or-crop-weather Oregon Crop Weather Released: August 31, 2009 Week ending: August 30, 2009 OR-CW1405 OREGON CROP WEATHER NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE USDA, NASS, Oregon Field Office Phone: 503-326-2131 Released: August 31, 2009 Toll Free: 1-800-338-2157 Week ending: August 30, 2009 Email: nass-or@nass.usda.gov Volume: 22-09 Internet: www.nass.usda.gov/or Weather: It was a milder week with closer to normal temperatures and light rain. High temperatures ranged from 99 degrees in La Grande and Ontario, down to 70 degrees in North Bend. Low temperatures ranged from 32 degrees in Agency Lake and Worden, up to 52 degrees in Portland. No stations reported temperatures above 100 degrees this week, compared to seventeen stations last week. More than half of the forty-three stations reported a measurable amount of rain, concentrated mainly in the coastal areas and the Willamette Valley. Field Crops: Some irrigation districts ran out of water early in Malheur County. Wheat harvest was virtually complete in north central Oregon. Growers were waiting for rains to build soil moisture before they seed. The carrot seed harvest will begin soon. Central Oregon mint ripened quickly during the hot weather a few weeks ago. In the Willamette Valley, peppermint yields were average or a little above. New plantings of bluegrass seed in central Oregon were mostly complete. Low grass seed prices will likely divert acreage to other crops including wheat in the Willamette Valley. Vegetables: Plenty of vegetables were available at farmers markets and roadside stands. Fall vegetables starting to make an appearance. Sweet corn harvest was in full swing. The green bean harvest finished in Yamhill County. Fruits and Nuts: Peach and plum harvests were active across the State. The Bartlett pear harvest continued in mid-Hood River Valley orchards, while growers in the lower Valley began preparations for the winter pear harvest. Filberts were starting to fall. Nurseries and Greenhouses: Greenhouses were about to get started on fall plants. Nurseries were busy with stock care, watering, and feeding. Potted plants were rotated, and trees were pruned. Livestock, Range and Pasture: Ranchers continued to be busy irrigating pastures, supplemental feeding, and watering livestock. Late fall and early spring calves were being weaned in preparation for fall sales. More rain was needed to get dryland pastures started for fall grazing. Soil Moisture-Week Ending 08/30/09 ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Very : : : : short : Short : Adequate : Surplus ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : Topsoil : 29 46 25 0 Subsoil : 25 45 30 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Progress-Week Ending 08/30/09 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5 year Crop : week : week : year : average -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Alfalfa hay, third cutting : 80 77 59 32 Barley harvested : 93 91 96 89 Spring wheat harvested : 94 90 93 90 : Days suitable for fieldwork : 6.8 6.9 6.1 6.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition-Week Ending 08/30/09 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Spring wheat : 9 37 30 20 4 Barley : 4 9 30 51 6 Corn : 0 1 17 68 14 Range and pasture : 15 17 39 27 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Western Oregon COOS/CURRY: Low temperatures were 2 to 4 degrees below the 5-year average in both Coos and Curry County. High temperatures through the week were 4 to 5 degrees above the 5-year average in Coos, but over 13 degrees below the 5- year average on the southern Curry Coast. There was only a trace of precipitation for the week in Curry, but 0.4 inches on Friday in parts of Coos. Morning fog persisted near the Coast most of the week. 