or-crop-weather Oregon Crop Weather Released: August 24, 2009 Week ending: August 23, 2009 OR-CW1405 OREGON CROP WEATHER NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE USDA, NASS, Oregon Field Office Phone: 503-326-2131 Released: August 24, 2009 Toll Free: 1-800-338-2157 Week ending: August 23, 2009 Email: nass-or@nass.usda.gov Volume: 21-09 Internet: www.nass.usda.gov/or Weather: It was another hot dry week with almost no precipitation except for a bit of rain along the Coast. High temperatures ranged from 106 degrees in Grants Pass, Medford and The Dalles, down to 67 degrees in Bandon and Crescent City. Low temperatures ranged from 36 degrees in Christmas Valley and Lorella, up to 54 degrees in The Dalles. Only two stations, Florence and Crescent City, of the forty-three total stations, received measurable precipitation last week. Seventeen stations reached temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while none fell below freezing. Field Crops: Hot, dry weather made for good haying and harvesting conditions. The second cutting of alfalfa was mostly finished, and the third cutting made great progress. Grass seed and wheat harvests were winding down and fall planting has begun. Red clover was swathed and will start combining next week in Washington and Yamhill counties. Vegetables: Beans, corn, and squash were still being harvested. An abundance of vegetables were available at roadside stands and farmer's markets. Fruits and Nuts: The Bartlett pear harvest was well underway in the lower Hood River Valley as well as in Jackson County. Peaches and other stone fruits were also being harvested as they ripened. Elsewhere, growers continued summer orchard operations and prepared orchards for the summer pear harvest. In Washington County hazelnuts and walnuts were reportedly sizing well. Berry harvest continued. Nurseries and Greenhouses: Greenhouses were underway with fall plantings, especially ornamentals. Nurseries continued with irrigation and plant care activities. Potted plants were rotated to new locations. Livestock, Range and Pasture: Ranchers were busy irrigating pastures, supplemental feeding, and watering livestock. There was concern for overgrazing non-irrigated lands, and more watering holes were in danger of drying out. Livestock were still doing well. Some calves were being weaned in preparation for fall sales. Soil Moisture-Week Ending 08/23/09 ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Very : : : : short : Short : Adequate : Surplus ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : Topsoil : 34 46 20 0 Subsoil : 34 40 26 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Progress-Week Ending 08/23/09 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5 year Crop : week : week : year : average -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Alfalfa hay, third cutting : 77 49 53 18 Barley harvested : 91 74 92 82 Spring wheat harvested : 90 77 89 82 : Days suitable for fieldwork : 6.9 6.3 5.2 6.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition-Week Ending 08/23/09 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Spring wheat : 8 34 31 22 5 Barley : 4 9 30 50 7 Corn : 0 1 9 65 25 Range and pasture : 18 21 35 26 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Western Oregon BENTON/LINN/LANE: The grass seed harvest was about complete. The wheat and sugarbeet seed harvests were continuing. Beans, corn, and squash were still being harvested. Fall preparation began for grass seed growers, with many wondering what to plant. COLUMBIA: Several grass fields were being tilled under this week. It was not clear if they were changing commodities or reseeding grass. Berries and vegetables were being harvested and fall plantings for different vegetable crops were finishing up. One day this week was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. COOS/CURRY: Low temperatures were 5 degrees below the 5-year average in both Coos and Curry counties. High temperatures through the week were 3 to 4 degrees below the 5-year average on the southern Oregon coast. There was only a trace of precipitation for the week in Curry and none in Coos, but morning fog persisted near the Coast. A very little light rain this week helped very little. Irrigation was in full swing where available. Pastures and