OR-crop-weather Oregon Crop Weather Released: June 18, 2012 Week ending: June 17, 2012 OR-CW1212 OREGON CROP WEATHER NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE USDA, NASS, Oregon Field Office Phone: 503-326-2131 Released: June 18, 2012 Toll Free: 1-800-338-2157 Week ending: June 17, 2012 Email: nass-or@nass.usda.gov Volume: 12-12 Internet: www.nass.usda.gov/or Weather: Temperatures regressed back towards their averages from the previous week, with most being right around the normal. Average temperature for the state was 61.3 degrees, about the average for this time of year. Highs varied from 96 in Ontario to 62 in Crescent City. Only one station reported having a low below freezing last week, with Christmas Valley coming in at 29 degrees. The entire State, except McMinnville, reported precipitation below normal last week, with Tillamook experiencing the greatest difference from their average rainfall. The drier weather last week allowed for crops to mature. Field Crops: Compared to most of the season, the past week seemed warm and dry and to help crop development. Historically, temperatures were very near normal. Wheat progressed nicely in the north central region. In Umatilla County, crops looked good. The potato harvest was scheduled to start shortly. Most alfalfa first cut made it in before rain. Some did get in before the rain and suffered accordingly. Some first hay cuttings were reported light from various areas across the State. In the Willamette Valley, most varieties of winter wheat have emerged heads and were pollinating. Stripe rust levels were moderate to low. Septoria Nodorum Blotch has showed up this year. Many fields will be treated with late fungicide sprays due to the arrival of this disease. Most red clover fields have been flailed or cut for silage. Crimson clover bloom was ending and seed fill period will begin soon. Tall Fescue and Perennial Ryegrass crops were headed out and will begin pollinating soon. Potatoes were up. Most spring cereals (oats, wheat) have been planted and were emerging. Spring oat fields will soon be treated for cereal leaf beetle infections. Red clover was growing rapidly, crimson clover was setting seed. Grass for seed pollen was heavy in air. Grass hay was in barn. Fruits and Nuts: Cherry harvest started this weekend in The Dalles. Both Chelan, for the fresh market, and Royal Ann, for processing were being harvested. The quality appeared to be excellent. Hand thinning of pears continued in Hood River County. Orchardists in Jackson County have been on alert for fire blight, and cases of pear scab have been reported. Strawberries have looked good around the State, with many road side stands selling out daily. Raspberries, as well as blackberries, have been forming well. In Lane County, blueberries looked very good. Peaches were down in yield. Gravenstein apples need to be thinned, but the crop was looking very good. Hand thinning of pears continued in Hood River County. Vegetables: Sweet corn was growing well. Potatoes were up. Many fresh vegetables were at farmers markets. Asparagus and carrots were showing. Cannery crops were planted as scheduled. Nurseries and Greenhouses: Plating of new shrubs continued. Nurseries were weeding in ornamental trees, and irrigating plantings. Livestock, Range and Pasture: Warmer weather should help range growth. Lake County livestock producers moved cattle off of government allotments to spring and summer pastures. In Washington County, cattle, buffalo, and calves were doing well. Soil Moisture - Week Ending 06/17/12 ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Very : : : : short : Short : Adequate : Surplus ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : Topsoil : 2 19 75 4 Subsoil : 6 14 77 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Progress - Week Ending 06/17/12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5 year Crop : week : week : year : average -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Alfalfa hay, first cutting : 80 71 63 69 Winter wheat headed : 92 89 87 93 : Days suitable for fieldwork : 6.6 4.1 5.9 5.