OR-crop-weather Oregon Crop Weather Released: September 24, 2012 Week ending: September 23, 2012 OR-CW2612 OREGON CROP WEATHER NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE USDA, NASS, Oregon Field Office Phone: 503-326-2131 Released: September 24, 2012 Toll Free: 1-800-338-2157 Week ending: September 23, 2012 Email: nass-or@nass.usda.gov Volume: 26-12 Internet: www.nass.usda.gov/or Weather: This week was warm and dry, with most counties reporting high temperatures in the high 80's to mid 90's. Roseburg had the highest recorded temperature at 96 degrees, above its normal high of this time of the year. Overnight temperatures rose slightly, as few stations reported having a freezing temperature. Both Christmas Valley and Agency Lake had the lowest recorded temperature at 30 degrees. There was some light precipitation in various parts of the State. Corvallis received the highest rainfall at 0.32 inches, slightly below its normal for this time of the season. Hood River experienced a thunderstorm with brief rain showers on 9/22, with no reported damage. Field Crops: Seeding started this week and continued in north central Oregon. Despite dry conditions, growers have been surprised at level soil moisture. Seeding has been good. Enough moisture anyway to hold a furrow. Others spraying fallow weeds and setting drills for planting rates due to seed sizes. Yields from the wheat harvest were good. Early seeded wheat has started to emerge in Umatilla County. Seeding is continuing, but field conditions at seeding depth need moisture. Rain would be helpful, but is not in the forecast currently. Seeding will begin in earnest next week with or without rain. Potato harvest in full swing. Malheur corn harvest started. Potato and hay harvest continued. Lots of fall field work in progress. Corn for silage and sugar beet harvest has begun. Klamath grain and potato harvests were underway. Some fourth cutting has been dropped. Jackson County hay season continued with the lack of precipitation. Washington County fields were being prepared for fall seeding. Field corn for silage nearing cutting stages, red clover for seed finished. Marion County silage corn was in full swing. Radish seed under irrigation has been planted. Lane County silage corn harvest is underway with yields reported between 35 and 40 tons per acre Fruits and Nuts: Winter pear harvest continued in the lower Hood River Valley and began in mid-Valley orchards. Willamette Valley apple harvest continued. Late peaches were being harvested. Prune harvest continued. Some spraying for spotted winged drosophila was being done on prunes prior to harvest. Blueberries continued to produce, blackberries ripe. Douglas County orchard and vineyard crops continued to mature nicely and winter pear harvest will begin in just 10-14 days. Summer pear and early apple varieties have already been harvested. The mid to late season apples will also see harvest begin within two weeks. Wine grape harvest will begin within 10 days, so the bulk of harvest this year will be in the first three weeks of October. Vegetables: North Willamette sweet corn harvest was in full swing. Sweet corn harvest should continue through the third week of October. Some cauliflower and broccoli has been harvested towards Mt. Angel; however, the majority of the crop will not be harvested until mid-October. Most all onions have been pulled to the surface for drying and some are now hauled into drying sheds. Garlic harvest finished and fall cabbage under irrigation has been planted. Cooler weather has slowed the maturing process for sweet corn allowing for harvesting to catch up in the Southern Willamette valley. Yields have been reported as average. Josephine truck gardens have been very bountiful. Malheur onion harvest was still going strong Nurseries and Greenhouses: Nursery trees changing color. Irrigation continued. Ornamental cabbage and christhomums were ready. Livestock, Range and Pasture: Harney County finally received some much needed rain later in the week. Pasture conditions still remained very dry. Lake County received a small amount of precipitation during the week. Many producers concerned about having to start feeding hay early this fall. The cool weather in Coos and Curry counties means that pastures both hillside and bottom, remain in relatively good condition, with better than average feed in some areas for this time of year. Cattle continued to be shipped out to feedlots off the bottoms and hills in preparation for the coming wet weather. Soil Moisture - Week Ending 09/23/12 ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Very : : : : short : Short : Adequate : Surplus ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : Topsoil : 35 35 30 0 Subsoil : 33 27 40 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Progress - Week Ending 09/23/12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5 year Crop : week : week : year : average -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Alfalfa hay, third cutting : 82 69 74 91 Winter wheat planted : 18 9 17 22 : Days suitable for fieldwork : 6.8 6.9 6.7 6.