range lands continued to dry out with little relief in sight. Bandon (Coos & Northern Curry): The low temperature for the period was 6.58 degrees, 5.03 degrees below the 5-year average. The high temperature for the period was 66.5 degrees, 3.09 degrees below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.0 inches, at the 5-year (including drought in 2004 & 2005) average of 0.65 inches. Precipitation for current weather year precipitation (began 10/08) stood at 40.8 inches, 15.21 inches below the 5 year average, and 17.94 inches below the long-term historical average. Historical average precipitation through August is 58.74 inches. Brookings (Southern Curry): The low temperature for the period was 47.79 degrees, 5.47 degrees below the 5-year average. The high temperature for the period was 71.3 degrees, 3.94 degrees below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.01 inches, compared to a 5-year (including drought in 2004 & 2005) average of 0.89 inches. Precipitation for Current weather year precipitation (began 10/08) stood at 70.6 inches, 10.66 inches below the 5 year average. Historical average precipitation through August is 71.53 inches. JACKSON: There was not much change from last week. Some grain was still being harvested, and lots of hay was still being cut and baled. Some fields were being worked up getting ready for fall plantings. The pear harvest was getting underway with mostly Bartlett pears being picked. Peaches were also being harvested as they ripened. There were still lots of wild blackberries being picked, mostly for home use, but some for sale at fruit stands and farmers markets. With the fruit harvest under way, there was a lot of picking activity. Fresh vegetables, including sweet corn, green peppers, new onions, summer squash, cucumbers, and of course lots of ripe tomatoes, were at roadside stands and at farmers markets. Greenhouses were getting started with fall planning. Mostly fall items will be ornamentals. Of course some still had potted, and hanging baskets for sale. Nurseries were busy with care of their stock on hand, feeding and watering and working with this year's newly planted stocks. Ranchers were working hard at getting in hay stocks and keeping pastures irrigated. Some calf weaning was getting ready for fall calf sales. Irrigated pastures were still doing well with good forage, but dry ground pastures were very poor. It was another very hot and dry week with some days above 100 degrees and in the 60s at night. It was good hay drying weather, but it took lots of irrigation. On the hot days there was a lot of irrigation for crops still coming on. DOUGLAS: Normal weather conditions persisted. JOSEPHINE: Weather was frightful once again last week. There was record breaking heat. In most days temperatures were over 100 degrees, and 107 degrees was a record breaking day. It was miserable for animals and people. Truck gardens were not doing as well as in years past. The products were good, but sales were off due mostly to finances and traffic. Growing conditions were good where water was plentiful. Animals were looking good and surviving the heat. There were 7 days for working but it was too hot. On a high note, yesterday was the best. It was just right inside and out. Night time temperatures have been cooler, making mornings pleasant. WASHINGTON: Red clover in windrows start combining next week. Most fall wheat produced well. Field corn neared the silage stage. Blueberries were sent to processors. Filberts and walnuts were sizing well. Peaches were ready. Sweet corn ranged from ripe to ear silking. Beets went to be processed. Tomatoes were producing and almost every kind of vegetable was available at markets stands. Rotating potted plants went to new locations. Irrigation was ongoing. Pastures showed green up with last week's rain. The high temperature was 98 degrees, and the low 43.5 degrees. Humidity reached a high of 79 percent and a low of 37 percent. There was no rain. YAMHILL: Red clover was swathed this week. Lots of field work was done, with some planting. Cooler weather near the end of the week helped ease stress on orchards. Late peaches were being harvested. Eastern Oregon HOOD RIVER: Above average high temperatures through mid-week gave way to more moderate conditions late in the week. The