nd-crop-weather STATE NORTH DAKOTA CROP, LIVESTOCK & WEATHER REPORT RELEASE DATE, WEEK ENDING DATE Released: April 16, 2007 For Week Ending: April 15, 2007 ISSUE ND-CW1606 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY General: Cool temperatures and snowfall continued to delay spring fieldwork, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office. The dry weather and warm temperatures that prevailed towards the end of last week may allow some producers to plant this week. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 12 short, 80 adequate and 7 surplus, compared with the five-year (2002-2006) average of 7 percent very short, 21 short, 65 adequate and 7 surplus. Areas where moisture was received last week created poor conditions for field and township roads. FIELD CROPS REPORT Crops: Less than one-half of one percent of all spring wheat has been planted. Spring wheat planting continues to lag behind both last year and average. The statewide average starting date for fieldwork was April 20, unchanged from the previous week. The expected starting dates ranged from April 11 in the southwest district to April 25 in the northeast district. The record latest statewide starting date was May 13, 1979. LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT Livestock: Areas with snowfall last week created some difficulties for livestock producers. Calving and lambing were 71 and 80 percent complete, respectively, both behind last year and average. Shearing moved ahead five percentage points to 89 percent complete. Hay and forage supplies were rated 8 percent very short, 15 short, 73 adequate and 4 surplus, compared with the average of 3 percent very short, 12 short, 79 adequate and 6 surplus. Grain and concentrate supplies were rated 3 percent very short, 11 short, 80 adequate and 6 surplus. Warmer weather for the second time this year helped to break dormancy of pastures and ranges. They were rated 24 percent growing, compared with 15 percent growing the previous week. Pasture and ranges were rated 12 percent very poor, 23 poor, 40 fair, 23 good and 2 excellent. CROP PROGRESS TABLES Planting: Percent Completed North Dakota, Week Ending April 15, 2007 1/ Week Ending 2002- Crop April 15, April 8, April 15, 2006 2007 2007 2006 Avg Percent Percent Percent Percent SMALL GRAINS Barley 0 0 2 3 Durum Wheat 0 0 2 3 Spring Wheat 0 0 3 7 Oats 0 0 3 4 OTHER CROPS Canola 0 0 1 2 Dry Edible Peas 0 0 2 NA Sugarbeets 0 0 0 4 1/ Progress is based on current intended acreage. NA = Not Available SOIL TEMPERATURES Soil Temperatures: Average soil temperatures on April 15, ranged from a low of 34 degrees F in Oakes to a high of 50 in Williston. These readings reflect daily average temperatures under 4 inches of bare soil recorded by the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN). Average Soil Temperatures*, April 15, 2007 Station Temperature Station Temperature Degrees F Degrees F NORTHWEST CENTRAL Bowbells 41 Carrington 43 Minot 44 Robinson 38 Williston 50 Streeter 38 NORTH CENTRAL EAST CENTRAL Baker 40 Dazey 40 Bottineau 40 Fargo 40 Rolla 40 SOUTHWEST NORTHEAST Bowman 45 Cavalier 44 Dickinson 42 Grand Forks 42 SOUTH CENTRAL Langdon 40 Linton 44 WEST CENTRAL SOUTHEAST Turtle Lake 46 Oakes 34 Watford City 49 Wyndmere 44 *Thermometers located 4 inches under bare soil. Source: NDAWN, Department of Soil Science, NDSU. SOIL MOISTURE TABLE Soil Moisture Supplies North Dakota, April 15, 2007 with Comparisons Week Ending 2002- Date April 15, April 8, April 15, 2006 2007 2007 2006 Avg Percent Percent Percent Percent Topsoil Very Short 1 1 3 7 Short 12 15 13 21 Adequate 80 75 72 65 Surplus 7 9 12 7 Subsoil Very Short 7 6 3 10 Short 35 36 15 24 Adequate 55 54 69 61 Surplus 3 4 13 5 WEATHER SUMMARY Weather: The shifts in the weather pattern led to warmer temperatures across the state. Last week started cold, but as the week progressed, temperatures warmed above average. A winter storm early in the week dumped 6 to 9 inches of snow south of Interstate 94. Areas to the north of this line saw only flurries. There were a few small rain showers across the northeastern corner of the state on Friday. Temperatures started out in the 30s and 40s last Monday. On Sunday, temperatures were in the 60s and 70s. Outlook, April 16-22: The state will see a more April-like weather pattern with slightly above average temperatures and more rain showers. A cool front moving across the state will set off a few showers in the eastern third of the state. On Monday, as the front slides to the east, warmer temperatures will return to the state on Tuesday. Temperatures will remain in the upper 50s to low 60s for the remainder of the week. A storm system across the central and northern plains on Thursday could spread a chance of showers across the entire state. Another storm on Sunday could bring more significant precipitation to the state. WEATHER INFORMATION TABLES Temperature & Precipitation: Districts and Stations North Dakota, Week ending April 15, 2007 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 3 0 0.01 -0.62 N. Central (2) 42 4 0 0.00 -0.61 Northeast (3) 41 2 0 0.32 -0.18 W. Central (4) 43 1 0 0.00 -0.75 Central (5) 41 0 0 0.02 -0.57 E. Central (6) 41 0 0 0.32 -0.38 Southwest (7) 44 3 0 0.06 -0.67 S. Central (8) 43 1 0 0.01 -0.66 Southeast (9) 39 -1 0 0.23 -0.63 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 15, 2007 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 73 13 0 0.00 -0.59 Williston 73 20 0 0.00 -0.51 Mohall 72 10 0 0.00 -0.60 Minot 71 16 0 0.03 -0.76 (2) Baker 70 15 0 0.01 -0.62 Bottineau 74 12 0 0.00 -0.60 Rugby 70 16 0 0.00 -0.62 (3) Cando 66 18 0 0.03 -0.35 Cavalier 65 12 0 0.45 -0.06 Forest River 65 22 0 0.38 -0.15 Grand Forks 63 21 0 0.35 -0.22 Langdon 65 19 0 0.37 -0.06 St. Thomas 64 23 0 0.32 -0.21 (4) Hazen 72 15 0 0.00 -0.89 Turtle Lake 69 14 0 0.00 -0.74 Watford City 73 19 0 0.00 -0.62 (5) Carrington 66 19 0 0.02 -0.67 Harvey 70 14 0 0.00 -0.34 Jamestown 67 12 0 0.06 -0.62 Robinson 69 14 0 0.00 -0.64 Streeter 68 13 0 0.02 -0.60 (6) Dazey 65 19 0 0.14 -0.52 Fargo 64 15 0 0.47 -0.21 Hillsboro 63 20 0 0.36 -0.42 (7) Beach 67 19 0 0.10 -0.62 Bowman 73 18 0 0.07 -0.53 Dickinson 71 17 0 0.00 -0.87 Hettinger 72 17 0 0.08 -0.64 (8) Mandan 72 15 0 0.00 -0.70 Linton 72 15 0 0.02 -0.62 (9) Edgeley 68 13 0 0.10 -0.72 Oakes 66 10 0 0.13 -0.76 Wyndmere 66 13 0 0.47 -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. 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/