or-crop-weather Oregon Crop Weather Released: July 6, 2009 Week ending: July 5, 2009 OR-CW1409 OREGON CROP WEATHER NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE USDA, NASS, Oregon Field Office Phone: 503-326-2131 Released: July 6, 2009 Toll Free: 1-800-338-2157 Week ending: July 5, 2009 Email: nass-or@nass.usda.gov Volume: 14-09 Internet: www.nass.usda.gov/or Weather: Conditions were very warm with little moisture reported. High temperatures ranged from 101 degrees in Echo and Hermiston, down to 62 degrees in Crescent City. Low temperatures ranged from 34 degrees in Christmas Valley, to 56 degrees in Ontario. Only nine of the forty three stations reported a measurable amount of precipitation last week. The Joseph station reported the most with 0.50 total inches. Field Crops: Lots of haying activity underway after plenty of dry weather. Grass seed harvest continued, including swathing of tall fescue, annual ryegrass, bluegrass seed, and crimson clover. Red clover was in various stages of early bloom. Wheat was turning color in some areas but still has some green tinges in fields in north central Oregon. Alfalfa first cutting was nearly complete with second cutting just getting underway. Vegetables: Good growing weather for vegetables throughout the week. Irrigation has been ongoing. Farmers markets were busy with abundant local produce. Fruits and Nuts: Sweet cherry harvest continued this week, fruit quality was reportedly excellent. Growers in Wasco County are in the middle of Bing cherry harvest. In Washington County Royal Ann and black cherries were ready for harvest. Strawberry harvest was ending while blueberry and caneberry harvest was underway. Early varieties of raspberries and blackberries were ripe. Routine summer orchard operations continued in the Hood River Valley; elsewhere in the State pear orchards seemed to be in good condition. Vineyards were looking good. Yamhill County reported that unseasonably hot weather put more water demand on fruit and nut trees. A good rain would be welcome for crops. Nurseries and Greenhouses: Greenhouses continued with clean-up and maintenance activities such as placing hanging baskets. Nurseries were still busy with potted, balled, and burlaped stock. Livestock, Range and Pasture: Livestock across the state continue to do well. Pastures in the Eastern part of the State held up well despite the high temperatures last week. Livestock in the western part of the State were moved to irrigated pastures or higher ranges as pastures dried up. Soil Moisture-Week Ending 07/05/09 ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Very : : : : short : Short : Adequate : Surplus ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : Topsoil : 10 41 48 1 Subsoil : 10 32 55 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Progress-Week Ending 07/05/09 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5 year Crop : week : week : year : average -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Alfalfa hay, first cutting : 92 87 98 63 Alfalfa hay, second cutting : 22 11 37 26 Winter wheat harvested : 1 0 1 3 Spring wheat headed : 90 85 96 90 : Days suitable for fieldwork : 6.8 6.7 7.0 6.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition-Week Ending 07/05/09 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter wheat : 9 21 37 30 3 Spring wheat : 6 13 34 40 7 Barley : 0 5 41 46 8 Corn : 0 2 17 68 13 Range and pasture : 2 7 31 50 10 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Western Oregon CLACKAMAS: Lot of grass hay made this week with swathing started on tall fescue seed fields. Winter wheat was going from green to yellow and spring grain was heading. Cherries were ripe and apples were big enough to see while early peaches were turning red. Strawberries were done, raspberries were ripe, and Marion berries were turning red. Hill pastures about to run out of moisture. TILLAMOOK: Dry, need moisture. COLUMBIA: Very hot with drying winds. Good hay making weather. Some concern about moisture for spring grains. COOS/CURRY: Low temperatures were 3 to 6 degrees below the 5-year average for the week in both Coos and southern Curry counties. High temperatures through the week were 4 to 9 degrees below the 5-year average in Coos County, and, with the exception of the spike on Tuesday the 30th to 95 degrees, 3 to 18 degrees below average for the week in southern Curry. No precipitation for the week in either Coos or Curry foggy conditions persisted in the mornings most of the week and the marine layer brought overcast/foggy conditions to the coastal afternoons over the holiday weekend. Producers were making hay/silage much of the week. Bandon (Coos & Northern Curry): Low temperature for the period was 46.58 degrees, 2.83 degrees below the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was 63.26 