Bartlett pear harvest was well underway in the lower Hood River Valley. Elsewhere, growers continued summer orchard operations and prepared orchards for the summer pear harvest. KLAMATH: There were more hot temperatures during the week. The grain harvest was well underway. LAKE: The second cutting of alfalfa was still in progress-90 percent completed. There was no precipitation during the week. MALHEUR: Weather was back to hot and dry. The wheat harvest was winding down. Haying continued. Onion, potatoes, and dry bean harvests started. SHERMAN: The return of hot weather meant a return to full days of harvesting. Some harvested wheat stubble was being tilled, but it was mostly quiet with vacations and State Fair preparation using time. Very dry conditions persisted and showed little sign of improving. WALLOWA: Crops were starting to dry out after recent rains. Harvests should be starting soon. WASCO: The winter wheat harvest was nearly complete, while some spring grain was not quite ripe. The third cutting of alfalfa hay in the Tygh Valley and Dufur area was underway. Cattle continued to hold their own on the dry pastures that were becoming over grazed. Watering ponds and springs continued to dry up. Stone fruit crops continued to be harvested through the week, while early pear and apple crops will soon start to be picked. Rain is needed for the fall seeding of grain crops. Weather data for selected stations in Oregon, Week ending: August 23, 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 : 51 82 63 +3 94 +18 - -0.32 - 59.45 -6.74 90 169 Bandon 8/ : 47 67 58 -1 58 -4 - -0.25 - 41.08 -17.76 70 177 Crescent City : 48 67 57 -2 54 -9 0.01 -0.23 1 47.99 -17.19 74 130 Florence : 40 75 58 -4 61 -16 0.03 -0.31 1 64.39 -11.95 84 146 North Bend : 48 68 58 -2 60 -10 - -0.25 - 45.38 -17.89 72 146 Tillamook : 45 79 63 +4 94 +31 - -0.42 - 45.44 -42.92 51 155 WILLAMETTE : VALLEY : Aurora 8/ : 48 97 70 +5 143 +31 - -0.23 - 32.24 -8.64 79 150 Corvallis : 43 98 69 +3 132 +20 - -0.21 - 27.85 -14.76 65 159 Detroit Lake 8/ : 49 103 72 +11 156 +72 - -0.32 - 79.46 12.03 118 170 Eugene : 46 101 70 +3 140 +18 - -0.28 - 26.87 -22.36 55 126 Hillsboro : 44 97 69 +4 133 +23 - -0.28 - 23.22 -14.20 62 123 McMinnville : 43 95 69 +3 134 +22 - -0.18 - 18.55 -24.58 43 117 Portland : 53 96 72 +5 159 +28 - -0.28 - 26.10 -9.98 72 147 Salem : 48 99 71 +6 151 +34 - -0.19 - 26.90 -12.17 69 129 SW VALLEYS : Grants Pass : 50 106 75 +4 176 +29 - -0.14 - 23.28 -7.73 75 112 Medford : 52 106 77 +5 191 +35 - -0.14 - 13.81 -4.97 74 93 Roseburg : 50 105 74 +5 167 +34 - -0.14 - 23.26 -9.37 71 117 NORTH CENTRAL : Condon : 44 99 70 +6 143 +39 - -0.15 - 11.50 -2.33 83 93 Echo 8/ : 48 103 74 +4 172 +22 - -0.08 - 7.55 -1.27 86 91 Heppner : 50 100 72 +4 154 +24 - -0.15 - 11.49 -2.21 84 97 Hermiston : 47 105 75 +4 175 +25 - -0.08 - 6.37 -2.45 72 77 Madras 8/ : 44 100 70 +4 138 +26 - -0.14 - 8.10 -2.19 79 85 Moro : 44 99 71 +5 149 +31 - -0.14 - 10.21 -0.78 93 79 Parkdale 8/ : 45 97 69 +3 133 +18 - -0.14 - 37.23 6.47 121 124 Pendleton : 51 103 74 +3 168 +18 - -0.14 - 13.07 1.17 110 92 Prairie City 8/ : 44 100 70 +4 138 +26 - -0.14 - 8.10 -2.19 79 85 The Dalles : 54 106 76 +11 186 +73 - -0.14 - 12.15 -0.25 98 98 SOUTH CENTRAL : Agency Lake 8/ : 38 92 64 +3 98 +16 - -0.21 - 13.89 -2.18 86 84 Bend : 36 98 67 +6 122 +34 - -0.14 - 11.35 -0.24 98 56 Burns : 42 100 69 +6 134 +39 - -0.18 - 11.15 1.34 114 93 Christmas Valley 8/ : 36 97 65 -2 108 -8 - -0.14 - 9.40 -2.86 77 100 Klamath Falls : 45 94 69 +3 132 +18 - -0.14 - 9.01 -4.38 67 85 Klamath Falls 8/ : 45 95 69 +3 133 +19 - -0.14 - 10.80 -2.59 81 107 Lakeview : 43 95 67 +3 120 +18 - -0.14 - 9.53 -5.98 61 102 Lorella 8/ : 36 95 65 -2 106 -8 - -0.14 - 7.95 -5.44 59 79 Redmond : 40 100 67 +3 121 +19 - -0.14 - 7.74 -0.70 92 71 Worden 8/ : 40 96 66 -1 111 -3 - -0.14 - 7.41 -5.98 55 93 NORTHEAST : Baker City : 38 97 66 +1 115 +6 - -0.24 - 11.33 0.69 106 114 Joseph : 45 92 66 +7 115 +42 - -0.28 - 21.82 -2.78 89 125 La Grande : 45 100 71 +3 147 +19 - -0.21 - 12.29 -4.92 71 87 Union : 40 100 69 +3 132 +22 - -0.21 - 15.15 1.68 112 111 SOUTHEAST : Ontario : 50 98 76 +3 182 +21 - -0.12 - 9.92 0.38 104 74 Rome : 44 102 73 +5 164 +31 - -0.14 - 9.89 1.77 122 78 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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.