OR-crop-weather Oregon Crop Weather Released: May 14, 2012 Week ending: May 13, 2012 OR-CW0712 OREGON CROP WEATHER NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE USDA, NASS, Oregon Field Office Phone: 503-326-2131 Released: May 14, 2012 Toll Free: 1-800-338-2157 Week ending: May 13, 2012 Email: nass-or@nass.usda.gov Volume: 07-12 Internet: www.nass.usda.gov/or Weather: An abnormally dry week with some warmer temperatures was much welcomed. All stations received below normal precipitation for the week, with only four stations reporting a trace of precipitation. The average temperature across the State of 54 degrees was only 1.3 degrees above normal due to a wide swing between high and low temperatures. Thirty-two stations reported high temperatures of 80 degrees or higher, and twenty-nine stations had low temperatures at, or below freezing. No freeze damage has been reported. In all, it was a nice week to get a lot of work done. Field Crops: North central Oregon field spraying was a little behind due to wind and showers earlier in the week but mostly complete. Crops were looking very nice altogether. Cheatgrass was heading above wheat. Rye was starting to head as well. Sherman County was well into summer fallow preparation. Some stripe rust discovered but not expecting the pressure that hit last year. In Umatilla County, warm temperatures and sunshine this week brought growth to crops in the region. Early planted corn was emerging, and the first cutting of hay was put up. Wheat continued to look good. Concerns about stripe rust were starting to appear but the warmer weather forecast may help. Warmer western Oregon temperatures allowed farmers to plant, cultivate, and spray. Unseasonably warm temperatures boosted crop growth and development. Flag leaves emerging on wheat. Plant growth regulators were being applied to grass seed crops. Crimson clover seed crops were blooming. Klamath Basin irrigation was underway for most crops. There was lots of activity with grain planting. Fruits and Nuts: In the Willamette Valley, strawberries were starting to blossom. Orchards have had a good blooming season. Bees had a good week to pollinate crops. Codling moth emergence began. The weather was warming so more moths will be emerging in the coming days. Cherries were in the post bloom shuck split, shuck fall stage. Further south, orchard and vineyard spraying also caught up with full access to fields. The heat really pushed fruit trees and wine grapes to accelerate growth. The early development has already put them way ahead of the past to cool, late spring seasons. Good fruit set for apples, pears, peaches, cherries, and blueberry crops. Raspberries were in full bloom with great potential. Vegetables: Many vegetables were being planted with the good weather. Farmers markets that had started up were selling some winter vegetable crops. More than usual amounts of pests were found possibly due to the mild winter. Nurseries and Greenhouses: Container growers were particularly affected by the jump in temperatures. They labored to provide cover for shade loving plants, increase spacing due to accelerating plant growth, and adjust pest scouting programs for changes in pest pressure. This work falls during the busy shipping season. Livestock, Range and Pasture: Livestock producers were starting to ship cattle from California pastures back into Lake County. Wallowa range continued to improve and livestock owners were moving their herds to the hills for summer grazing. Soil Moisture - Week Ending 05/13/12 ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Very : : : : short : Short : Adequate : Surplus ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : Topsoil : 1 9 85 5 Subsoil : 3 5 80 12 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Progress - Week Ending 05/13/12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5 year Crop : week : week : year : average -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter wheat headed : 8 1 3 5 Barley planted : 95 93 84 92 Barley emerged : 85 78 59 74 Spring wheat emerged : 89 69 51 80 : Days suitable for fieldwork : 6.8 4.6 4.8 5.