OR-crop-weather Oregon Crop Weather Released: July 9, 2012 Week ending: July 8, 2012 OR-CW1512 OREGON CROP WEATHER NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE USDA, NASS, Oregon Field Office Phone: 503-326-2131 Released: July 9, 2012 Toll Free: 1-800-338-2157 Week ending: July 8, 2012 Email: nass-or@nass.usda.gov Volume: 15-12 Internet: www.nass.usda.gov/or Weather: Temperatures rose again last week, and to about average for this time of year. Most stations reported average temperatures to be close to normal for this time, although the south central counties were in general a few degrees below their normal temperatures. Highs throughout the State soared, with only the coastal counties reporting highs below 87 degrees, with most above 90 degrees. Lows also climbed, as Christmas Valley was the only station that reported a temperature below freezing last week. The coastal and Willamette Valley counties reported the most precipitation, though the measured amounts were still below the normal for this week. The Moro station reported the high for precipitation this week at .38 inches, .31 inches above its average. Wallowa County reported damage from a hail storm on June 30th; damage estimates have still not been completed. Weather around the State was ideal for crop growth and harvest. Field Crops: Shallow spots were showing more dramatically, and damage from voles around edges of some direct seeded wheat fields, were extensive in Sherman County. No problem though for conservational tilled lands. Frost damage was showing more and more as temperatures heat up, leaving crops, especially in the south, with more tip burn and white heads. Some fields once thought to be thriving, are suffering from combinations of cold damage, disease and hail. Harvesting should begin towards the end of next week. Warm temperatures brought additional maturity to the Umatilla County wheat crop. It was a great week to bale hay. The potato crop was growing very well and should produce high yields. The grass seed harvest began in eastern Oregon. A hail storm hit the northern part of Wallowa County (Flora/Troy) on June 30th causing a lot of damage to crops and buildings. Damage estimates have not been completed from those producers who were hit. Hot, dry weather has first hay cutting harvest in full swing in Lake County and mostly done in Klamath County. Some early varieties of potatoes were blooming there. The second cutting of hay was starting in Jackson County. In the south Willamette Valley, Grass for seed was cut and the late spring hay was also cut and dried this week as well. Forage fescue started to be combined. Most grass windrowed or ready to be windrowed. Annual ryegrasses were finishing up being swathed last week. Wheat looked good and was starting to golden. Grass seed matured well in the north Willamette Valley and cutting began. Fruits and Nuts: Warm weather really helped fruit crops around the State last week. Cherries looked good, aside from a few incidences of cracking due to the late season rain. Most areas prepared for the upcoming cherry harvest, Wasco County continued harvest. Cherry crop has appeared to be a good one this year. Raspberries and blueberries looked good and harvesting started last week. Apple set was good, but the peach set appeared to be spotty. Hand thinning of summer pears and apples and routine summer orchard operations continued throughout the Hood River Valley. Grapes looked good as well. Warmer weather especially helped wine grapes recover after all of the late season rain. Filberts were filling and walnuts were showing last week as well. As temperatures have risen, pest problems have grown as well. Spotted Winged Drosophila has been a problem in Douglas County as farmers have still been learning to deal with this pest. Small-time growers have been especially hard hit and several have lost large portions of their cherry and raspberry crops. It has also been a problem for u-pick operations with slow maturing fruit. Vegetables: Weather this past week helped, as the crops appear to be good this year. Cole crop were