OR-crop-weather Oregon Crop Weather Released: May 7, 2012 Week ending: May 6, 2012 OR-CW0612 OREGON CROP WEATHER NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE USDA, NASS, Oregon Field Office Phone: 503-326-2131 Released: May 7, 2012 Toll Free: 1-800-338-2157 Week ending: May 6, 2012 Email: nass-or@nass.usda.gov Volume: 06-12 Internet: www.nass.usda.gov/or Weather: A cooler, wet week ended with some nice warmer weather. All but two stations reported lower than normal temperatures, about 4 degrees cooler on average. All stations reported measurable precipitation, averaging close to a half an inch above normal across the State. Frost was reported in Josephine County with overnight temperatures dropping below 30 degrees. Malheur County reported over an inch of rain above normal, receiving heavy rains with some hail. Field Crops: Most Malheur County row crops were planted with exception of some field corn and some late grain. Spraying and cultivating will be the principal activities this coming week. Western Oregon conditions bear monitoring for Stripe rust. Field corn planting started on dried soils. Wheat growing rapidly, crimson clover and brassica seed crops were blooming. Plant growth regulators were applied to grass seed crops. Most fertilizing and spraying have been completed on most seed crops. Fruits and Nuts: In Hood River County, cool and wet conditions prevailed for most of the week changing to warmer and dryer by the weekend. At week's end, crop development in the lower Hood River Valley was as follows: d'Anjou pear at post bloom (WSU stage 8); Red Delicious apple near post bloom (WSU stage 9); Bing cherry at post bloom (WSU stage 9); Pinot noir grape at Eichhorn- Lorenz stages 5 to 7. Yamhill County weather conditions have produced several brown rot infection periods. The rain has also made it difficult to get control sprays on in a timely manner. The result has likely been a reduced fruit set due to brown rot blossom blight. Filberts treated for blight control with better weather openings. In southern Oregon, tree fruit crops were done with bloom and only plum crops looked to be light from poor pollination. Wine grape varieties have all broken bud and the new shoots were about 2-3 inches long. Blueberry crop potential looked good with nice fruit set on early varieties, and the later varieties were blooming nicely. Pest management programs for Spotted Wing Drosophila are going to be very necessary this year since the winter traps have been catching a good number of adults who have overwintered. Cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry growers will have to be very attentive. Vegetables: Vegetable growers were a few weeks behind normal planting pace with the wet soils. First plantings of sweet corn and field corn were scheduled for this last week, with some being planted depending on soil types. Nurseries and Greenhouses: New seedlings were covered with low plastic coverings. Nurseries were digging and balling small trees. Livestock, Range and Pasture: Rain helped upper level Malheur grazing areas. Lake County pasture conditions continued to improve with warmer weather and precipitation. In western Oregon pastures were improving and cattle were on rotation of plots. Soil Moisture - Week Ending 05/06/12 ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Very : : : : short : Short : Adequate : Surplus ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : Topsoil : 0 2 78 20 Subsoil : 4 3 65 28 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Progress - Week Ending 05/06/12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5 year Crop : week : week : year : average -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Barley planted : 93 90 79 89 Barley emerged : 78 62 57 68 Spring wheat planted : 95 91 86 93 Spring wheat emerged : 69 53 44 70 : Days suitable for fieldwork : 4.6 4.3 4.5 4.