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition - Week Ending 05/13/12 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter wheat : 0 5 18 56 21 Range and pasture : 1 7 34 53 5 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Western Oregon BENTON/LINN: Farmers had excellent weather this past week and have been busy applying sprays to their grass for seed crops. Row crop farmers have fields worked and some of the crops planted. Strawberries were starting to blossom, orchards in the Valley have had a good blooming season. Bees had a good week to pollinate crops. CLACKAMAS: Fertilization and spraying continued on pastures and hay land as fields were drying. COLUMBIA: Excellent weather. Best May in three years. Small amount of grass hay was cut. Some grass silage. COOS/CURRY: Near seasonal lows and above average highs for the period in both counties. Still overcast early in the week, but no precipitation. Weather turned very nice for the weekend. More livestock were moving to bottom pastures as they continued to dry. Spring feeder cattle turn-out still not up to normal. They were delayed 3 to 4 weeks due to the soggy pastures. Other crops were starting to come along, with early green chop/silage starting in some areas. Low temperatures at reporting stations were near to somewhat below the 5-year average on the South Coast. High temperatures through the week were well above the 5-year average. No precipitation for the period. Bandon (Coos and Northern Curry): Official low temperature for the period was 39.16 degrees, 2.27 degrees below the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was 66.64 degrees, 6.21 degrees above the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.0 inches, which is 0.35 inches below the 5-year average for the week. Weather year 2012 (began 10/1/2011) precipitation stands at 59.43 inches, 4.56 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 42.35 degrees, 0.32 degrees above the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was 77.8 degrees, 8.65 degrees above the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.0 inches, compared to a 5-year average of 0.52 inches. Weather year 2012 (began 10/1/2011) precipitation stands at 84.13 inches, 12.03 inches above the 5-year average. Historical average precipitation through May is 68.15 inches. DOUGLAS: A hot, dry week allowed fields to dry out and field cultivation to really pick up. Orchard and vineyard spraying also caught up with full access to fields. The heat really pushed fruit trees and wine grapes to accelerate growth. The early development has already put them way ahead of the past to cool, late spring seasons. Good fruit set for apples, pears, peaches, cherries, and blueberry crops. Raspberries were in full bloom with great potential. Wheat and grass seed crops accelerated development too and were getting close to heading. JOSEPHINE: Overnight temperatures 38-50 degrees. Daytime temperatures 50-92 degrees. There were some gusty winds throughout the week. No precipitation. Heat causing wilt but soils were still moist. Nice working weather. Growth, heat, and demand were speeding up. Grapes really shooting out now, good growth, and little moisture in air, leaves and vines healthy. LANE: Finally, nice weather all week! MARION: Unseasonably warm temperatures boosted crop growth and development. Flag leaves emerging on wheat. Plant growth regulators were being applied to grass seed crops. Crimson clover seed crops were blooming. WASHINGTON: Warm dry weather allowed farmers to plant corn and other summer crops last week. Crimson clover was blooming and most farms with the ability to irrigate were irrigating. YAMHILL: Codling moth emergence began this week. The weather was warming up so more moths will be emerging in the coming days. Cherries were in the post bloom shuck split, shuck fall stage. Eastern Oregon KLAMATH: Temperatures in the 70's during the week. Irrigation was underway for most crops. Basin has lots of activity with grain planting. LAKE: No precipitation during the week, County at 82 percent for precipitation for the water year. Livestock producers starting to ship cattle from California pastures back into Lake County. Irrigation was going in majority of County. Farming was starting in parts of the County, fertilization and spring planting. MALHEUR: Reports of the areas south of Arock were very dry. There was not much water in the area (livestock or irrigation). This area has not received much of the recent rains that the Northern part of the County received. The producers in the Northern part of the County were looking forward to the forecasted higher temperatures this coming week. They will be a much needed break from the cool temperatures that we have been