progressing nicely as well. Farmers markets had a good selection of vegetables last week. Nurseries and Greenhouses: Nurseries and greenhouses were busy irrigating stock. They continued maintenance including feeding, weeding, and other stock care. Livestock, Range and Pasture: As temperatures rose last week, pasture quality began to diverge more, though they were still about equal to historical conditions. Fires in Malheur County burned rangeland, though the extent of the damage has not yet been estimated. The southern end of Harney County remained extremely dry making for poor grazing conditions in rangeland pastures. Cattle and calves doing well in the north Willamette Valley, pastures abundant to under grazing, cutting some pastures for hay. Soil Moisture - Week Ending 07/08/12 ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Very : : : : short : Short : Adequate : Surplus ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : Topsoil : 4 25 70 1 Subsoil : 7 17 74 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Progress - Week Ending 07/08/12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5 year Crop : week : week : year : average -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Alfalfa hay, first cutting : 93 91 87 94 Alfalfa hay, second cutting : 12 8 1 19 : Days suitable for fieldwork : 6.8 5.2 6.8 6.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition - Week Ending 07/08/12 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter wheat : 0 8 16 54 22 Spring wheat : 0 5 31 55 9 Barley : 1 3 13 68 15 Corn : 0 0 16 84 0 Range and pasture : 0 8 26 54 12 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Western Oregon CLACKAMAS: Blueberry harvest was in full swing. Grass seed was beginning to be cut. COLUMBIA: Warmer weather has finally arrived. First hay cut and baled. There were some insect issues with small fruit. COOS/CURRY: Lows were slightly below seasonal average for the period in Coos and further below in Curry County. Cool conditions prevailed all week in both Coos and Curry counties, with a trace of rainfall in Brookings and 0.1 inch in Bandon early in the week. Hay making generally waited until after the 4th to begin. Early reports show good quality, but somewhat thinner production due to cool weather. Bandon (Coos and Northern Curry): Official low temperature for the period was 48.59 degrees, 0.42 degrees below the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was 63.69 degrees, 4.13 degrees below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.1 inches, which is 0.09 inches above the 5-year average for the week. Weather year 2012 (began 10/1/2011) precipitation stands at 64.63 inches, 13.01 inches above the 5-year average. Average precipitation through the month of July is 57.92 inches. Brookings (Southern Curry): Low temperature for the period was 47.59 degrees, 2.82 degrees below the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was 71.3 degrees, 13.24 degrees below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.01 inches, which is the 5-year average. Weather year 2012 (began 10/1/2011) precipitation stands at 90.77 inches, 18.77 inches above the 5-year average. Historical average precipitation through July is 70.49 inches. DOUGLAS: The sunshine and warmth has helped to push crops along this week. Crops entering June were about 10 days ahead of average development pace. Entering July, crop development had slowed, and is back at our long term average for tree fruit, berries, and wine grapes. Vegetable crops were a week slower than our long term averages due to a cool June. Growers continued to learn how to deal with the Spotted Wing Drosophila. Most commercial growers have the pest under control by carefully monitoring with traps and applying controls in a timely fashion. Smaller acreage, part-time growers were not being timely with their controls and have lost large portions of their cherry and raspberry crops to Spotted Wing Drosophila. This pest has been more difficult to control for u-pick operations and with slowly maturing fruit varieties. The rain last week hit a large