nd-crop-weather STATE NORTH DAKOTA CROP, LIVESTOCK & WEATHER REPORT RELEASE DATE, WEEK ENDING DATE Released: April 17, 2006 For Week Ending: April 16, 2006 ISSUE ND-CW1506 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY General: Planting of small grains, dry edible peas and canola began across the state, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office. Producers in the north central and northeast districts continued to wait for soil to dry out. Reporters noted in the south central district that moisture was needed to germinate crops and for alfalfa and grasses to start growing. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 3 percent very short, 14 short, 72 adequate and 11 surplus, compared with the five-year (2001-2005) average of 6 percent very short, 17 short, 65 adequate and 12 surplus. The statewide average starting date for fieldwork is expected to be April 17, one day earlier than last week’s expected starting date. The expected starting dates ranged from April 12 in the south central district to April 25 in the north central and northeast districts. FIELD CROPS REPORT Crops: Warm and dry conditions during the week allowed producers to begin seeding, which was behind last year and average. Three percent of spring wheat was seeded, compared with 10 percent last year and 8 percent on average. Durum wheat seeded was 2 percent compared with 3 percent seeded on average. Barley and oats were 2 percent and 3 percent seeded, respectively. Canola was 1 percent planted and dry edible peas were 2 percent planted. This compared with 4 percent planted for both crops last year. Sugarbeets were less than one-half of one percent planted. LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT Livestock: Calving and lambing, at 74 and 85 percent complete, respectively, were near last year and the average pace. Shearing neared completion at 94 percent, compared with 89 percent on average. Hay and forage supplies were rated 3 percent short, 87 adequate and 10 surplus, compared with the average rating of 3 percent very short, 15 short, 77 adequate and 5 surplus. Grain and concentrate supplies were rated 1 percent short, 90 adequate and 9 surplus. Pastures and ranges were 47 percent growing, compared with 51 percent a year ago. Pasture and range conditions were rated 7 percent very poor, 13 poor, 43 fair, 36 good and 1 excellent. CROP PROGRESS TABLES Planting: Percent Completed North Dakota, Week Ending April 16, 2006 1/ Week Ending 2001- Crop April 16, April 9, April 16, 2005 2006 2006 2005 Avg Percent Percent Percent Percent SMALL GRAINS Barley 2 0 5 3 Durum Wheat 2 0 5 3 Spring Wheat 3 0 10 8 Oats 3 0 8 4 OTHER CROPS Canola 1 0 4 2 Dry Edible Peas 2 NA 4 NA Sugarbeets 0 0 1 4 1/ Progress is based on current intended acreage. NA = Not Available SOIL TEMPERATURES Soil Temperatures: Average soil temperatures on April 16 ranged from a low of 48 degrees F in Bottineau to a high of 61 in Watford City. 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 16, 2006 Station Temperature Station Temperature Degrees F Degrees F NORTHWEST CENTRAL Bowbells 49 Carrington 60 Minot 56 Robinson 53 Williston 59 Streeter 57 NORTH CENTRAL EAST CENTRAL Baker 54 Dazey 53 Bottineau 48 Fargo 55 Rolla 58 SOUTHWEST NORTHEAST Bowman 58 Cavalier 60 Dickinson 58 Grand Forks 56 SOUTH CENTRAL Langdon 50 Linton 60 WEST CENTRAL SOUTHEAST Turtle Lake 60 Oakes 56 Watford City 61 Wyndmere 55 *Thermometers located 4 inches under bare soil. Source: NDAWN, Department of Soil Science, NDSU. SOIL MOISTURE TABLE Soil Moisture Supplies North Dakota, April 16, 2006 with Comparisons Week Ending 2001- Date April 16, April 9, April 16, 2005 2006 2006 2005 Avg Percent Percent Percent Percent Topsoil Very Short 3 3 7 6 Short 14 10 21 17 Adequate 72 71 67 65 Surplus 11 16 5 12 Subsoil