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 46.41 degrees, 2.56 degrees below the 5-year average. The high temperature for the period was 74.0 degrees, 4.62 degrees above the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.42 inches (0.4 inches on one day), above the 5-year (including drought in 2004 & 2005) average for the week of 0.14 inches. Precipitation for Current weather year precipitation (began 10/08) stands at 41.22 inches, 14.93 inches below the 5 year average, and 17.52 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 45.93 degrees, 4.34 degrees below the 5-year average. The high temperature for the period was 74.6 degrees, 13.2 degrees below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.02 inches, compared to a 5-year (including drought in 2004 & 2005) average of 0.23 inches. Precipitation for Current weather year precipitation (began 10/08) stands at 70.62 inches, 10.88 inches below the 5 year average. Historical average precipitation through August is 71.53 inches. DOUGLAS: Normal weather persisted. JACKSON: Hay making was still the major item this week. Nearly all grain crops were done. Most fields were being worked up to be ready for fall plantings. The fruit harvest was in full swing. Peaches, pears, plums, and wild blackberries were picked. The weather has been really good for picking, although a bit too warm for comfort. There were lots of fresh vegetables at farmers markets and roadside stands. Lots of irrigation was being done. Greenhouses were about to get started on fall plants. Nurseries were busy with their stock care, watering and feeding stock to keep it looking good and ready for fall. Lots of watering was needed to take care of plants. All livestock looked quite good if on irrigated pastures. Livestock on dry ground needed supplemental feeding. There was some weaning and working of late fall and early spring calves, getting ready for fall sales. This was another hot and dry week, not too bad for harvest, but rain is needed. The rain year ended about 4 inches short of normal. Need rain to get dry ground pastures started for fall grazing. So far all irrigation districts still running, but stream flows were much lower and that will soon affect ditch water supplies. JOSEPHINE: Morning temperatures were in the low 40's, and in the low 90's in the evening. One morning had a trace of rain. Truck gardens were starting to show a little more traffic. Animals were looking good on irrigated pastures. The Fair was extra hot this year; animals and people alike suffered. Hay has done poorly this year. No second cutting yet in most areas. LANE: Record low grass seed prices will prompt all alternative crops to be planted on former grass seed ground that is acceptable to that crop. Wheat acres will be up sharply from one end of the Willamette Valley to the other. The winter wheat yields were very good to excellent, but the spring wheat was a disappointment. Spring oat yields were average or better. Expect more wheat next year as grass acres will decline due to poor demand and price. Warm, dry conditions continued last week over the southern Willamette Valley allowing for field prep work for next year's crops. The sweet corn harvest was in full swing with average yields. The peppermint harvest completed with reported yields as average or a little above. MARION: Weather was very dry. Sweet corn was coming in to the cannery. WASHINGTON: Red clover, beets and peaches were being harvested. Field corn was maturing well. Apples and berries were at markets. Filberts were starting to fall. Sweet corn was going to processors. Potted plants were being irrigated and rotated, and trees were pruned. Cattle and calves looked good. Pastures were holding after rains. The high temperature was 83, and the low 51. Humidity reached a high of 76 percent and a low of 37 percent. Light rain fell late in the week. YAMHILL: The processed green bean harvest finished up this week. Processed sweet corn was on the down side and things were beginning to look more like fall. Farmers markets were full of vegetables with the fall vegetables, like acorn squash, beginning to make an appearance. The big decision on the mind of farmers is what to plant this fall; will it be grains or grass seed? Eastern Oregon HOOD RIVER: High temperatures ranged from the low 70s to mid 90s, with lows dipping into the 40s on two nights. The Bartlett pear harvest continued in mid-Hood River Valley orchards and began in the upper Valley. Fruit growers in the lower Valley prepared for the winter pear harvest. JEFFERSON: The carrot seed harvest will begin next week. There has only been one hail storm this summer that impacted a few carrot fields near Culver. Otherwise this has been a very low risk summer for carrot seed production. Also, the absence of rain has made for good weather for completing most other field operations. New plantings of bluegrass seed were mostly complete and were being irrigated. The really hot weather a few weeks ago made it difficult to get mint harvested for oil in a timely manner because the fields were maturing faster than what they could be harvested, but there were very few acres impacted by this situation. KLAMATH: Warm weather prevailed during the week. There was a little precipitation at the end of the week but it was not measureable. There were cooler night time temperatures during the week. Grain harvesting continued. The third cutting of hay began. LAKE: There was no precipitation during the week. Nighttime temperatures were cooling off to the low 40s. MALHEUR: Some irrigation districts ran out of water early this year. SHERMAN: It was County Fair week and school starts next week. Harvest was virtually complete. Growers were waiting for rains to build moisture so they can seed. WALLOWA: Harvesting continued along with second cuttings of hay in the Joseph area. Weather data for selected stations in Oregon, Week ending: August 30, 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 : 46 81 61 +1 78 +8 0.17 -0.23 3 59.62 -6.97 90 172 Bandon 8/ : 46 74 57 -2 53 -3 0.42 0.14 3 41.50 -17.62 70 180 Crescent City : 46 76 58 -2 56 -7 0.03 -0.25 3 48.02 -17.44 73 133 Florence : 39 78 58 -4 59 -18 0.64 0.26 2 65.03 -11.69 85 148 North Bend : 46 70 58 -3 57 -13 0.38 0.10 2 45.76 -17.79 72 148 Tillamook : 43 79 60 +2 70 +7 0.10 -0.43 2 45.54 -43.35 51 157 WILLAMETTE : VALLEY : Aurora 8/ : 46 90 67 +2 119 +12 - -0.28 - 32.24 -8.92 78 150 Corvallis : 43 91 65 -1 104 -3 0.08 -0.17 2 27.93 -14.93 65 161 Detroit Lake 8/ : 45 95 68 +8 128 +52 0.02 -0.34 1 79.48 11.69 117 171 Eugene : 41 93 65 -2 109 -8 0.06 -0.25 1 26.93 -22.61 54 127 Hillsboro : 41 90 64 -1 101 -2 0.05 -0.23 3 23.27 -14.43 62 126 McMinnville : 40 89 64 -3 98 -10 - -0.22 - 18.55 -24.80 43 117 Portland : 52 91 69 +2 133 +9 0.05 -0.26 1 26.15 -10.24 72 148 Salem : 47 92 67 +2 120 +9 0.08 -0.14 2 26.98 -12.31 69 131 SW VALLEYS : Grants Pass : 48 96 69 -1 136 -2 - -0.14 - 23.28 -7.87 75 112 Medford : 53 97 72 +2 158 +13 - -0.14 - 13.81 -5.11 73 93 Roseburg : 49 96 70 +2 138 +12 0.04 -0.17 1 23.30 -9.54 71 118 NORTH CENTRAL : Condon : 42 88 65 +3 111 +17 - -0.21 - 11.50 -2.54 82 93 Echo 8/ : 46 93 70 +1 144 +7 0.01 -0.13 1 7.56 -1.40 84 92 Heppner : 45 90 68 +2 126 +6 0.02 -0.19 1 11.55 -2.36 83 98 Hermiston : 48 95 71 +2 150 +13 0.01 -0.13 1 6.38 -2.58 71 78 Madras 8/ : 40 91 66 +2 113 +11 - -0.14 - 8.10 -2.33 78 85 Moro : 38 90 65 +0 106 -1 - -0.14 - 10.21 -0.92 92 79 Parkdale 8/ : 37 91 64 -2 98 -8 - -0.19 - 37.23 6.28 120 124 Pendleton : 45 92 70 +1 143 +5 0.01 -0.13 1 13.08 1.04 109 93 Prairie City 8/ : 40 91 66 +2 113 +11 - -0.14 - 8.10 -2.33 78 85 The Dalles : 49 98 72 +8 155 +51 - -0.14 - 12.15 -0.39 97 98 SOUTH CENTRAL : Agency Lake 8/ : 32 86 58 -3 59 -14 - -0.17 - 13.89 -2.35 86 84 Bend : 42 91 64 +4 103 +25 - -0.14 - 11.35 -0.38 97 56 Burns : 33 94 64 +3 98 +16 - -0.14 - 11.15 1.20 112 93 Christmas Valley 8/ : 35 92 61 -4 80 -25 - -0.14 - 9.40 -3.00 76 100 Klamath Falls : 42 86 63 -2 92 -10 - -0.14 - 9.01 -4.52 67 85 Klamath Falls 8/ : 40 86 63 -2 93 -9 - -0.14 - 10.80 -2.73 80 107 Lakeview : 34 88 61 -3 77 -15 - -0.14 - 9.53 -6.12 61 102 Lorella 8/ : 34 89 61 -5 76 -26 - -0.14 - 7.95 -5.58 59 79 Redmond : 34 93 64 +2 99 +7 0.02 -0.12 1 7.76 -0.82 90 72 Worden 8/ : 32 88 60 -5 73 -29 - -0.14 - 7.41 -6.12 55 93 NORTHEAST : Baker City : 33 95 65 +2 110 +14 0.12 -0.09 1 11.45 0.60 106 115 Joseph : 43 89 64 +6 99 +34 0.05 -0.23 1 21.87 -3.01 88 126 La Grande : 36 99 68 +2 128 +13 0.04 -0.19 1 12.33 -5.11 71 88 Union : 36 96 67 +4 124 +25 - -0.27 - 15.15 1.41 110 111 SOUTHEAST : Ontario : 51 99 75 +5 176 +31 0.03 -0.11 1 9.95 0.27 103 75 Rome : 48 98 73 +6 160 +41 - -0.14 - 9.89 1.63 120 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.