nd-crop-weather STATE NORTH DAKOTA CROP, LIVESTOCK & WEATHER REPORT RELEASE DATE, WEEK ENDING DATE Released: April 24, 2006 For Week Ending: April 23, 2006 ISSUE ND-CW1606 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY General: A wet, wintry storm last week halted fieldwork in the western districts, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office. Varied amounts of rain were reported, while some received snow in the western and south central districts. In some cases the moisture was needed. In the north central and northeast districts, warm weather last week helped to dry fields, though they were still too wet for fieldwork. Statewide, on average, there were 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 7 percent short, 79 adequate and 14 surplus, compared with the five-year (2001-2005) average of 5 percent very short, 17 short, 66 adequate and 12 surplus. FIELD CROPS REPORT Crops: Fieldwork continued to be slowed by wet conditions across much of the state. As a result, planting progress was behind last year for all crops, and, except for oats, behind the average. Ten percent of spring wheat was seeded, compared with 26 percent last year and 17 percent on average. Durum wheat seeded was 4 percent, compared with 7 percent on average. Barley and oats were 7 percent and 15 percent seeded, respectively. Corn planting was underway at 2 percent complete. Canola was 1 percent planted, and dry edible peas were 5 percent planted. This compared with 12 and 19 percent last year, respectively. Three percent of sugarbeets and 1 percent of potatoes were planted. LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT Livestock: Cold, wet weather stressed newborn livestock, particularly in the western districts. Calving and lambing were winding down, at 83 and 90 percent complete, respectively. Both were ahead of the average pace. Shearing was 96 percent complete, ahead of last year and the average pace. Hay and forage supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 3 short, 84 adequate and 12 surplus, compared with the average rating of 5 percent very short, 16 short, 75 adequate and 5 surplus. Grain and concentrate supplies were rated 1 percent short, 89 adequate and 10 surplus. Pastures and ranges were 74 percent growing, compared with 66 percent a year ago. Pasture and range conditions improved from the previous week and were rated 5 percent very poor, 7 poor, 39 fair, 44 good and 5 excellent. CROP PROGRESS TABLES Crop Development Progress North Dakota, Week Ending April 23, 2006 1/ 2/ Week Ending 2001- Crop April 23, April 16, April 23, 2005 2006 2006 2005 Avg Percent Percent Percent Percent BARLEY Planted 7 2 20 11 Emerged 0 NA 1 1 DURUM WHEAT Planted 4 2 14 7 Emerged 0 NA 2 1 SPRING WHEAT Planted 10 3 26 17 Emerged 0 NA 3 2 OATS Planted 15 3 25 12 Emerged 0 0 1 1 CANOLA Planted 1 1 12 6 CORN, ALL Planted 2 0 9 7 DRY EDIBLE PEAS Planted 5 2 19 NA FLAXSEED Planted 0 NA 4 2 POTATOES Planted 1 NA 3 4 SUGARBEETS Planted 3 0 29 18 1/ Crop development percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage. 2/ Progress is based on current intended acreage. NA = Not Available SOIL TEMPERATURES Soil Temperatures: Average soil temperatures on April 23 ranged from a low of 37 degrees F in Bowman to a high of 60 in Carrington. 