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition - Week Ending 06/17/12 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter wheat : 0 7 15 56 22 Spring wheat : 0 6 37 54 3 Barley : 0 3 22 57 18 Corn : 0 0 5 95 0 Range and pasture : 1 3 26 55 15 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Western Oregon CLACKAMAS: Haying continued as weather permitted. Row/cannery crops were planted as scheduled. COLUMBIA: Still cooler than normal. COOS/CURRY: Lows were near seasonal average for the period in both counties. Dry conditions prevailed all week in both Coos and Curry counties, with only a little precipitation on Sunday in Coos. Bottom pastures were continuing to see placement of feeder cattle. First cutting haylage and green chop operations continued this week. The summer hay season got started. Warmer weather, but still not hot, was helping the grass continue to grow. Low temperatures at reporting stations were slightly above average in Southern Curry, but below in Coos. High temperatures through the week ranged from nearly 2 degrees above the 5-year average in Coos County, to nearly 4 degrees above the 5-year average in southern Curry. Bandon (Coos and Northern Curry): Official low temperature for the period was 45.10 degrees, 0.85 degrees below the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was 65.54 degrees, 1.92 degrees above the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.09 inches over 1 day, which is 0.04 inches above the 5-year average for the week. Weather year 2012 (began 10/1/2011) precipitation stands at 62.94 inches, 11.59 inches above the 5-year average. Average precipitation through the month of June is 57.48 inches. Brookings (Southern Curry): Low temperature for the period was 47.83 degrees, 0.06 degrees above the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was 82.7 degrees, 3.92 degrees above the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.0 inches, compared to a 5-year average of 0.02 inches. Weather year 2012 (began 10/1/2011) precipitation stands at 87.6 inches, 10.69 inches above the 5-year average. Historical average precipitation through June is 69.98 inches. CROOK/DESHUTES/JEFFERSON: Alfalfa and grass hay have been harvested the last couple of weeks. Some early harvests were rained on the end of May and first week of June. Harvest was in full swing in Jefferson County. Deschutes County had numerous grass hay fields injured by clover mites this spring. Also, with colder frosts than usual, late water and fertilizer applications; many fields do no look that good and first cutting yields will be lower. More grass and alfalfa fields are testing low for potassium, so hay crops will cost more to produce. Have seen some psuedocercosporella foot rot (Eyespot) on two winter wheat fields following potatoes. No stripe rust seen, yet. Stephens soft white winter wheat especially has had Physiological Leaf Spot. No activity on cereal leaf beetle yet. Some barley hay has been harvested in Jefferson County. First Cutting on the conventional and Roundup Ready alfalfa trial at COARC Madras has occurred. Grapes have been slow to leaf out. Cool, wet spring has been good for range and pasture. First week of June the region received 1 inch to 1.25 inches of rain. JACKSON: Good weather for haying this week, sunny and warm. Orchardists are busy looking out for fire blight and there have also been reports of pear scab. Sweet cherries were being picked and sold at road-side stands. Some farmers were busy getting those final plantings of sweet corn and pumpkins in the ground. JOSEPHINE: Finally! Some 50 degree nights. Peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, okra, everything showing good growth. Overnight temperatures were 44-50. Daytime were 65-90. No precipitation. Some mornings with heavy dew. Haying started this week for grass hay. Our spring was long and wet. LANE: Better weather this week. Gravenstein apples need thinning ASAP, as well as other apples. Cherries and peaches looked down in