or-crop-weather Oregon Crop Weather Released: April 20, 2009 Week ending: April 19, 2009 OR-CW1405 OREGON CROP WEATHER NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE USDA, NASS, Oregon Field Office Phone: 503-326-2131 Released: April 20, 2009 Toll Free: 1-800-338-2157 Week ending: April 19, 2009 Email: nass-or@nass.usda.gov Volume: 03-09 Internet: www.nass.usda.gov/or Weather: Conditions were generally warmer than last week throughout the State, particularly through the end of the weekend. However, they were still mostly cooler than normal for this time of year. High temperatures ranged from 85 degrees in Medford, down to 60 degrees in Joseph. Low temperatures ranged from 37 degrees in North Bend and Portland, down to 13 degrees in Christmas Valley. Thirty eight out of the forty three stations reporting received a measurable amount of precipitation last week. The Astoria/Clatsop station reported the most with 1.25 total inches. Field Crops: Warmer temperatures were welcomed by growers across the State this past weekend. Some wheat showed advances in growth in north central and western areas. Spring wheat and barley planting has progressed with the aid of dryer, warmer weather. Grasses were reported in good condition. Hop trellis stringing was completed in Marion County. Vegetables: Field work for vegetable crops was about two weeks behind the normal schedule in Douglas County. Sweet corn growers were almost finished removing weeds and grass from their fields before they started planting. Rhubarb was nearing the harvest stage in Jackson County. Fruits and Nuts: Fruit continued to bloom as the weather changed from cold early in the week to warm by the end of the week. Some frost was experienced in western areas, but frost damage will not be known until another week or so. Plant growth was showing on grape vines and caneberries, but more warmth is needed for more development. Orchards were sprayed in preparation for pedal drop. Blight spraying was ongoing. Hazelnuts were leafing, aphids were active. Growers applied spraying for Eastern Filbert Blight. Nurseries and Greenhouses: Nurseries continued getting trees and shrubs ready for sale. New starts were also being planted. Greenhouse and nursery sales were reported as good in some areas. Livestock, Range and Pasture: Thanks to warmer temperatures, pasture growth has picked up and pastures are expected to improve through this week. Cows and calves were reportedly in good condition; however some counties were reporting water shortages on grazing land. Soil Moisture-Week Ending 04/19/09 ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Very : : : : short : Short : Adequate : Surplus ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : Topsoil : 1 11 72 16 Subsoil : 7 6 73 14 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Progress-Week Ending 04/19/09 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5 year Crop : week : week : year : average -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Barley planted : 66 57 82 75 Barley emerged : 43 38 50 51 Spring wheat planted : 73 44 83 81 Spring wheat emerged : 32 6 45 48 : Days suitable for fieldwork : 5.3 4.6 5.0 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition-Week Ending 04/19/09 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter wheat : 2 20 47 28 3 Range and pasture : 3 9 38 46 4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Western Oregon COLUMBIA: Monday through Wednesday was blustery with showers and some light hail on Wednesday. Temperatures ranged in the mid 50's. Thursday through Sunday, light winds to calm temperatures from mid 60's to mid 70's on Sunday. Some pruning was being done in the early part of the week in between showers. Later in the week some of the hazelnut orchards were being flailed. Some spring wheat was planted. Cherries, pears, and apples continued to bloom. Winter wheat was around 6 to 8 inches high and heads were emerging. More of our dark red clover was starting to bloom and perennial rye was around 5 to 8 inches high. COOS/CURRY: Low temperatures were about 7 degrees below the 5-year average for the week in both Coos and Curry counties. High temperatures through the week were below average but warmed over the weekend, particularly farther south in Curry County. Producers were conducting limited farming operations most of the week. Bandon (Coos & Northern Curry): Low temperature for the period was 33.57 degrees, 7.2 degrees below the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was 64.04 degrees, 7.41 degrees below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.72 inches, compared to a 5-year (including drought in 2004 & 2005) average of 0.77 inches. Precipitation