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition - Week Ending 09/23/12 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Corn : 0 0 6 82 12 Range and pasture : 18 28 26 27 1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Western Oregon COOS/CURRY: Lows were well below the 5-year average in Southern Curry and slightly below average in Coos County. Highs were above the 5-year average in Southern Curry County. Coos County high temperature was over 8 degrees above the 5-year average. Cool, foggy mornings and breezy conditions prevailed all week along the Coast in both Coos and Curry counties, with somewhat earlier burn-off inland, and only a trace of rainfall for the week in Coos and none in Curry. The cool weather means pastures, both hillside and bottom, remain in relatively good condition, with better than average feed in some areas for this time of year. Cattle continued to be shipped out to feedlots off the bottoms and hills in preparation for the coming wet weather. Cranberry producers were starting preparation for the upcoming harvest season. Bandon (Coos and Northern Curry): Official Low temperature for the period was 41.21 degrees, 1.4 degrees below the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was 65.79 degrees, 8.07 degrees below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.01 inches, which is 0.28 inches below the 5-year average for the week. Weather year 2012 (began 10/1/2011) precipitation stands at 65.04 inches, 11.8 inches above the 5-year average. Average precipitation through the month of September is 60.4 inches. Brookings (Southern Curry): Low temperature for the period was 44.37 degrees, 4.18 degrees below the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was a spike to 77.7 degrees, 3.62 degrees above the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.0 inches, which is 0.69 inches below the 5-year average. Weather year 2012 (began 10/1/2011) precipitation stands at 91.89 inches, 12.16 inches above the 5-year average. Historical average precipitation through September is 73.48 inches. DOUGLAS: Another week with no rain and mild temperatures. Fall fieldwork was well underway with most annual crops about finished for the season, and fall pasture, grains, and grass seed fields being readied for planting. Wheat planting will begin following the first two rainy days. The orchard and vineyard crops continued to mature nicely and winter pear harvest will begin in just 10-14 days. Summer pear and early apple varieties have already been harvested. The mid to late season apples will also see harvest begin within two weeks. Wine grape harvest will begin within 10 days, so the bulk of harvest this year will be in the first three weeks of October. JACKSON: Hay season continued with the lack of precipitation. Temperatures continued to be in the mid to upper 90's. Fire Danger was still at Extreme. JOSEPHINE: Overnight temperatures were 30 to 48 degrees; daytime 80 to 96. The land crackled when one walked over it. Stress marked in native vegetation, as in farm land and range where water is not available. Harvest of irrigated acres was in full swing with yields some of the best. Truck gardens have been very bountiful. Animals were doing well where irrigated. Hope for rain but none in sight. LANE: Cooler weather has slowed the maturing process for sweet corn, allowing for harvesting to catch up in the Southern Willamette Valley. Yields have been reported as average. Silage corn harvest was underway, with reported yields between 35 and 40 tons per acre. Apple and pear crop looks very good. Pumpkins were seriously affected by powdery mildew. Cold morning temperatures were slowing down tomato ripening, but great for apple ripening. Hazelnut crop was looking excellent. Soil was getting pretty dry. MARION: Silage corn and sweet corn harvest were in full swing. Sweet corn harvest should continue through the third week of October. Some cauliflower and broccoli has been harvested towards Mt. Angel, however, the majority of the crop will not be harvested until mid-October. Most all onions have been pulled to the surface for drying and some were hauled into drying sheds. Garlic harvest finished. Fall cabbage and radish seed under irrigation has been planted. Producers are conducting land preparation and bed shaping for fall seeding. WASHINGTON: Field corn for silage nearing cutting stages. Red clover for seed finished. Blueberries continued to produce while blackberries were ripe. Sweet corn continued to be picked for processor. A huge variety of vegetables were at farmers markets and stands. Nursery trees changing color. Irrigation continued. Ornamental cabbage and christhomums were ready. Livestock have been doing well with supplemental feeding. High temperature 85 degrees, low 41 degrees. No precipitation until Friday sprinkles; low fog, wet windshield. Silage corn, red clover seed, and red beets, were being harvested. Fields are being prepared for fall seeding. Dry, sunny weather appeared to be producing good wine grape crop. YAMHILL: Apple harvest continued. Late peaches were being harvested. Prune harvest