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition - Week Ending 05/06/12 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter wheat : 0 6 20 54 20 Range and pasture : 1 5 43 46 5 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Western Oregon CLACKAMAS: Stripe rust is starting to break through the early fungicide applications at the North Valley experimental location. Susceptible wheat varieties like Tubbs 06 and Goetze were starting to show low levels of infection. The fungicide application (4oz Tilt) was applied about 5 weeks ago, so this is not a surprise. However, it does remind us that even fields that have been treated with a fungicide should be scouted on a regular basis. COOS/CURRY: Near seasonal normal temperature for the period, with both low temperatures slightly below the 5-year averages in both counties. Still mostly overcast with periods of rain through the week, about 1 1/2 inches of precipitation for both counties. Weather turned nice for the weekend, with only a trace of precipitation Saturday for the entire South Coast. Livestock were starting to slowly move to bottom pastures as they started to dry. Spring feeder cattle turn-out has been delayed 3 to 4 weeks due to the continuing wet weather and soggy pastures. Bandon (Coos and Northern Curry): Official Low temperature for the period was 36.51 degrees, 0.5 degrees below the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was 59.62 degrees, 0.75 degrees below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 1.27 inches, which is 0.43 inches above the 5-year average for the week. Weather year 2012 (began 10/1/2011) precipitation stands at 59.43 inches, 10.9 inches above the 5-year average. Average precipitation through the month of May is 55.97 inches. Brookings (Southern Curry): Low temperature for the period was 39.99 degrees, 0.96 degrees below the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was 75.2 degrees, 4.1 degrees above the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 1.43 inches, compared to a 5-year average of 1.18 inches. Weather year 2012 (began 10/1/2011) precipitation stands at 84.13 inches, 12.55 inches above the 5-year average. Historical average precipitation through May is 68.15 inches. DOUGLAS: A little drier weather this past week had allowed some field drying getting closer to soil moisture levels that allow field work. Spraying schedules have been delayed but were just getting started. Tree fruit crops were done with bloom and only plum crops looked to be light from poor pollination. Wine grape varieties have all broken bud and the new shoots were about 2-3 inches long. Blueberry crop potential looked good with nice fruit set on early varieties, and the later varieties were blooming nicely. Pest management programs for Spotted Wing Drosophila are going to be very necessary this year since the winter traps have been catching a good number of adults who have overwintered. Cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry growers will have to be very attentive. Vegetable growers are a few weeks behind normal planting pace with the wet soils. JACKSON: Trace of rain Thursday and Friday morning. Cool temperatures Sunday morning. Wind machines were going in some orchards early. Warm weather is expected for the coming week. Hay fields ready to cut. JOSEPHINE: There were four nights with temperatures between 28-38 degrees that had killing frost covering plants that needed protection. No damage reported yet. Other overnight temperatures were between 40-56 degrees. A lot of rain midweek, windy at times. Daytime temperatures were 48-65 degrees with a high of 84 on Sunday. Operators were working hard trying to keep up with planting and fertilizing. No hay down yet in the immediate area. LANE: Weather conditions were still very wet, with short dry periods. Field work has been very slow, first plantings of sweet corn and field corn were scheduled for this last week, with some being planted depending on soil types. Most fertilizing and spraying have been completed on most seed crops. MARION: Wheat was growing rapidly, crimson clover and brassica seed crops were blooming. Plant growth regulators were applied to grass seed crops. WASHINGTON: Winter wheat nearing flag leaf stage, weed control applied to grain and clover showing good growth, alfalfa doing well. Field corn planting started on dried soils. Filberts treated for blight control with better weather openings. Sweet corn scheduled for planting, green bean ground being prepared. New seedlings covered with low plastic coverings, digging and balling small trees. Pastures were improving and cattle on rotation of plots. High temperature 63.9 degrees, low 35.6 degrees with 2.5 inches of rainfall. YAMHILL: Weather conditions have produced several brown rot infection periods. The rain has also made it difficult to get control sprays on in a timely manner. The result has likely been a reduced fruit set due to brown rot blossom blight. Eastern Oregon