0 0 3 2 Oats 0 0 3 1 OTHER CROPS Canola 0 NA 1 0 Sugarbeets 0 NA 0 1 1/ Progress is based on current intended acreage. NA = Not Available SOIL TEMPERATURES Soil Temperatures: Average soil temperatures on April 9 ranged from a low of 36 degrees F in Langdon to a high of 51 in Linton. 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 9, 2006 Station Temperature Station Temperature Degrees F Degrees F NORTHWEST CENTRAL Bowbells 40 Carrington 45 Minot 43 Robinson 41 Williston 48 Streeter 46 NORTH CENTRAL EAST CENTRAL Baker 42 Dazey 39 Bottineau 39 Fargo 40 Rolla 40 SOUTHWEST NORTHEAST Bowman 45 Cavalier 43 Dickinson 44 Grand Forks 38 SOUTH CENTRAL Langdon 36 Linton 51 WEST CENTRAL SOUTHEAST Turtle Lake 44 Oakes 44 Watford City 48 Wyndmere 44 *Thermometers located 4 inches under bare soil. Source: NDAWN, Department of Soil Science, NDSU. LIVESTOCK CONDITION TABLE Livestock Condition North Dakota, Week Ending April 9, 2006 Livestock Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Cows 0 1 11 72 16 Calves 0 0 12 74 14 Sheep 0 1 8 72 19 Lambs 0 1 8 71 20 SOIL MOISTURE TABLE Soil Moisture Supplies North Dakota, April 9, 2006 with Comparisons Week Ending 2001- Date April 9, April 2, April 9, 2005 2006 2006 2005 Avg Percent Percent Percent Percent Topsoil Very Short 3 2 8 6 Short 10 9 22 20 Adequate 71 70 66 61 Surplus 16 19 4 13 Subsoil Very Short 3 3 12 8 Short 14 14 22 22 Adequate 70 71 62 62 Surplus 13 12 4 8 WEATHER SUMMARY Weather: Skies were mostly clear and temperatures were near seasonal averages for the first couple days of the week. High temperatures warmed into the upper 40s east, low to mid-50s central and around 60 degrees west. Overnight lows were in the upper 20s to mid-30s. Clouds increased across the west beginning late on Tuesday as a large storm system moved into the central plains. Temperatures warmed significantly on Wednesday as a warm front pushed its way across the state. Many locations saw their warmest temperatures of the year so far. Highs ranged from the low 70s southwest to around 60 degrees in the east. Showers and a few thunderstorms moved across the southern areas of the state on Wednesday and into Thursday bringing some localized heavy rain. Windy conditions and cooler temperatures followed behind the system on Friday. Highs ranged from the low 40s east to the low 50s west under partly cloudy skies. The weekend brought sunshine across the state and temperatures near or above seasonal normals. Outlook, April 10-16: Warm temperatures will greet the state on Monday as highs will reach the low 70s east to near 80 degrees south central. A disturbance moving across the plains will bring another round of scattered showers and thunderstorms across some areas of the state. Look for a chance of thunderstorms in southern and western areas late on Monday. Showers and a few thundershowers are possible in the northeast on Tuesday. Temperatures will cool a bit behind the system for midweek. Highs on Tuesday will be around 60 east to the upper 60s west. Look for temperatures a few degrees cooler on Wednesday. Dry conditions and above normal temperatures should prevail through the end of the week and into the holiday weekend. Temperatures will be very mild with highs in the low 60s east to low 70s west. Eastern areas may see some showers or thunderstorms for Easter Sunday. WEATHER INFORMATION TABLES Temperature & Precipitation: Districts and Stations North Dakota, Week ending April 9, 2006 Average Seasonal Precipitation District Temperature Beginning April 1 1/ Averages Past Depart Past Depart Week Normal 2/ Week Total Normal 2/ (Degrees F) (Degrees F) (Inches) (Inches) (Inches) Northwest (1) 43 6 0.00 0.01 -0.38 N. Central (2) 43 8 0.00 0.00 -0.38 Northeast (3) 40 4 0.04 0.04 -0.26 W. Central (4) 44 5 0.00 0.00 -0.45 Central (5) 44 6 0.02 0.02 -0.35 E. Central (6) 44 6 0.01 0.01 -0.44 Southwest (7) 47 8 0.45 0.49 0.07 S. Central (8) 47 8 0.01 0.01 -0.39 Southeast (9) 45 7 0.12 0.12 -0.42 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 April 9, 2006 Temperature Seasonal Precipitation Stations Past Week Beginning April 11/ by Past Depart District High Low Week Total Normal 2/ (Degrees F) (Degrees F) (Inches) (Inches) (Inches) (1) Bowbells 63 18 0.00 0.01 -0.34 Williston 70 22 0.00 0.00 -0.33 Mohall 64 21 0.00 0.01 -0.35 Minot 66 23 0.00 0.01 -0.48 (2) Baker 65 24 0.00 0.00 -0.39 Bottineau 64 23 0.00 0.00 -0.36 Rugby 61 24 0.00 0.00 -0.38 (3) Cando 55 25 0.05 0.05 -0.17 Cavalier 57 19 0.01 0.02 -0.31 Forest River 56 28 0.01 0.02 -0.31 Grand Forks 59 29 0.08 0.08 -0.25 Langdon 53 20 0.02 0.02 -0.23 St. Thomas 56 28 0.05 0.06 -0.27 (4) Hazen 70 18 0.00 0.00 -0.53 Turtle Lake 66 21 0.00 0.00 -0.44 Watford City 69 21 0.00 0.00 -0.38 (5) Carrington 63 26 0.06 0.06 -0.36 Harvey 68 22 0.00 0.00 -0.22 Jamestown 67 22 0.01 0.01 -0.43 Robinson 70 21 0.02 0.02 -0.37 Streeter 70 19 0.00 0.00 -0.38 (6) Dazey 60 25 0.03 0.03 -0.39 Fargo 63 27 0.00 0.00 -0.44 Hillsboro 63 26 0.00 0.00 -0.48 (7) Beach 72 20 1.12 1.12 0.70 Bowman 74 23 0.25 0.43 0.07 Dickinson 70 21 0.30 0.30 -0.21 Hettinger 73 23 0.12 0.12 -0.30 (8) Mandan 72 21 0.00 0.00 -0.40 Linton 72 23 0.02 0.02 -0.38 (9) Edgeley 67 23 0.06 0.06 -0.46 Oakes 64 24 0.29 0.29 -0.26 Wyndmere 65 29 0.02 0.02 -0.53 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/Statistics_by_State/North_Dakota/