continued. Some spraying for the spotted winged drosophila was being done on prunes prior to harvest. Eastern Oregon GRANT: We need more moisture HARNEY: Harney County finally received some much needed rain later in the week. Pasture conditions still remained very dry. Temperatures were staying about the same as the previous week. They were cooling off in the evenings. HOOD RIVER: Fair weather with mild to warm temperatures and dry conditions prevailed through the week, with the exception of a thunderstorm with brief rain showers on 9/22. Winter pear harvest continued in the lower Hood River Valley and began in mid-Valley orchards. KLAMATH: Dry weather continued across the County. No killing frost yet. Grain and potato harvests were underway. Some fourth cutting has been dropped. The nights are getting colder but there were still have favorable day time temperatures. LAKE: Received small amount of precipitation during the week. Many producers concerned about having to start feeding hay early this fall. MALHEUR: High was 85 degrees. High of 77 on Thursday, 74 on Friday, and 66 on Saturday and Sunday. The lower highs were from smoke blocking the sun. The normal high is 77. Lows all week were around 45, which is 10 degrees below normal of 55. Scattered rain showers on Sunday, some measurable and some not. Not enough to stop field activity. The past week was the peak week for onion harvest but still a long way to go. Corn harvest started. Potato and hay harvest continued. Lots of fall field work in progress. Corn for silage and sugar beet harvest has begun. SHERMAN/WASCO: Seeding started this week and will continue. Despite dry conditions, growers have been surprised at level soil moisture. Seeding has been good, with enough moisture to hold a furrow. Others producers were spraying fallow weeds and setting drills for planting rates due to seed sizes. Yields from the wheat harvest were good. UMATILLA: Potato harvest in full swing. Normal fall temperatures so far. Non- crop land was extremely dry. Been a normal year for temperatures overall. Early seeded wheat started to emerge in the County. Seeding will be continuing, but field conditions at seeding depth need moisture. Rain would be helpful, but is not in the forecast currently. Seeding will begin in earnest next week with or without rain. Weather data for selected stations in Oregon, Week ending: September 23, 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 : 42 80 57 -1 50 -4 0.03 -0.72 2 0.23 -1.88 11 4 Bandon 8/ : 41 66 54 -4 32 -17 0.01 -0.41 1 0.05 -1.18 4 5 Crescent City : 42 63 54 -5 31 -25 - -0.45 - 0.06 -1.19 5 6 Florence : 40 73 55 -5 36 -29 0.01 -0.64 1 0.06 -1.72 3 3 North Bend : 45 66 55 -4 39 -18 - -0.46 - - -1.31 - - Tillamook : 43 86 58 +2 61 +12 0.03 -0.94 2 0.05 -2.70 2 3 WILLAMETTE : VALLEY : Aurora 8/ : 45 91 62 +3 85 +13 0.05 -0.41 1 0.10 -1.24 7 2 Corvallis : 42 88 61 +1 78 +5 0.32 -0.06 1 0.32 -0.79 29 1 Detroit Lake 8/ : 47 93 65 +11 103 +63 0.06 -0.51 1 0.17 -1.49 10 2 Eugene : 43 89 62 +1 83 +2 0.02 -0.40 2 0.02 -1.24 2 2 Hillsboro : 40 91 61 +2 78 +12 0.03 -0.32 1 0.04 -1.07 4 2 McMinnville : 44 91 62 +2 83 +10 - -0.42 - - -1.20 - - Portland : 48 90 64 +3 99 +15 - -0.42 - 0.04 -1.30 3 1 Salem : 47 89 63 +3 89 +18 0.02 -0.39 2 0.04 -1.11 3 3 SW VALLEYS : Grants Pass : 46 93 68 +6 131 +37 - -0.23 - - -0.64 - - Medford : 47 95 71 +7 146 +48 - -0.21 - - -0.66 - - Roseburg : 50 96 66 +5 116 +29 - -0.28 - - -0.87 - - NORTH CENTRAL : Condon : 47 91 67 +12 122 +77 - -0.14 - 0.02 -0.56 3 1 Echo 8/ : 42 90 65 +5 106 +28 0.06 -0.01 1 0.06 -0.30 17 1 Heppner : 49 93 68 +10 129 +64 - -0.21 - - -0.62 - - Hermiston : 40 91 64 +4 103 +25 0.03 -0.04 1 0.03 -0.33 8 1 Madras 8/ : 42 88 64 +8 99 +44 0.04 -0.10 1 0.06 -0.40 13 3 Moro : 46 92 66 +10 114 +59 - -0.14 - - -0.46 - - Parkdale 8/ : 40 91 62 +5 88 +27 - -0.28 - 0.02 -0.85 2 2 Pendleton : 46 94 67 +7 121 +42 - -0.14 - - -0.46 - - Prairie City 8/ : 42 88 64 +8 99 +44 0.04 -0.10 1 0.06 -0.40 13 3 The Dalles : 47 93 68 +11 131 +72 - -0.14 - - -0.46 - - SOUTH CENTRAL : Agency Lake 8/ : 30 85 58 +5 54 +21 - -0.14 - - -0.46 - - Bend : 42 89 62 +9 89 +51 - -0.07 - - -0.39 - - Burns : 33 88 62 +9 83 +50 - -0.14 - - -0.46 - - Christmas Valley 8/ : 30 90 59 +2 65 +8 - -0.14 - - -0.44 - - Klamath Falls : 36 88 62 +5 88 +31 - -0.14 - - -0.41 - - Klamath Falls 8/ : 38 88 63 +6 91 +34 - -0.14 - - -0.41 - - Lakeview 8/ : 35 87 61 +6 82 +35 - -0.14 - 0.01 -0.45 2 1 Lorella 8/ : 32 89 60 +3 72 +15 - -0.14 - - -0.41 - - Redmond : 34 92 62 +8 89 +44 0.01 -0.06 1 0.05 -0.28 15 2 Worden 8/ : 32 86 59 +3 66 +9 - -0.14 - - -0.41 - - NORTHEAST : Baker City : 32 86 57 +2 51 +8 0.05 -0.09 1 0.05 -0.54 8 1 Joseph : 45 83 63 +13 95 +70 - -0.35 - 0.04 -0.98 4 1 La Grande : 34 88 59 +2 69 +11 - -0.21 - 0.14 -0.57 20 2 Imbler 8/ : 35 90 60 +4 68 +20 0.01 -0.27 1 0.02 -0.79 2 2 SOUTHEAST : Ontario : 40 90 62 +2 85 +8 0.08 -0.05 1 0.08 -0.37 18 1 Rome : 38 88 63 +6 91 +33 - -0.14 - - -0.46 - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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, 2012. 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.