HOOD RIVER: Cool and wet conditions prevailed for most of the week changing to warmer and dryer by the weekend. At week's end, crop development in the lower Hood River Valley was as follows: d'Anjou pear at post bloom (WSU stage 8); Red Delicious apple near post bloom (WSU stage 9); Bing cherry at post bloom (WSU stage 9); Pinot noir grape at Eichhorn-Lorenz stages 5 to 7. LAKE: Currently at 84 percent of average on precipitation for the water year. Pasture conditions continued to improve with warmer weather and precipitation. Producers started irrigating throughout the County. MALHEUR: RAIN! RAIN! RAIN! was the weather word in north Malheur County for first week in May accumulating 1.36 inches, compared to first week in May 2011 with .15 inches and no rain in same period in May 2010. Some hail also hit the County, but no reports of any crop damage yet. Rain was needed in upper level grazing areas. Most all row crops were planted with exception of some field corn and some late grain. Spraying and cultivating will be the principal activities this coming week. UNION/BAKER: Lots of rain last week. WALLOWA: More moisture received during the week is helping those producers who have planted their spring crops but keeping others out of their fields. Warmer temperatures and dryer conditions would help a lot. Weather data for selected stations in Oregon, Week ending: May 6, 2012 (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 : 37 61 48 -4 1 -13 2.88 2.10 6 63.66 4.38 107 157 Bandon 8/ : 37 60 49 -3 1 -13 1.27 0.54 6 60.07 6.07 111 152 Crescent City : 39 57 50 -3 6 -15 0.80 0.03 3 55.45 -4.91 92 108 Florence : 37 63 47 -5 1 -13 2.67 1.73 5 65.72 -3.32 95 142 North Bend : 37 59 49 -3 2 -16 1.17 0.40 4 36.14 -22.03 62 112 Tillamook : 36 63 49 -1 2 -5 2.95 1.86 6 55.37 -23.34 70 158 WILLAMETTE : VALLEY : Aurora 8/ : 38 69 50 -3 8 -19 1.48 0.94 5 39.24 3.14 109 159 Corvallis : 35 66 49 -4 6 -17 1.49 1.00 5 42.57 3.95 110 154 Detroit Lake 8/ : 35 69 46 -2 2 -5 3.72 2.89 6 89.40 28.73 147 147 Eugene : 34 67 50 -4 10 -19 0.94 0.39 4 37.95 -6.79 85 122 Hillsboro : 35 68 49 -4 9 -17 1.12 0.71 4 27.74 -5.62 83 133 McMinnville : 38 69 51 -3 14 -15 0.92 0.43 3 36.62 -2.92 93 139 Portland : 41 69 52 -4 12 -23 1.31 0.82 4 33.67 2.14 107 135 Salem : 36 67 50 -3 11 -10 1.04 0.60 4 41.17 6.11 117 131 SW VALLEYS : Grants Pass : 33 77 52 -5 20 -28 0.35 0.06 3 26.11 -2.80 90 109 Medford : 39 77 55 +0 34 -8 0.15 -0.13 1 14.22 -2.55 85 83 Roseburg : 37 71 52 -3 18 -19 0.35 -0.05 3 27.47 -2.28 92 115 NORTH CENTRAL : Condon : 28 67 46 -3 7 -3 0.20 -0.08 3 10.14 -0.80 93 80 Echo 8/ : 32 67 51 -6 12 -35 0.15 -0.02 2 6.22 -1.19 84 77 Heppner : 31 70 49 -4 11 -16 0.42 0.10 4 8.84 -2.01 81 70 Hermiston : 31 69 53 -5 19 -28 0.21 0.04 2 6.50 -0.91 88 67 Madras 8/ : 28 64 46 -6 2 -19 0.21 0.07 3 6.03 -2.00 75 72 Moro : 29 67 47 -4 6 -10 0.33 0.19 4 8.73 -0.39 96 72 Parkdale 8/ : 31 65 46 -8 - -29 1.57 1.33 6 43.80 15.22 153 135 Pendleton : 33 65 50 -6 9 -30 0.66 0.39 3 9.95 0.17 102 72 Prairie City 8/ : 28 64 46 -6 2 -19 0.21 0.07 3 6.03 -2.00 75 72 The Dalles : 37 72 54 +3 30 +9 0.31 0.17 2 11.18 0.60 106 84 SOUTH CENTRAL : Agency Lake 8/ : 31 66 45 -2 1 -6 0.18 -0.03 1 12.40 -1.11 92 73 Bend : 27 71 43 -4 1 -6 0.44 0.30 3 8.01 -1.13 88 36 Burns : 23 64 45 -4 4 -10 0.38 0.17 3 7.94 0.64 109 63 Christmas Valley 8/ : 17 65 42 -9 - -21 0.05 -0.16 2 4.53 -4.97 48 65 Klamath Falls : 23 67 45 -5 4 -10 0.08 -0.06 3 6.04 -5.10 54 61 Klamath Falls 8/ : 22 66 45 -6 2 -12 0.11 -0.03 2 7.57 -3.57 68 79 Lakeview 8/ : 22 61 43 -6 - -13 0.26 -0.02 2 6.83 -5.59 55 78 Lorella 8/ : 20 67 44 -6 - -14 0.18 0.04 2 7.59 -3.55 68 72 Redmond : 21 65 45 -4 8 -3 0.10 -0.04 1 6.14 -0.13 98 49 Worden 8/ : 23 66 44 -6 - -14 0.04 -0.10 1 6.59 -4.55 59 63 NORTHEAST : Baker City : 23 60 44 -6 4 -10 0.70 0.48 6 5.42 -1.51 78 62 Joseph : 27 61 42 -3 2 +2 0.80 0.38 5 9.83 -9.73 50 98 La Grande : 27 64 47 -5 8 -13 0.66 0.31 3 10.36 -2.91 78 85 Imbler 8/ : 26 62 45 -5 3 -11 0.74 0.39 2 13.84 -5.29 72 95 SOUTHEAST : Ontario : 34 67 51 -6 12 -40 1.27 1.13 4 7.44 -0.29 96 59 Rome : 22 68 47 -6 12 -15 0.25 0.04 2 5.10 -0.58 90 47 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Summary based on NWS data. Copyright 2012: 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, 2011. 6/ DFN=Departure from normal (using 1961-1990 normal period). 7/ Precipitation days = Days with precipitation of 0.01 inch or more. 8/ Agri-Met weather stations.