degrees, 3.76 degrees below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.0 inches, compared to a 5-year (including drought in 2004 & 2005) average of 0.03 inches. Precipitation for current weather year precipitation (began 10/08) stands at 40.67 inches, 14.43 inches below the 5 year average, and 16.81 inches below the long-term historical average. Historical average precipitation through June is 57.48 inches. Brookings (Southern Curry): Low temperature for the period was 46.35 degrees, 6.14 degrees below the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was 95.1 degrees, 22.12 degrees above the 5-year average (temperature spike on Tuesday), excluding that one day, the high temperature was 71.1 degrees, 1.88 degrees below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.0 inches, compared to a 5-year (including drought in 2004 & 2005) average of 0.03 inches. Precipitation for current weather year precipitation (began 10/08) stands at 70.45 inches, 9.39 inches below the 5 year average, and 3.26 inches below the long-term historical average. Historical average precipitation through June is 73.71 inches. DOUGLAS: Dry weather this past week with some days in the 90's. JACKSON: This was a busy week for hay makers. The wet weather stopped haying, and now quite a lot of hay grass has ripened and grown a few stems. Will still be good hay, but not quite as green in color. Grain crops were starting to ripen, and should soon be ready for harvest. Cherries were being picked. Pear orchards seemed ok, but from looks maybe not as many pears. Have not seen any thinning being done. Wild blackberries were done with blossom, and will soon start to ripen. Vineyards were looking good, but it is a long while until harvest time picking. Vegetable gardens liked the warmer weather, but now it takes lots of water, weeding and cultivation to get the best crops. Of course farmers markets had lots of early garden greens and other fresh produce for sale. Greenhouses were still busy with hanging baskets of flowering plants, and clean up getting ready for fall. Nurseries were still busy with potted and balled/burlaped stock. As pastures started to dry up, livestock was being moved to irrigated pastures, or being moved to higher ranges. Dry ground pastures still had some forage left, but now it is mostly all dried out. Temperatures were at or near 100 degrees last week. Irrigation in full swing now that first cutting hay has been finished up. Good growing weather for the vegetables. JOSEPHINE: Extremely hot weather all week. Daytime temperatures were in the upper 90's to low 100's, with nighttime temperatures in the 60's. Drying winds at times. Truck gardens, hay growers, and home gardeners were spending their time watering. Harvesting of blueberries continued. Summer squash was available and some local cherries although this is not a commercial crop here like the blueberries, grapes (wine). LANE: Warm weather throughout the last week had increased growth of most all row crops. Grass seed harvest began with many acres cut during the week while combining will begin next week. BENTON/LINN: Harvest of the grass seed crops was well under way. The farmers markets were busy with lots of local produce for sale. MARION: Very warm and dry this week. First week of temperatures reached the 90's with many field crops maturing quickly with the warmer temperatures. First cut of double-cut mint being completed. Swathing of grass seed fields was in full swing and some combining starting. WASHINGTON: Much of the crimson clover crop has been harvested, with growers reporting generally good to excellent yields. Some grass seed fields had been swathed. June strawberry harvest was almost finished while caneberry and blueberry harvest was underway. Last week was unusually hot and farmers were irrigating at full capacity. Combining crimson clover and red clover was blooming. Fall fescue and other grasses coming on fast and winter wheat was nearing harvest. Strawberries, Royal Ann and black cherries were ready. Raspberries and blackberries in early varieties were ripe, while filberts and walnuts were sizing well. All vegetables grown in the area are abundant. Irrigation was ongoing and new plantings weeded and trimmed. Cattle and calves were doing well and pastures held up even in the high heat. High temperature 95.9 degrees, low 40.5 degrees. Humidity 61 percent high, 33 percent low. YAMHILL: Crimson clover was swathed as was annual rye grass while red clover was in various stages of early bloom around the county. Blueberries kicked into high gear as did raspberries and blackberries while marionberries were about a week out. Second cutting of alfalfa got started this week with some out of the field already. The entire county and its crops could use a good soaking of rain. Unseasonably hot weather was