for Current weather year precipitation (began 10/08) stands at 37.46 inches, 11.16 inches below the 5 year average, and 15.39 inches below the long-term historical average. Historical average precipitation through April was 52.85 inches. Brookings (Southern Curry): Low temperature for the period was 35.63 degrees, 6.88 degrees below the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was 68.14 degrees, 1.12 degrees below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.14 inches, compared to a 5-year (including drought in 2004 & 2005) average of 1.72 inches. Precipitation for Current weather year precipitation (began 10/08) stands at 63.50 inches, 7.34 inches below the 5 year average, and 1.04 inches below the long-term historical average. Historical average precipitation through April was 64.54 inches. DOUGLAS: Fairly normal weather this past week, except at the end of the week when temperatures reached 80 degrees or more in areas on Sunday. Three mornings with frost and freeze around the County this week. These cold mornings coincided with petal fall for plums, and full bloom for peaches, cherries, and pears. We will need another week before knowing if any damage was done. Apple crops about a week away from bloom. Grape vineyards in the wooly bud stage and no freeze damage occurred. Grass seed and wheat growing well and in good shape. Field work for vegetable crops about two weeks behind normal schedule. With the expected warm weather coming for the week ahead we should see all plants really accelerate development. JACKSON: Cool temperatures early in the week with some light snow in higher elevations that melted quickly. Wind machines were utilized for frost protection on some local orchards. The cooler temperatures gave way to seasonably warm weather later in the week. Spring wheat and barley being planted in fields dry enough to work, fall wheat spraying continues and fertilizer applied. Still some more spring grain was planting this week. Hay fields were starting to show a bit more growth, but still behind normal by about 2 weeks. Lots of orchard spraying as pedal drop about to start. There was lots of bloom, but the weather has been a bit too cold. Vineyards were starting to get some new growth, but still a bit slow. Leaf development was showing well in caneberries. Filberts were leafing. Rhubarb nearing harvest. Sweet corn fields nearing preparation stage with weeds and grass. Fertilizing shrubs and small trees, digging and shipping bare root trees. Cows and calves were looking good, grass was starting to pick up. High temperature of 72.1 degrees, low 30 degrees. Humidity 38 percent low, 60 percent high. Rainfall 0.8 inches with some small hail. JOSEPHINE: First of week was cold with below normal temperatures ranging from the forties during the daytime and mid twenties overnight. By end of week we were at upper 50's daytime and overnight were in the upper 30's. There was a trace of rain 3 days this week. Livestock were looking good. Truck gardens were continuing preparation for the season with tilling, fertilizing. Greenhouses were doing well, sales were good at area nurseries. Still no leaves on grapes in the area, but it was early. Home gardeners were pushing the season as the chain stores were getting tomato plants out. MARION: This week yielded very little rain. The earlier part of the week had cool days and nights into the upper 30's with intermittent overcast and sun breaks. It warmed up by the end of the week with clear, sunny skies and a high temperature in the mid 70's on Sunday. Spring farm work progressed nicely this week with a lot of fields being worked and seeded. It looked like most of the hops trellises finished getting the strings put up this week. Hazelnut trees were beginning to leaf out. The worm harvesters were busy harvesting earthworms from the hazelnut orchards. Grass was growing with vigor with the warmer weather. Many flowering trees were in full bloom. Spring flowers were at their peak blossom. WASHINGTON: Crop growth was approximately 2 to 3 weeks late. YAMHILL: Aphids were active in hazelnuts. Sprays for Eastern Filbert Blight were being applied. Peach brown rot sprays were being applied. Eastern Oregon CROOK/DESCHUTES/JEFFERSON: Hot and dry conditions, too early to excess impact on seed crops. GRANT/ HARNEY: Warm temperatures were needed to get the grass growing. GILLIAM: Unseasonably warm temperatures on Sunday should help spring cereal germination. HOOD RIVER: The week started with cold and cloudy weather with intermittent rain and snow. Weather conditions improved significantly at the end of the week. At week's end, crop development in the lower Hood River Valley was as follows: d'Anjou pear at