percentage of the wine grape crop at full bloom. This could cause some yield reduction but the berry set has still appeared to be going well. JACKSON: The heat was on in the Rogue Valley, and the second cutting of hay was starting. Vegetable crops looked good with plenty of them coming on. Hot and dry conditions were expected this week as well. LANE: The weather this past week was great and helped all of the crops. Unfortunately, the hot weather has meant more insect problems also. Cherries appeared to be a good crop, but there was some cracking from late season rains. Strawberries were almost ripe. Raspberries and blueberries also looked good this week, harvesting occurred as well. Grapes looked good as well. Grass for seed was cut this week and the late spring hay was also cut and dried this week as well. Forage fescue started to be combined along with turnips. Most grass windrowed or ready to be windrowed. Annual ryegrasses were finishing up being swathed last week. Wheat looked good and was starting to golden. Brassica crops were in the middle of being pollinated and looked promising. Double cropped mint was being harvested this week. YAMHILL: Sweet cherry harvest continued this week. The apple set was good, while the peach set was spotty. Tart cherries have a good crop set. Blueberries were looking good and should start harvest on processed berries the end of this week or next week. Crimson clover has been swathed and probably will be harvested next week with all the hot weather this week. Some early grass seed was also swathed and could go through combines next week. The heat should get the grass seed going well along with everything else putting on some good growth. WASHINGTON: Grass for seed finished heavy pollination, red clover blooming, crimson clover being swathed for harvesting; some grass lodged, and hay being made with good weather. Raspberries looked ripe; blueberries were also welling to size. Cherries good, strawberries continued to produce, filberts filling, walnuts showing, apples sizing. Wine grapes were looking much better last week, due to the warmer weather. Sweet corn growing rapidly, beans for cannery looking good. Farmers markets have good selection of vegetables. Irrigating new settings, weeding and trimming where needed. Cattle and calves doing well, pastures abundant to under grazing, cutting some pastures for hay. High temperature 90.10 degrees, low 45 degrees. No rain, some wind. Eastern Oregon HOOD RIVER: The week started out cool and ended hot. Cherry growers prepared for harvest. Hand thinning of summer pears and apples and routine summer orchard operations continued throughout the Hood River Valley. HARNEY: Temperatures warmed considerably as the week progressed. Dry conditions persisted, providing favorable conditions for haying operations. The southern end of the County remained extremely dry making for poor grazing conditions in rangeland pastures. KLAMATH: No noticeable precipitation during the week. Temperatures were in the mid 70's to high 80's during the week. Some early varieties of potatoes were blooming. First cutting hay was mostly done. MALHEUR: Hot and dry was the general condition. Normal temperature range for this time of year was 85 degrees to 58 degrees. Extreme heat hit the Treasure Valley. Temperatures there rose into the 100s and forecasted to stay hot for another 4-5 days with a few passing thunder and lightning storms. For the rest of the County, highs were in the upper 80's with it climbing into triple digits on the weekend. Lows were about normal at 58 degrees to 62 degrees. It was good haying weather this week. Irrigation is the main concern now that the warm, dry weather has arrived. A few fires started on rangeland last week, damage is unknown at this time. SHERMAN/WASCO: Temperatures climbed last week, though it was a one day change from low 80's, to high 90's. Cherry harvest was continuing and the warmer weather will please the wheat and hay farmers. Wheat harvest will be at least 2 weeks later than usual. High temperatures may hurt any fruit quality, progress is being