nd-crop-weather STATE NORTH DAKOTA CROP, LIVESTOCK & WEATHER REPORT RELEASE DATE, MONTH ENDING DATE Released: March 26, 2007 For Month Ending: March 25, 2007 ISSUE ND-CW1207 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY General: Mild weather during March provided favorable conditions for calving and lambing, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office. Moisture was reported as needed in the southwestern district; however, there was enough soil moisture to start planting over the weekend in some southwest counties. Statewide, average snow cover was 0.3 inches on March 25, compared with 2.3 inches last year. Producers were busy hauling grain where roads permitted travel. County and secondary roads were rated 96 percent open, 3 difficult and 1 closed to travel. Road conditions were 18 percent muddy and 82 dry. FIELD CROPS REPORT Crops: The statewide average starting date for fieldwork is expected to be April 13, 4 days ahead of last year. The expected starting dates ranged from March 30 in the southwest district to April 21 in the northeast district. The statewide five-year (2002-2006) average starting date is April 17. LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT Livestock: Favorable weather allowed calving and lambing to progress with few difficulties. Calving, at 41 percent, was ahead of last year’s progress, while lambing, at 52 percent, was equal to last year’s progress. Shearing moved closer to completion at 74 percent. Cow conditions were rated 2 percent poor, 19 fair, 66 good and 13 excellent. Calf conditions were rated 1 percent poor, 14 fair, 71 good and 14 excellent. Sheep conditions were rated 2 percent poor, 23 fair, 63 good and 12 excellent. Lamb conditions were rated 2 percent poor, 18 fair, 66 good and 14 excellent. Hay and forage supplies were rated 6 percent very short, 15 short, 75 adequate and 4 surplus, compared with last year’s rating of 4 percent short, 86 adequate and 10 surplus. Grain and concentrate supplies were 1 percent very short, 10 short, 83 adequate and 6 surplus. Ninety-four percent of the pastures and ranges were dormant. WEATHER SUMMARY Weather: March arrived like a lion for most of the state. A snowstorm packed in heavy snow for the eastern half of the state during the first couple days of the month. A snowy pattern kept temperatures about average during the first two weeks of the month. The western half of the state tended to be drier and a lot warmer after receiving very little snow or rain during this period. The last half of the month has been extremely warm and somewhat dry depending upon your location. Temperatures across the entire state were well above average with no real arctic outbreaks occurring with the exception of the Red River Valley and the northeastern corner of the state. This area experienced very cold temperatures from the 15th through the 20th with overnight lows reaching double digits below zero. Precipitation has been hit or miss for the entire state during the last two weeks. A series of showers and thunderstorms swept across the southeastern half of the state. Unfortunately, the western half of the state has seen very little rain and has been relatively dry for the month of March. Some flooding has taken place along the Red River of the North, but should be minor considering the dry conditions last fall. Outlook, April: It looks like April will start out a little wetter and a little cooler during the first two weeks of the month for the entire state. But overall, temperatures should rebound during the last weeks of the month leaving the entire state experiencing slightly above average temperatures. Rainfall/snowfall should be around average for the state with a higher chance for the eastern half of the state experiencing wetter conditions. WEATHER INFORMATION TABLES TEMPERATURE, March 1-25, 2007 District & Temperature Stations High Low Average Depart/Norm 1/ Degrees F Degrees F Degrees F Degrees F NORTHWEST NA NA NA NA Bowbells 75 -5 31 5 Williston 77 -1 36 6 Mohall 75 1 29 3 Minot 75 1 32 5 NORTH CENTRAL NA NA NA NA Baker 72 -7 27 3 Bottineau 74 -12 26 2 Rugby 73 -5 26 2 NORTHEAST NA NA NA NA Cando 68 -15 23 0 Cavalier 55 -14 23 -1 Forest River 61 -21 24 -1 Grand Forks 55 -14 25 -1 Langdon 54 -16 21 0 St. Thomas 56 -14 23 -2 WEST CENTRAL NA NA NA NA Hazen 79 5 35 6 Turtle Lake 75 -2 32 5 Watford City 77 2 36 8 CENTRAL NA NA NA NA Carrington 72 -5 29 2 Harvey 75 -2 31 5 Jamestown 73 -3 30 3 Robinson 73 -1 30 5 Streeter 73 -2 30 3 EAST CENTRAL NA NA NA NA Dazey 63 -11 27 1 Fargo 67 -10 29 2 Hillsboro 63 -12 26 -1 SOUTHWEST NA NA NA NA Beach 74 0 38 7 Bowman 76 4 37 7 Dickinson 77 -1 37 7 Hettinger 77 1 38 8 SOUTH CENTRAL NA NA NA NA Mandan 80 5 35 6 Linton 76 4 34 5 SOUTHEAST NA NA NA NA Edgeley 71 0 32 4 Oakes 68 -4 30 2 Wyndmere 67 -9 30 2 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/Statistics_by_State/North_Dakota/