OR-crop-weather Oregon Crop Weather Released: October 1, 2012 Week ending: September 30, 2012 OR-CW2712 OREGON CROP WEATHER NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE USDA, NASS, Oregon Field Office Phone: 503-326-2131 Released: October 1, 2012 Toll Free: 1-800-338-2157 Week ending: September 30, 2012 Email: nass-or@nass.usda.gov Volume: 27-12 Internet: www.nass.usda.gov/or Weather: This week was warm and dry, with almost all stations reported above average temperatures; only a few reported precipitation and those reported only a little. Most counties reported high temperatures in the 80's to low 90's. Medford had the highest recorded temperature at 92 degrees, above its normal high of this time of fall. Overnight temperatures decreased this week, with several stations reported having a freezing temperature. Christmas Valley had the lowest recorded temperature at 27 degrees. There was some light precipitation in a few regions of the State. Joseph received the highest rainfall at 0.37 inches, slightly above its normal for this time of the season. Field Crops: Many producers were in the fields seeding fall wheat and hoping for moisture in north central and northeastern Oregon. Some stubble mowing or last minutes weed control before seeding. It was dry. No measureable rain since mid-July for North Central Oregon. Sunflowers and corn left to harvest. In the Willamette Valley, silage corn cutting advanced rapidly. Red clover for seed finished harvest. Fields were prepared for fall planting. Grass seed fields spraying finished. Fruits and Nuts: The dry weather has been beneficial to maturing orchard and vineyard crops, contributing to excellent harvest conditions. Douglas County wine grape harvest has begun, with early varieties like pinot gris and sauvignon blanc out of the vineyard first. Wine grapes yield and quality looked good in multiple counties. Winter pear harvest continued in Hood River Valley. Asian pear crop looked nice, having good size and color. Apple harvest continued. Prunes were ripe and almost finished with harvest. Cranberry growers continued preparation for upcoming harvest. Hazelnuts were dropping, but about 3 weeks behind the normal first drop. Hazelnut harvest began for early dropping varieties, having a good size. Vegetables: Sweet corn harvest for processors continued or was winding down, depending on locale. Cool morning temperatures were slowing down the ripening of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Garlic needs to be planted soon. Beets for cannery were being harvested. Farmer markets still had abundant varieties of vegetables. Pumpkins ready for harvest and Halloween. Nurseries and Greenhouses: Fall flowering plants available. Irrigation continued. Livestock, Range and Pasture: Umatilla County spring calves continued to be gathered and weaned by cattle ranchers, as pastures continued to dry. In the Willamette Valley, livestock, range, and pasture were holding their own. Better than average feed in some areas for this time of year, in Coos and Curry counties, but the uplands especially were drying. Cattle were mostly off the bottoms and were being gathered off the hills. Soil Moisture - Week Ending 09/30/12 ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Very : : : : short : Short : Adequate : Surplus ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : Topsoil : 42 33 25 0 Subsoil : 37 32 31 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Progress - Week Ending 09/30/12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5 year Crop : week : week : year : average -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Alfalfa hay, third cutting : 90 82 83 95 Winter wheat planted : 27 18 26 39 : Days suitable for fieldwork : 6.9 6.8 6.8 6.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition - Week Ending 09/30/12 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Corn : 0 0 23 77 0 Range and pasture : 17 29 27 27 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Western Oregon COOS/CURRY: Lows were below the 5-year average in Southern Curry and in Coos County. Highs were above the 5-year average in Southern Curry County. Coos County high temperature was 2 1/2 degrees below the 5-year average. Cool foggy mornings and breezy conditions prevailed all week along the Coast especially in Coos County, with somewhat earlier burn-off inland, and only a trace of rainfall for the week in southern Curry and none in Coos. The cool/dry weather means high fire danger and logging and fire restrictions for both counties. Better than average feed in some areas for this time of year, but the uplands especially were drying. Cattle were mostly off the bottoms and were being gathered off the hills. Cranberry producers continued preparation for the upcoming harvest season. Bandon (Coos and Northern Curry): Official low temperature for the period was 42.31 degrees, 1.07 degrees below the 5- year average. High temperature for the period was 68.34 degrees, 2.61 degrees below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.0 inches, which is 0.53 inches below the 5-year average for the week. Weather year 2012 (began 10/1/2011) precipitation stands at 65.04 inches, 11.27 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 46.28 degrees, 1.59 degrees below the 5-year average. High temperature for the period was a spike to 79.4 degrees, 3.48 degrees