yield. Apples looked good, but June drop still happening after a cold, wet spring. Berries looked very good. Good strawberry crop, with some rainy days. Blueberry crop looked very good as with raspberries and blackberries. Vegetable crop conditions depend on where and when the plants went in. There were all sorts of varying growing conditions. MARION: Recent rains and warmer temperatures were helping speed up crop maturity. Grass seed crops were pollinating. Winter wheat was finished with bloom and filling seed. WASHINGTON: Most varieties of winter wheat have emerged heads and were pollinating. Stripe rust levels were moderate to low. Septoria Nodorum Blotch has showed up this year. Many fields will be treated with late fungicide sprays due to the arrival of this disease. Most red clover fields have been flailed or cut for silage. Crimson clover bloom was ending and seed fill period will begin soon. Tall Fescue and Perennial Ryegrass crops were headed out and will begin pollinating soon. Most spring cereals (oats, wheat) have been planted and were emerging. Spring oat fields will soon be treated for cereal leaf beetle infections. Red clover was growing rapidly, crimson clover was setting seed. Grass for seed pollen was heavy in air. Grass hay was in barn. Strawberries were doing well and stands were selling out daily. Raspberries were forming as were blackberries. Sweet corn was growing well. Potatoes were up. Many fresh vegetables were at farmers markets. Asparagus and carrots were showing too. Plating of new shrubs continued. Weeding in ornamental trees and irrigating plantings. Cattle, buffalo, and calves were doing well. Temperatures 80 degrees high, low 37 degrees, 0.4 inches rainfall. YAMHILL: Insect development is behind normal this year due to cooler spring temperatures. Eastern Oregon CROOK/DESHUTES/JEFFERSON: Alfalfa and grass hay have been harvested the last couple of weeks. Some early harvests were rained on the end of May and first week of June. Harvest was in full swing in Jefferson County. Deschutes County had numerous grass hay fields injured by clover mites this spring. Also, with colder frosts than usual, late water and fertilizer applications; many fields do no look that good and first cutting yields will be lower. More grass and alfalfa fields are testing low for potassium, so hay crops will cost more to produce. Have seen some psuedocercosporella foot rot (Eyespot) on two winter wheat fields following potatoes. No stripe rust seen, yet. Stephens soft white winter wheat especially has had Physiological Leaf Spot. No activity on cereal leaf beetle yet. Some barley hay has been harvested in Jefferson County. First cutting on the conventional and Roundup Ready alfalfa trial at COARC, Madras has occurred. Grapes have been slow to leaf out. Cool, wet spring has been good for range and pasture. The first week of June the region received 1 inch to 1.25 inches of rain. HOOD RIVER: Variable weather conditions occurred through the week. Hand thinning of summer pears and routine summer orchard operations continued throughout the Hood River Valley. KLAMATH: Temperatures were in the 70s during the past week. There was only one night of freezing temperatures. Irrigation continued. Low yields for first cutting were reported. LAKE: Currently at 83 percent of normal for precipitation. Small amount of alfalfa hay has been cut/baled. There was no cutting in the north end of the County yet. Livestock producers started to move cattle off of government allotments to spring and summer pastures. MALHEUR: Temperatures were near normal of 53 to 81. The high was 94, the low was 49. No precipitation. Haying continued under favorable weather conditions. Irrigating, spraying, and cultivating were the main activities. SHERMAN: Warm (but not hot) weather followed last week's wet so lots of grain was produced. Filed work continued as did scouting for rust, expected to grow following last week's weather but only limited reports so far. Maybe we will survive the big threat. About 150 people attended the Sherman Station Field