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 23, 2006 Station Temperature Station Temperature Degrees F Degrees F NORTHWEST CENTRAL Bowbells 45 Carrington 60 Minot 52 Robinson 54 Williston 45 Streeter 57 NORTH CENTRAL EAST CENTRAL Baker 53 Dazey 54 Bottineau 48 Fargo 55 Rolla 54 SOUTHWEST NORTHEAST Bowman 37 Cavalier 59 Dickinson 50 Grand Forks 58 SOUTH CENTRAL Langdon 52 Linton 58 WEST CENTRAL SOUTHEAST Turtle Lake 52 Oakes 58 Watford City 44 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 23, 2006 with Comparisons Week Ending 2001- Date April 23, April 16, April 23, 2005 2006 2006 2005 Avg Percent Percent Percent Percent Topsoil Very Short 0 3 7 5 Short 7 14 25 17 Adequate 79 72 65 66 Surplus 14 11 3 12 Subsoil Very Short 3 3 13 9 Short 9 15 23 21 Adequate 77 69 60 62 Surplus 11 13 4 8 WEATHER SUMMARY Weather: A large storm system brought wet and wintry weather along with colder temperatures to the state. Showers and thunderstorms began in the western areas late on Monday. Rain was heavy at times in some areas of the west and southwest. Rain changed to snow in the southwest as colder air began to move in behind the system. Falling snow along with strong northwest winds on Tuesday created near blizzard conditions west and south of Dickinson. Nearly a foot of snow fell in extreme southwest North Dakota on Tuesday. Showers and a few thunderstorms continued across the central and eastern portions on Tuesday. Temperatures were mild to start the week with highs in the 60s west to low 70s east. High temperatures fell into the 30s and 40s west and 50s east by midweek. Showers lingered across the eastern half of the state on Wednesday and into Thursday. The weekend saw mostly clear skies and warmer temperatures. Highs reached back up into the 60s to low 70s across the state. Outlook, April 24-30: A fairly strong cold front will move across the state on Monday bringing windy conditions and much colder temperatures. Highs will generally be in the 40s statewide under partly sunny skies. Overnight lows will dip below freezing across the majority of the state on Tuesday. Temperatures will be warmer with highs in the mid-50s east to mid-60s west. With the exception of a few showers in the western areas on Friday, dry weather should be the rule into the weekend. Temperatures will be seasonal with highs in the 60s to near 70 degrees. Low temperatures will be in the upper 30s to mid-40s. WEATHER INFORMATION TABLES Temperature & Precipitation: Districts and Stations North Dakota, Week ending April 23, 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) 51 8 2.07 2.15 1.16 N. Central (2) 51 8 0.52 0.67 -0.30 Northeast (3) 52 8 0.68 0.77 -0.03 W. Central (4) 51 6 1.57 1.63 0.46 Central (5) 51 6 0.37 0.40 -0.55 E. Central (6) 53 9 0.20 0.22 -0.87 Southwest (7) 49 4 2.63 3.14 1.96 S. Central (8) 51 6 0.67 0.73 -0.36 Southeast (9) 54 9 0.51 0.67 -0.67 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 23, 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 70 34 1.90 1.99 1.04 Williston 72 32 3.55 3.66 2.85 Mohall 70 32 1.28 1.36 0.41 Minot 72 33 1.54 1.57 0.36 (2) Baker 69 32 0.75 0.78 -0.21 Bottineau 71 34 0.22 0.46 -0.47 Rugby 69 34 0.60 0.76 -0.22 (3) Cando 68 33 0.75 0.84 0.19 Cavalier 72 33 0.89 0.98 0.15 Forest River 73 36 0.69 0.71 -0.14 Grand Forks 71 37 0.14 0.24 -0.65 Langdon 66 31 0.97 1.12 0.40 St. Thomas 72 35 0.63 0.73 -0.12 (4) Hazen 70 34 2.00 2.03 0.66 Turtle Lake 70 33 0.87 0.87 -0.27 Watford City 71 32 1.84 2.00 0.99 (5) Carrington 70 35 0.33 0.39 -0.70 Harvey 71 32 0.41 0.50 -0.07 Jamestown 71 34 0.33 0.34 -0.74 Robinson 68 35 0.38 0.40 -0.64 Streeter 68 33 0.38 0.38 -0.59 (6) Dazey 70 37 0.20 0.24 -0.77 Fargo 72 37 0.27 0.27 -0.79 Hillsboro 71 36 0.14 0.16 -1.06 (7) Beach 67 28 2.60 3.74 2.56 Bowman 66 30 2.67 3.11 2.13 Dickinson 69 32 3.56 3.88 2.51 Hettinger 70 30 1.69 1.82 0.63 (8) Mandan 70 34 0.89 0.99 -0.16 Linton 69 34 0.45 0.47 -0.57 (9) Edgeley 71 38 0.54 0.60 -0.67 Oakes 71 36 0.80 1.17 -0.20 Wyndmere 72 38 0.20 0.23 -1.14 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/