Very Short 3 3 11 9 Short 15 14 24 22 Adequate 69 70 60 61 Surplus 13 13 5 8 WEATHER SUMMARY Weather: The week began on a mild note with high temperatures reaching into the upper 60s east to mid-70s southwest. A few showers occurred over the western and north central areas on Monday and into Tuesday, bringing some light rainfall amounts. A weak cold front moved across the state on Wednesday bringing slightly cooler temperatures and windy conditions. High temperatures reached the upper 50s to low 60s east to the mid- and upper 60s west. Temperatures quickly rebounded on Thursday with highs in the 70s across the state. A line of showers and some embedded thunder moved across the eastern third of the state late on Thursday. Fair skies and mild weather continued through the holiday weekend. Highs reached around 70 degrees east to upper 70s west. Easter Sunday brought the warmest temperatures so far this year across the state with highs in the low 80s west to mid-70s east. Outlook, April 17-23: Look for showers and thunderstorms across the western areas beginning late on Monday. Colder air will begin to move in behind the system late on Monday. This may lead to a rain/snow mix across the western areas. Rain and thunderstorms will spread east across the state on Tuesday. Rain may mix with or change to all snow again on Tuesday especially in the southwest. Some minor accumulation may be possible in those areas. Rain showers should continue across the state on Wednesday, with rain and snow possible again in the west and southwest. Temperatures will be mild to start off the week with highs in the 60s west to the low 70s in the valley region. High temperatures will be much colder for midweek, with daytime highs in the 40s west to the mid-50s east. Lows will be in the 30s. Rain should end from west to east on Thursday with high temperatures in the 50s statewide. The week’s end should see dry conditions with seasonal temperatures in the mid-60s west to around 60 degrees east. WEATHER INFORMATION TABLES Temperature & Precipitation: Districts and Stations North Dakota, Week ending April 16, 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) 58 17 0.07 0.08 -0.59 N. Central (2) 56 17 0.14 0.14 -0.51 Northeast (3) 54 14 0.05 0.09 -0.44 W. Central (4) 56 14 0.06 0.06 -0.74 Central (5) 56 14 0.02 0.04 -0.60 E. Central (6) 57 16 0.01 0.02 -0.73 Southwest (7) 56 14 0.02 0.51 -0.27 S. Central (8) 58 16 0.05 0.06 -0.66 Southeast (9) 58 16 0.03 0.15 -0.77 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 16, 2006 Temperature Seasonal Precipitation Stations Past Week Beginning April 1 1/ by Past Depart District High Low Week Total Normal 2/ (Degrees F) (Degrees F) (Inches) (Inches) (Inches) (1) Bowbells 81 36 0.08 0.09 -0.54 Williston 80 35 0.11 0.11 -0.43 Mohall 80 34 0.07 0.08 -0.56 Minot 81 37 0.02 0.03 -0.81 (2) Baker 75 37 0.03 0.03 -0.64 Bottineau 82 31 0.24 0.24 -0.40 Rugby 76 35 0.16 0.16 -0.50 (3) Cando 75 34 0.04 0.09 -0.32 Cavalier 76 32 0.07 0.09 -0.46 Forest River 75 36 0.00 0.02 -0.55 Grand Forks 72 38 0.02 0.10 -0.51 Langdon 74 35 0.13 0.15 -0.31 St. Thomas 74 38 0.04 0.10 -0.47 (4) Hazen 80 31 0.03 0.03 -0.92 Turtle Lake 78 36 0.00 0.00 -0.79 Watford City 80 35 0.16 0.16 -0.50 (5) Carrington 78 35 0.00 0.06 -0.68 Harvey 79 34 0.09 0.09 -0.27 Jamestown 78 37 0.00 0.01 -0.72 Robinson 77 32 0.00 0.02 -0.67 Streeter 77 36 0.00 0.00 -0.66 (6) Dazey 76 39 0.01 0.04 -0.66 Fargo 77 42 0.00 0.00 -0.72 Hillsboro 75 37 0.02 0.02 -0.81 (7) Beach 76 34 0.02 1.14 0.37 Bowman 77 34 0.01 0.44 -0.20 Dickinson 77 36 0.02 0.32 -0.61 Hettinger 79 35 0.01 0.13 -0.64 (8) Mandan 77 38 0.10 0.10 -0.65 Linton 80 40 0.00 0.02 -0.67 (9) Edgeley 80 38 0.00 0.06 -0.81 Oakes 79 35 0.08 0.37 -0.58 Wyndmere 79 39 0.01 0.03 -0.92 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/