monitored. Shallow spots were showing more dramatically and damage from voles around edges of direct seeded fields is extensive. No problem though for conservational tilled lands. Frost damage was showing more and more as temperatures heat up, leaving crops, especially in the south, with more tip burn and white heads. Some fields once thought to be thriving, are suffering from combinations of cold damage, disease and hail. Harvesting should begin towards the end of next week. LAKE: County currently at 82 percent of average for precipitation year. Hot, dry weather has first hay cutting harvest in full swing. UMATILLA: Warm temperatures this past week brought additional maturity to the wheat crop. It was a great week to bale hay. Pasture grass was still behind, and could use additional moisture. The potato crop was growing very well and should produce high yields. UNION/BAKER: Grass seed harvest began this past week. WALLOWA: A hail storm hit the northern part of the County (Flora/Troy) on June 30th causing a lot of damage to crops and buildings. Damage estimates have not been completed from those producers who were hit. Warmer temperatures lasted throughout the week, but the hot temperatures also brought the thunder and lightning storms. Weather data for selected stations in Oregon, Week ending: July 8, 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 : 45 69 58 -3 55 -8 0.34 0.01 1 71.59 7.23 111 186 Bandon 8/ : 49 64 58 +1 58 +2 0.10 -0.02 1 65.27 7.57 113 177 Crescent City : 47 62 56 -3 41 -15 - -0.11 - 59.45 -4.56 93 129 Florence : 41 68 57 -3 48 -19 0.19 -0.06 1 73.56 -1.04 99 169 North Bend : 48 64 59 +0 62 -1 - -0.14 - 40.15 -21.94 65 134 Tillamook : 41 70 58 +1 59 +4 0.27 -0.18 1 61.77 -24.10 72 184 WILLAMETTE : VALLEY : Aurora 8/ : 45 92 66 +1 113 +7 0.06 -0.13 2 44.44 4.76 112 185 Corvallis : 46 89 64 -1 101 -1 0.04 -0.10 1 46.44 4.94 112 177 Detroit Lake 8/ : 44 91 66 +5 116 +33 0.05 -0.21 1 98.51 32.81 150 175 Eugene : 42 91 65 -2 105 -9 - -0.14 - 42.08 -5.90 88 143 Hillsboro : 43 91 65 -1 103 -1 0.03 -0.12 1 31.76 -4.41 88 155 McMinnville : 45 89 66 +1 110 +6 0.03 -0.11 1 40.31 -1.83 96 161 Portland : 50 88 67 +0 124 +4 0.01 -0.15 1 40.05 5.25 115 162 Salem : 47 90 65 +0 110 +3 0.03 -0.13 1 44.91 6.85 118 153 SW VALLEYS : Grants Pass : 49 98 71 +1 149 +5 - -0.07 - 27.92 -2.48 92 124 Medford : 50 99 73 +2 159 +8 - -0.07 - 17.55 -0.61 97 100 Roseburg : 48 92 68 +1 128 +6 - -0.13 - 30.33 -1.52 95 133 NORTH CENTRAL : Condon : 38 90 64 -1 101 -1 - -0.14 - 14.87 1.79 114 98 Echo 8/ : 42 103 70 -3 140 -12 - -0.07 - 7.95 -0.48 94 93 Heppner : 42 95 66 -3 112 -13 - -0.09 - 12.34 -0.66 95 87 Hermiston : 38 104 70 -2 143 -9 - -0.07 - 8.90 0.47 106 78 Madras 8/ : 37 95 65 -1 109 -2 - -0.14 - 8.62 -1.00 90 88 Moro : 39 96 66 +1 117 +2 0.38 0.31 2 10.57 0.11 101 86 Parkdale 8/ : 35 98 63 -4 91 -19 0.02 -0.05 2 46.11 16.04 153 157 Pendleton : 41 104 70 -2 143 -8 - -0.09 - 11.68 0.41 104 84 Prairie City 8/ : 37 95 65 -1 109 -2 - -0.14 - 8.62 -1.00 90 88 The Dalles : 47 100 73 +8 159 +50 - -0.07 - 13.09 1.26 111 95 SOUTH CENTRAL : Agency Lake 8/ : 36 87 62 +0 88 -1 - -0.07 - 14.36 -0.88 94 88 Bend : 36 91 63 +2 92 +6 - -0.14 - 9.78 -1.03 90 43 Burns : 37 96 67 +3 121 +17 - -0.11 - 8.63 -0.42 95 71 Christmas Valley 8/ : 29 99 63 -5 95 -27 0.01 -0.13 1 5.72 -5.75 50 81 Klamath Falls : 37 92 64 -3 102 -13 - -0.07 - 7.46 -5.19 59 73 Klamath Falls 8/ : 40 91 64 -3 102 -13 0.25 0.18 1 9.12 -3.53 72 95 Lakeview 8/ : 38 92 64 -3 96 -13 - -0.10 - 7.85 -7.01 53 87 Lorella 8/ : 36 91 63 -5 91 -24 - -0.07 - 8.70 -3.95 69 83 Redmond : 32 96 64 -1 101 -1 - -0.14 - 8.28 0.53 107 61 Worden 8/ : 36 91 62 -6 82 -33 - -0.07 - 7.65 -5.00 60 74 NORTHEAST : Baker City : 35 97 66 +0 111 +3 - -0.16 - 7.71 -1.86 81 79 Joseph : 37 91 64 +6 98 +36 0.03 -0.20 1 12.67 -10.55 55 119 La Grande : 37 97 67 -2 118 -8 - -0.16 - 10.51 -5.64 65 89 Imbler 8/ : 36 95 65 -2 105 -3 0.16 -0.01 3 16.74 -5.46 75 117 SOUTHEAST : Ontario : 52 101 77 +2 189 +12 - -0.07 - 7.77 -1.36 85 64 Rome : 40 100 72 +2 156 +12 - -0.10 - 5.71 -1.86 75 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.