Day and dedication of the new office, which will house the Sherman Extension Office and the Experiment Station office, both portions of OSU. Good crowd and good comments from speakers at the short program. UMATILLA: A dry, hot week allowed farmers to get the rest of their first cutting hay put up. Many had their first cutting down for 10+ days. Wheat fields were beginning to turn. Pastures in upper elevations appeared dry, and could use a shot of moisture. Crops looked good, but some corn fields were showing a nutrient deficiency problem. The potato harvest was scheduled to start shortly. Most alfalfa first cut made it in before rain. Some did get in before the rain and suffered accordingly. WALLOWA: Finally some warmer weather arrived, which should help all crops and range conditions. Some haying activities have started in the lower Valley. WASCO: First cutting hay was down and in the barn. Wheat was progressing nicely. Early cherries will start harvest the week of 6/18. Sweet cherry harvest started this weekend in The Dalles. Both Chelan, for the fresh market, and Royal Ann, for processing were being harvested. The quality appeared to be excellent. Weather data for selected stations in Oregon, Week ending: June 17, 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 : 43 72 57 +1 53 +5 0.48 -0.09 4 69.15 6.07 110 176 Bandon 8/ : 45 66 55 -1 39 -3 0.09 -0.27 2 63.58 6.49 111 169 Crescent City : 46 62 53 -4 23 -23 0.01 -0.30 1 57.38 -6.13 90 122 Florence : 39 71 55 -3 40 -12 0.21 -0.37 3 70.60 -2.91 96 159 North Bend : 45 68 57 -2 48 -3 0.04 -0.35 2 38.58 -22.83 63 125 Tillamook : 43 75 57 +2 54 +13 0.15 -0.61 3 59.82 -24.36 71 174 WILLAMETTE : VALLEY : Aurora 8/ : 45 84 63 +2 91 +11 0.13 -0.28 2 43.07 4.19 111 176 Corvallis : 45 85 62 +2 87 +12 0.06 -0.22 1 45.17 4.26 110 168 Detroit Lake 8/ : 42 87 62 +5 87 +31 0.11 -0.41 2 96.31 31.67 149 164 Eugene : 40 85 63 +1 89 +7 0.13 -0.22 2 40.99 -6.35 87 136 Hillsboro : 42 84 61 +0 82 +2 0.21 -0.14 1 30.91 -4.56 87 148 McMinnville : 45 84 63 +2 91 +12 0.37 0.13 2 39.67 -1.97 95 152 Portland : 48 84 64 +1 97 +3 0.26 -0.09 2 38.16 4.06 112 152 Salem : 44 86 63 +2 96 +16 0.14 -0.20 1 43.87 6.47 117 144 SW VALLEYS : Grants Pass : 41 91 65 -2 104 -10 - -0.14 - 26.93 -3.25 89 118 Medford : 47 91 69 +3 133 +19 - -0.14 - 16.09 -1.80 90 93 Roseburg : 48 88 66 +4 117 +23 - -0.21 - 28.74 -2.69 91 127 NORTH CENTRAL : Condon : 37 82 60 +1 71 +4 - -0.26 - 13.56 1.00 108 90 Echo 8/ : 45 90 66 -1 117 -2 0.01 -0.10 1 7.65 -0.57 93 89 Heppner : 38 85 62 -2 87 -6 - -0.21 - 11.62 -0.97 92 80 Hermiston : 45 90 67 +1 122 +3 - -0.11 - 8.44 0.22 103 75 Madras 8/ : 36 86 61 -2 76 -5 - -0.21 - 7.81 -1.39 85 82 Moro : 36 84 61 -1 75 -3 - -0.14 - 9.78 -0.36 96 80 Parkdale 8/ : 34 84 59 -4 66 -19 0.02 -0.12 2 45.54 15.78 153 149 Pendleton : 42 87 66 -1 109 -4 - -0.14 - 11.37 0.45 104 81 Prairie City 8/ : 36 86 61 -2 76 -5 - -0.21 - 7.81 -1.39 85 82 The Dalles : 47 91 68 +8 130 +50 - -0.14 - 12.55 1.04 109 92 SOUTH CENTRAL : Agency Lake 8/ : 40 82 60 +3 71 +18 - -0.21 - 13.69 -1.16 92 83 Bend : 33 84 59 +3 66 +12 - -0.21 - 8.49 -1.82 82 38 Burns : 35 86 61 +4 75 +18 - -0.21 - 8.63 0.02 100 71 Christmas Valley 8/ : 29 87 58 -4 60 -21 - -0.24 - 5.40 -5.55 49 73 Klamath Falls : 39 84 61 +0 79 +3 - -0.14 - 7.29 -5.02 59 68 Klamath Falls 8/ : 39 85 62 +2 90 +14 0.01 -0.13 1 8.69 -3.62 71 87 Lakeview 8/ : 35 82 60 +1 68 +2 - -0.28 - 7.67 -6.68 53 84 Lorella 8/ : 34 85 60 -1 72 -4 - -0.14 - 8.55 -3.76 69 79 Redmond : 34 87 60 +1 71 +4 - -0.16 - 7.65 0.32 104 57 Worden 8/ : 37 81 60 -1 74 -2 - -0.14 - 7.49 -4.82 61 69 NORTHEAST : Baker City : 33 82 58 -3 59 -14 0.17 -0.18 2 7.37 -1.50 83 76 Joseph : 40 76 58 +4 54 +17 0.08 -0.34 1 12.13 -10.19 54 114 La Grande : 39 81 61 -2 79 -8 0.01 -0.34 1 10.51 -4.92 68 89 Imbler 8/ : 36 82 59 -3 62 -14 0.08 -0.27 4 15.93 -5.54 74 108 SOUTHEAST : Ontario : 45 96 68 +0 131 +0 - -0.17 - 7.72 -1.10 88 63 Rome : 37 95 65 +2 107 +7 - -0.22 - 5.71 -1.39 80 54 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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.