putting more water demand on fruit and nut trees. Sweet cherry harvest continued as did fruit fly spraying. Eastern Oregon GILLIAM: Temperatures were in the upper 90's, lower 100's over the holiday weekend followed by early morning temperatures in the lower 50's on Monday. Harvest begins in some locations on Monday. HOOD RIVER: Mild temperatures early in the week gave way to high temperatures in the 90s for the last half of the week. Hand thinning of summer pears continued in the upper Hood River Valley and apple thinning and routine summer orchard operations continued throughout the valley. JEFFERSON: The hot dry weather last week was good for bluegrass seed crops, which were ripening and being swathed. Bees have been placed in carrots for seed for about 2 weeks. KLAMATH: Another week of hot temperatures with scattered showers one evening during the week. Crops continued to look good. Grain crops started to turn a little. LAKE: First cuttings were underway in the County with little moisture received last week. Weather was hot and the pastures still look good. WALLOWA: Great weather throughout the week allowed producers to swathe their hay. Crops still looked very good. WASCO: The weather continued to be hot most of the week. The winter wheat continued ripening rapidly. Wheat harvest is expected to start within two weeks, in the Petersburg area of northern Wasco County. Dufur and higher elevation areas still have green tinges in fields. Alfalfa hay fields were being irrigated. First cutting nearly complete, did not see any second cutting at weeks end. Livestock were doing well. The sweet cherry harvest continued in Wasco County. Growers are now in the middle of Bing harvest. The fruit quality is excellent. With temperatures the last couple of days prior to July 4th in the low to mid 90's, packing houses are requiring growers to stop picking at 1:00 pm to preserve the quality of the fruit. Weather data for selected stations in Oregon, Week ending: July 5, 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 : 44 80 59 +0 63 +0 - -0.38 - 58.10 -6.34 90 155 Bandon 8/ : 47 63 54 -4 28 -24 - -0.17 - 40.95 -16.95 71 170 Crescent City : 45 62 52 -6 18 -38 0.01 -0.13 1 47.87 -16.38 75 120 Florence : 37 75 55 -4 37 -26 - -0.32 - 63.94 -10.86 85 140 North Bend : 45 64 55 -4 39 -24 - -0.18 - 45.21 -17.09 73 143 Tillamook : 37 77 57 -1 48 -3 - -0.52 - 43.76 -42.23 51 148 WILLAMETTE : VALLEY : Aurora 8/ : 44 95 68 +5 131 +29 - -0.23 - 31.43 -8.31 79 145 Corvallis : 46 92 67 +3 118 +21 - -0.17 - 26.95 -14.67 65 154 Detroit Lake 8/ : 46 95 70 +10 142 +63 - -0.31 - 78.65 12.79 119 162 Eugene : 43 93 67 +2 118 +9 - -0.18 - 26.10 -22.02 54 121 Hillsboro : 41 95 67 +3 119 +19 - -0.19 - 22.42 -13.84 62 120 McMinnville : 40 94 66 +2 112 +12 - -0.14 - 17.64 -24.64 42 113 Portland : 52 96 72 +6 153 +37 - -0.20 - 25.23 -9.63 72 142 Salem : 45 92 68 +5 130 +27 - -0.20 - 26.12 -12.03 68 125 SW VALLEYS : Grants Pass : 50 100 72 +3 159 +20 - -0.07 - 22.75 -7.77 75 109 Medford : 50 100 76 +6 183 +39 - -0.07 - 13.43 -4.78 74 92 Roseburg : 51 96 73 +7 160 +43 - -0.14 - 23.10 -8.82 72 115 NORTH CENTRAL : Condon : 45 94 68 +5 124 +28 - -0.14 - 11.20 -1.82 86 92 Echo 8/ : 44 101 73 +3 161 +14 - -0.07 - 7.32 -1.09 87 88 Heppner : 46 97 71 +5 147 +26 - -0.13 - 10.86 -2.13 84 92 Hermiston : 45 101 73 +3 162 +15 - -0.07 - 6.11 -2.30 73 75 Madras 8/ : 42 95 69 +5 133 +26 - -0.14 - 8.02 -1.55 84 83 Moro : 42 96 70 +5 142 +34 - -0.08 - 9.98 -0.47 96 78 Parkdale 8/ : 39 93 66 +1 110 +4 - -0.07 - 37.22 7.03 123 123 Pendleton : 45 98 72 +2 157 +13 - -0.11 - 12.04 0.77 107 89 Prairie City 8/ : 42 95 69 +5 133 +26 - -0.14 - 8.02 -1.55 84 83 The Dalles : 51 99 75 +11 177 +73 - -0.08 - 12.12 0.28 102 96 SOUTH CENTRAL : Agency Lake 8/ : 40 87 65 +4 103 +20 - -0.10 - 13.64 -1.61 89 81 Bend : 39 92 67 +6 119 +38 - -0.14 - 10.66 -0.12 99 53 Burns : 42 89 68 +6 130 +35 0.08 -0.06 1 10.83 1.82 120 90 Christmas Valley 8/ : 34 90 64 -3 100 -14 0.10 -0.04 1 8.24 -3.20 72 95 Klamath Falls : 46 88 69 +4 132 +23 - -0.10 - 8.67 -3.99 68 81 Klamath Falls 8/ : 46 87 68 +3 127 +18 0.17 0.07 1 10.60 -2.06 84 104 Lakeview : 43 89 65 +2 108 +7 - -0.15 - 9.17 -5.70 62 99 Lorella 8/ : 42 89 66 +1 113 +4 0.02 -0.08 1 7.58 -5.08 60 75 Redmond : 36 96 67 +4 123 +28 0.01 -0.13 1 6.40 -1.29 83 67 Worden 8/ : 42 86 66 +0 110 +1 0.04 -0.06 2 7.25 -5.41 57 89 NORTHEAST : Baker City : 41 90 66 +2 111 +9 0.01 -0.19 1 9.81 0.31 103 105 Joseph : 47 83 65 +8 109 +51 0.50 0.23 3 18.60 -4.57 80 115 La Grande : 43 93 69 +3 132 +12 - -0.21 - 10.91 -5.18 68 82 Union : 42 93 68 +5 130 +30 - -0.22 - 13.38 1.00 108 102 SOUTHEAST : Ontario : 56 95 77 +4 193 +25 - -0.07 - 9.24 0.13 101 68 Rome : 51 95 72 +4 159 +22 - -0.14 - 9.45 1.92 125 74 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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.