experiencing. North Malheur County high temperatures for the week ending 5-16 were above normal of 70 ranging from 65 to 84 degrees. Normal low temperature was 44. The range was 32 to 45 degrees. Warm weather was welcome. No precipitation. Irrigation and spraying were main farming actives. Most cattle were turned out. SHERMAN/WASCO: Field spraying a little behind due to wind and showers earlier in the week but mostly complete. Crops were looking very nice altogether. Cheatgrass was heading above wheat right now. Rye was starting to head as well. Sherman County was well into summer fallow preparation. Some stripe rust discovered but not expecting the huge hammer that hit last year. UMATILLA: Warm temperatures and sunshine this week brought growth to crops in the region. Early planted corn was emerging, and the first cutting of hay was put up. Wheat continues to look good. Concerns about stripe rust were starting to appear but the warmer weather forecast may help. UNION/BAKER: Week of extreme swings in temperature. Night air temperatures dropped to freezing levels four nights this week and not yet sure of any potential damage to sweet cherries and other crops, fruits, or vegetables. Daytime temperatures four days this week were unusually warm reaching into the 70s and 80s. No precipitation received this week. Irrigation season was well underway. Spring grain and sugarbeet seeding was nearly done. WALLOWA: Warmer temperatures have finally arrived giving producers a chance to get their barley and oats seeded prior to the final planting dates. Range continues to improve and livestock owners were moving their herds to the hills for summer grazing. Weather data for selected stations in Oregon, Week ending: May 13, 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 : 34 76 53 +2 24 +10 - -0.70 - 63.66 3.68 106 157 Bandon 8/ : 39 67 52 +1 19 +5 - -0.66 - 60.07 5.41 110 152 Crescent City : 41 58 50 -3 7 -20 - -0.71 - 55.45 -5.62 91 108 Florence : 29 73 51 -2 18 -2 - -0.90 - 65.72 -4.22 94 142 North Bend : 37 66 52 -2 21 +0 - -0.70 - 36.14 -22.73 61 112 Tillamook : 34 77 52 +2 25 +11 - -1.05 - 55.37 -24.39 69 158 WILLAMETTE : VALLEY : Aurora 8/ : 32 87 58 +5 62 +31 - -0.49 - 39.24 2.65 107 159 Corvallis : 34 84 56 +3 49 +21 - -0.46 - 42.57 3.49 109 154 Detroit Lake 8/ : 30 90 57 +9 54 +44 - -0.77 - 89.40 27.96 146 147 Eugene : 34 83 56 +2 43 +7 - -0.49 - 37.95 -7.28 84 122 Hillsboro : 32 87 56 +3 47 +17 - -0.35 - 27.74 -5.97 82 133 McMinnville : 34 87 58 +4 61 +26 - -0.42 - 36.62 -3.34 92 139 Portland : 37 87 60 +4 69 +26 - -0.49 - 33.67 1.65 105 135 Salem : 32 87 57 +4 53 +25 - -0.42 - 41.17 5.69 116 131 SW VALLEYS : Grants Pass : 36 85 59 +1 61 +5 - -0.28 - 26.11 -3.08 89 109 Medford : 35 95 64 +8 97 +48 - -0.21 - 14.22 -2.76 84 83 Roseburg : 37 91 61 +5 77 +34 - -0.35 - 27.47 -2.63 91 115 NORTH CENTRAL : Condon : 26 76 51 +2 23 +9 - -0.28 - 10.14 -1.08 90 80 Echo 8/ : 28 86 54 -4 35 -21 - -0.14 - 6.22 -1.33 82 77 Heppner : 30 77 53 -2 34 +1 - -0.35 - 8.92 -2.28 80 70 Hermiston : 31 86 56 -3 42 -14 - -0.14 - 6.50 -1.05 86 67 Madras 8/ : 27 83 52 -1 30 +2 0.01 -0.13 1 6.04 -2.13 74 73 Moro : 28 73 50 -3 18 -3 - -0.19 - 8.73 -0.58 94 72 Parkdale 8/ : 29 81 52 -4 24 -11 - -0.21 - 43.80 15.01 152 135 Pendleton : 32 84 56 -2 44 -3 - -0.21 - 9.95 -0.04 100 72 Prairie City 8/ : 27 83 52 -1 30 +2 0.01 -0.13 1 6.04 -2.13 74 73 The Dalles : 35 90 59 +6 62 +34 - -0.14 - 11.18 0.46 104 84 SOUTH CENTRAL : Agency Lake 8/ : 32 83 57 +9 49 +42 - -0.21 - 12.40 -1.32 90 73 Bend : 23 79 49 +0 17 +5 - -0.14 - 7.75 -1.53 84 35 Burns : 25 80 51 +2 21 +7 - -0.21 - 7.94 0.43 106 63 Christmas Valley 8/ : 14 85 50 -3 17 -5 0.01 -0.20 1 4.53 -5.18 47 65 Klamath Falls : 27 85 54 +3 36 +15 - -0.20 - 6.04 -5.30 53 61 Klamath Falls 8/ : 27 84 56 +6 49 +28 0.01 -0.19 1 7.58 -3.76 67 80 Lakeview 8/ : 25 80 51 +1 17 +3 - -0.30 - 6.83 -5.89 54 78 Lorella 8/ : 24 85 52 +0 19 -2 - -0.20 - 7.59 -3.75 67 72 Redmond : 19 86 50 +2 20 +6 - -0.14 - 6.14 -0.27 96 49 Worden 8/ : 27 84 54 +4 36 +15 - -0.20 - 6.59 -4.75 58 63 NORTHEAST : Baker City : 25 81 49 -3 11 -6 - -0.28 - 5.42 -1.79 75 62 Joseph : 27 75 48 +3 15 +15 - -0.42 - 9.83 -10.15 49 98 La Grande : 30 82 53 +0 29 +4 - -0.35 - 10.36 -3.26 76 85 Imbler 8/ : 30 82 52 +1 24 +3 - -0.35 - 13.84 -5.64 71 95 SOUTHEAST : Ontario : 37 83 58 -2 56 -5 - -0.14 - 7.44 -0.43 95 59 Rome : 24 85 53 -2 29 -4 - -0.21 - 5.10 -0.79 87 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.