full white to first bloom (WSU stages 5&6); Red Delicious apple at tight cluster (WSU stage 4); Bing cherry at open cluster to first white (WSU stages 5&6); Pinot noir grape at Eichhorn-Lorenz stage 2. KLAMATH: Warmer weather during the week. Spring planting and field work has begun in portions of the County. Cool overnight temperatures. LAKE: There were livestock water shortages on some of the grazing allotments. Producers were currently hauling water and dragging meadows. MALHEUR: First of the week high temperatures were about ten degrees below normal with high northerly winds on Tuesday and Wednesday. Warmer and calm by the end of the week. Planting continued and field irrigation has started. MORROW: Snow Tuesday and Wednesday, sun remainder of week. SHERMAN: Wheat in north end was showing big leaps in development but south end continued to lag. WALLOWA: Snow at the first part of the week and sun at the end of the week. Weather data for selected stations in Oregon, Week ending: April 19, 2009 (as of 11:00 am) 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : Growing : Last week precip. 4/ : Season cum. precipitation 5/ : Air temperature 2/ : degree days 3/ :-------------------------------------------------------------- Station :-------------------------------:-----------------: Total : : : Total : : Pct. : : Low : High : Avg. :DFN 6/ : Total :DFN 6/ : inches :DFN 6/ :Days 7/: inches :DFN 6/ : normal :Days 7/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ COASTAL AREAS : Astoria/Clatsop : 33 67 47 -1 5 -2 1.25 0.19 3 51.62 -5.71 90 127 Bandon 8/ : 34 64 46 -3 4 -6 0.72 -0.26 5 37.74 -14.49 72 144 Crescent City : 33 65 48 -3 5 -16 0.20 -0.81 3 43.91 -14.65 75 99 Florence : 32 72 47 -3 6 -8 1.24 0.05 3 57.67 -9.13 86 118 North Bend : 37 66 47 -3 4 -10 0.99 -0.06 4 40.84 -15.45 73 116 Tillamook : 32 68 48 +1 7 +0 0.91 -0.45 3 37.90 -38.22 50 125 WILLAMETTE : VALLEY : Aurora 8/ : 33 79 49 +0 18 +2 0.63 0.00 3 26.47 -8.36 76 120 Corvallis : 31 75 48 -2 11 -3 0.33 -0.24 3 22.53 -15.01 60 131 Detroit Lake 8/ : 31 80 46 +3 13 +6 0.90 -0.09 4 68.98 10.21 117 131 Eugene : 31 73 48 -3 10 -11 0.50 -0.20 3 21.71 -21.77 50 103 Hillsboro : 30 77 48 -3 13 -2 0.41 -0.06 4 17.97 -14.50 55 100 McMinnville : 30 77 48 -3 12 -6 0.17 -0.38 4 15.13 -23.37 39 96 Portland : 37 78 51 +1 20 -1 0.52 -0.04 3 19.84 -10.57 65 117 Salem : 33 77 49 +0 15 +1 0.52 -0.02 3 21.59 -12.43 63 103 SW VALLEYS : Grants Pass : 30 77 49 -5 14 -19 0.02 -0.38 1 17.86 -10.39 63 89 Medford : 28 85 51 +0 27 -1 0.03 -0.25 2 10.09 -6.13 62 73 Roseburg : 31 81 50 -2 23 -5 0.31 -0.20 4 20.47 -8.33 71 99 NORTH CENTRAL : Condon : 24 65 43 -3 - -7 0.19 -0.10 3 8.71 -1.53 85 74 Echo 8/ : 31 78 49 -3 7 -20 0.25 0.11 1 6.05 -0.99 86 75 Heppner : 30 65 46 -4 1 -14 0.27 -0.01 3 8.32 -1.76 83 74 Hermiston : 30 79 50 -2 8 -19 0.36 0.22 2 4.69 -2.35 67 60 Madras 8/ : 22 77 44 -4 6 -10 0.11 -0.03 1 4.82 -2.88 63 62 Moro : 30 64 44 -3 2 -8 0.14 -0.06 3 8.24 -0.55 94 66 Parkdale 8/ : 27 77 43 -7 5 -15 0.65 0.28 3 32.86 4.85 117 103 Pendleton : 31 76 48 -3 9 -13 0.08 -0.15 1 9.45 0.23 102 72 Prairie City 8/ : 22 77 44 -4 6 -10 0.11 -0.03 1 4.82 -2.88 63 62 The Dalles : 33 82 51 +4 19 +5 0.08 -0.11 3 10.86 0.59 106 83 SOUTH CENTRAL : Agency Lake 8/ : 23 73 41 -2 3 -4 - -0.21 - 9.70 -3.35 74 63 Bend : 16 66 39 -5 - -7 - -0.14 - 4.73 -4.10 54 36 Burns : 21 73 42 -2 2 -5 0.03 -0.11 1 5.18 -1.69 75 61 Christmas Valley 8/ : 13 76 39 -7 1 -13 0.04 -0.10 3 4.20 -4.88 46 66 Klamath Falls : 18 75 42 -4 6 -4 0.02 -0.14 2 5.84 -4.98 54 56 Klamath Falls 8/ : 19 77 43 -3 11 +1 0.07 -0.09 2 6.83 -3.99 63 74 Lakeview : 17 73 40 -4 4 -3 0.02 -0.26 2 5.35 -6.40 46 73 Lorella 8/ : 15 77 41 -4 1 -9 - -0.16 - 4.80 -6.02 44 55 Redmond : 16 80 42 -3 4 -3 0.02 -0.10 2 3.66 -2.27 62 49 Worden 8/ : 20 76 42 -3 5 -5 0.01 -0.15 1 4.29 -6.53 40 63 NORTHEAST : Baker City : 20 74 43 -3 - -7 0.03 -0.17 2 5.02 -1.37 79 79 Joseph : 24 60 39 -3 - -7 0.61 0.19 3 11.12 -7.43 60 81 La Grande : 28 75 45 -2 3 -11 0.15 -0.17 2 7.72 -4.67 62 60 Union : 19 65 42 -4 1 -13 0.25 -0.03 2 9.60 1.05 112 76 SOUTHEAST : Ontario : 31 77 52 +1 19 -10 - -0.14 - 5.82 -1.57 79 47 Rome : 30 77 46 -1 8 -6 - -0.14 - 3.88 -1.29 75 50 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Summary based on NWS data. Copyright 2009: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2/ Air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. 3/ Growing degree days base-50 degrees Fahrenheit. 4/ Precipitation (rain or melted snow/ice) in inches. 5/ Season cumulative precipitation starts September 1, 2008. 6/ DFN=Departure from normal (using 1961-1990 normals period). 7/ Precipitation days = Days with precipitation of 0.01 inch or more. 8/ Agri-Met weather stations.