nd-crop-weather STATE NORTH DAKOTA CROP, LIVESTOCK & WEATHER REPORT RELEASE DATE, WEEK ENDING DATE Released: April 23, 2007 For Week Ending: April 22, 2007 ISSUE ND-CW1707 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY General: Planting finally began in several areas of the state, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office. The most progress took place in the southwest, central and west central districts, with small grains, dry peas and canola the main crops planted. Winter wheat seemed to survive the cold spell this spring with only minimal losses reported. Statewide, on average, there were 2.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 14 short, 76 adequate and 9 surplus, compared with the five-year (2002-2006) average of 5 percent very short, 18 short, 70 adequate and 7 surplus. FIELD CROPS REPORT Crops: Warmer temperatures and sunshine most of the week yielded to thunderstorms over the weekend. Planting progress was behind average for all crops. Three percent of the spring wheat was seeded, compared with 9 percent last year and 17 percent on average. The statewide average starting date for fieldwork was April 21, one day later than the previous week and four days later than last year. The expected starting dates ranged from April 12 in the southwest district to April 25 in the east central district. LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT Livestock: Cows continued to calve at a very fast pace with few problems. Calving and lambing were 80 and 86 percent complete, respectively, near last year and the average pace. Shearing neared completion at 93 percent complete, equal to the average pace. Hay and forage supplies were rated 12 percent very short, 13 short, 71 adequate and 4 surplus, compared with the average of 4 percent very short, 13 short, 77 adequate and 6 surplus. Grain and concentrate supplies were rated 2 percent very short, 13 short, 79 adequate and 6 surplus. Pastures and ranges were starting to grow, but more rainfall is needed in last year’s drought affected areas. They were rated 54 percent growing, compared with 24 percent growing the previous week. Pasture and range conditions improved from the previous week and were rated 9 percent very poor, 19 poor, 47 fair, 24 good and 1 excellent. CROP PROGRESS TABLES Planting: Percent Completed North Dakota, Week Ending April 22, 2007 1/ Week Ending 2002- Crop April 22, April 15, April 22, 2006 2007 2007 2006 Avg Percent Percent Percent Percent SMALL GRAINS Barley 1 0 6 11 Durum Wheat 2 0 4 7 Spring Wheat 3 0 9 17 Oats 2 0 13 13 OTHER CROPS Canola 1 0 1 6 Dry Edible Peas 5 0 5 NA Flaxseed 0 NA 0 2 Sugarbeets 1 0 3 15 1/ Progress is based on current intended acreage. NA = Not Available SOIL TEMPERATURES Soil Temperatures: Average soil temperatures on April 22, ranged from a low of 43 degrees F in Bowbells to a high of 56 in Oakes. 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 22, 2007 Station Temperature Station Temperature Degrees F Degrees F NORTHWEST CENTRAL Bowbells 43 Carrington 54 Minot 53 Robinson 47 Williston 53 Streeter 48 NORTH CENTRAL EAST CENTRAL Baker 50 Dazey 50 Bottineau 45 Fargo 53 Rolla 49 SOUTHWEST NORTHEAST Bowman 52 Cavalier 53 Dickinson 50 Grand Forks 51 SOUTH CENTRAL Langdon 46 Linton 51 WEST CENTRAL SOUTHEAST Turtle Lake 52 Oakes 56 Watford City 53 Wyndmere 53 *Thermometers located 4 inches under bare soil. Source: NDAWN, Department of Soil Science, NDSU. SOIL MOISTURE TABLE Soil Moisture Supplies North Dakota, April 22, 2007 with Comparisons Week Ending 2002- Date April 22, April 15, April 22, 2006 2007 2007 2006 Avg Percent Percent Percent Percent Topsoil Very Short 1 1 0 5 Short 14 12 8 18 Adequate 76 80 78 70 Surplus 9 7 14 7 Subsoil Very Short 7 7 3 10 Short 31 35 10 23 Adequate 57 55 76 62 Surplus 5 3 11 5 WEATHER SUMMARY Weather: A very spring-like week shaped up this last week. Temperatures across the state were at or above normal with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Quiet weather dominated last week until Thursday when several storm systems developed east of the Rockies. The first system brought scattered rain showers across the state Thursday into Thursday night. No significant rain occurred with this line of showers, but the secondary storm system brought significant rainfall to some parts of the state on Friday through Sunday. A large storm moved from Nebraska into Iowa and spread strong storms across the southeastern corner of the state. These storms redeveloped across that region several times and dropped a significant amount of rain. Rain showers also affected the western half of the state, but none of this activity reached the northeastern corner of the state. Outlook, April 23-29: Another quiet pattern is setting up for the beginning of the week for most of the state with above average temperatures. A quick moving system could bring a few rain showers for the western and central parts of the state on Monday night and into Tuesday. Another shot at moisture comes into the state on Thursday. It looks like this system will skirt the southern third of the state. The weekend looks to be dry and should remain warm with temperatures in the 60s for most of the state with a few 70 degree readings across southern counties. WEATHER INFORMATION TABLES Temperature & Precipitation: Districts and Stations North Dakota, Week ending April 22, 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) 51 8 0.09 0.11 -0.81 N. Central (2) 49 7 0.13 0.13 -0.79 Northeast (3) 49 5 0.09 0.41 -0.35 W. Central (4) 51 6 0.18 0.18 -0.94 Central (5) 48 4 0.16 0.18 -0.72 E. Central (6) 49 5 1.16 1.48 0.44 Southwest (7) 51 7 0.36 0.42 -0.70 S. Central (8) 51 6 0.22 0.23 -0.81 Southeast (9) 52 7 1.35 1.59 0.31 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 22, 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 70 32 0.12 0.12 -0.78 Williston 73 34 0.06 0.06 -0.71 Mohall 70 30 0.11 0.11 -0.79 Minot 70 36 0.10 0.13 -0.94 (2) Baker 68 33 0.16 0.17 -0.77 Bottineau 70 29 0.11 0.11 -0.77 Rugby 68 30 0.11 0.11 -0.82 (3) Cando 69 28 0.05 0.08 -0.53 Cavalier 68 24 0.03 0.48 -0.31 Forest River 69 30 0.01 0.39 -0.42 Grand Forks 69 29 0.26 0.61 -0.24 Langdon 69 35 0.07 0.44 -0.24 St. Thomas 67 32 0.12 0.44 -0.37 (4) Hazen 70 32 0.19 0.19 -1.12 Turtle Lake 68 33 0.12 0.12 -0.97 Watford City 71 35 0.24 0.24 -0.72 (5) Carrington 70 29 0.10 0.12 -0.92 Harvey 68 28 0.12 0.12 -0.42 Jamestown 71 30 0.14 0.20 -0.83 Robinson 67 29 0.13 0.13 -0.86 Streeter 70 26 0.31 0.33 -0.59 (6) Dazey 69 32 0.30 0.44 -0.52 Fargo 71 28 2.09 2.56 1.55 Hillsboro 70 29 1.08 1.44 0.28 (7) Beach 70 34 0.34 0.44 -0.68 Bowman 68 30 0.39 0.46 -0.47 Dickinson 68 35 0.29 0.29 -1.01 Hettinger 69 36 0.41 0.49 -0.64 (8) Mandan 68 32 0.19 0.19 -0.90 Linton 68 36 0.25 0.27 -0.72 (9) Edgeley 71 30 0.56 0.66 -0.55 Oakes 73 31 1.24 1.37 0.06 Wyndmere 75 33 2.26 2.73 1.42 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/