above the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.02 inches, which is 0.55 inches below the 5-year average. Weather year 2012 (began 10/1/2011) precipitation stands at 91.91 inches, 11.61 inches above the 5-year average. Historical average precipitation through September is 73.48 inches. DOUGLAS: Very warm and dry conditions continued this week. The lack of rain has been beneficial to maturing orchard and vineyard crops that were irrigated, in addition to being beneficial to excellent harvest conditions. The hazelnut crop is a little slow to drop from the trees this year, with only about 20 percent of the nuts on the ground. The dry conditions will need to hold for a few more weeks to make harvest go smoothly. The wine grape harvest was just beginning with a few early varieties, pinot gris and sauvignon blanc, coming out of the vineyard first. The quality of early wine grapes is excellent with this fine growing season. Early and mid season apple varieties were also being harvested. Apple yields are big and very good quality. Field crop planting was still waiting for the first few fall rains. JOSEPHINE: Overnight temperatures were in the 40's to 50's. Daytime temperatures ranged from the 80 to 97 degrees. Animals, goats, pigs, and beef cows were looking good. Goats were being used to keep down berry vines and brush. The major occupation was to water, if you have it. Grapes were being harvested, having good yield and quality. Growers and pickers delighted to have no rain. LANE: Asian pears were having a nice crop, with good size and color. There were huge crops of apples, smaller size than normal, with some scabby and some had late codling moth damage. Fantastic fall weather, but the morning temperatures of mid 40's were slowing the warm season crop ripening of tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Pumpkins looked good, but powdery mildew was very common. Some irrigation may be needed for the next two weeks as no rain is forecasted in the next ten days. Garlic needs to be planted as soon as possible. Hazelnuts were dropping, but about 3 weeks later than the normal first drop; size of hazelnuts is good. WASHINGTON: Silage corn cutting advanced rapidly. Red clover for seed finished harvest. Fields were prepared for fall planting. Grass seed fields spraying finished. Prunes ripe and nearly finished harvest. Farmers markets have abundant varieties of vegetables and fruit. Grape harvest has begun. Good yields, great quality. Beets for cannery were being harvested. Sweet corn for processing harvest was winding down. Pumpkins ready for harvest and Halloween. Fall flowering plants available, irrigation continued. Livestock range and pasture were holding their own. High temperature 78 degrees, low 38 degrees. No precipitation. Great harvest conditions. YAMHILL: Silage corn harvest has started in places, processed sweet corn harvest continued, a few hazelnut operations have started harvesting, apple harvest continued. Ground work continued for fall planting as well as the planting itself. Prune harvest continued. Hazelnut harvest has begun for early dropping varieties. Eastern Oregon GRANT: We need more moisture HARNEY: Conditions remained dry with no signs of precipitation in the near future. HOOD RIVER: Fair weather prevailed through the week. Winter pear harvest continued throughout the Hood River Valley. LAKE: Did not receive any precipitation during the week. SHERMAN/WASCO: Most of the wheat seeding to date has been in Sherman County with some grain already up. Wasco County just getting started. Some stubble mowing or last minutes weed control before seeding. It was dry. No measureable rain since mid-July. UMATILLA: Warmer temperatures in the day and cool (almost freezing, but not quite) temperatures at night signaled fall. Seed corn harvest was about halfway over. Many producers were in the fields seeding fall wheat and hoping for moisture. Spring calves continued to be gathered and weaned by cattle ranchers, as pastures continued to dry. UNION/BAKER: Sunflowers and corn left to harvest. Fall planting well underway. Dryland fields were being dusted in. WALLOWA: Cooler weather, some rain on Sunday and Monday in the Valley but not everywhere that it is needed. Fall seeding is underway and the upper Valley. Producers were finishing grain harvest. Weather data for selected stations in Oregon, Week ending: September 30, 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 : 41 74 57 +1 51 +6 - -0.86 - 0.23 -2.74 8 4 Bandon 8/ : 42 68 55 -3 33 -11 - -0.49 - 0.05 -1.67 3 5 Crescent City : 45 69 54 -4 29 -25 0.01 -0.53 1 0.07 -1.72 4 7 Florence : 34 71 54 -5 30 -28 - -0.76 - 0.06 -2.48 2 3 North Bend : 43 66 56 -3 43 -9 - -0.53 - - -1.84 - - Tillamook : 37 75 57 +2 50 +9 - -1.08 - 0.05 -3.78 1 3 WILLAMETTE : VALLEY : Aurora 8/ : 40 84 62 +5 88 +32 - -0.49 - 0.10 -1.73 5 2 Corvallis : 41 85 62 +5 87 +29 - -0.42 - 0.32 -1.21 21 1 Detroit Lake 8/ : 42 84 64 +12 99 +68 - -0.63 - 0.17 -2.12 7 2 Eugene : 40 87 62 +4 89 +24 - -0.42 - 0.02 -1.66 1 2 Hillsboro : 39 84 62 +5 83 +31 - -0.42 - 0.04 -1.49 3 2 McMinnville : 40 83 62 +4 84 +26 - -0.47 - - -1.67 - - Portland : 49 83 65 +6 106 +38 - -0.42 - 0.04 -1.72 2 1 Salem : 42 84 63 +5 91 +35 - -0.42 - 0.04 -1.53 3 3 SW VALLEYS : Grants Pass : 45 90 66 +5 113 +34 - -0.28 - - -0.92 - - Medford : 48 92 69 +8 136 +57 - -0.21 - - -0.87 - - Roseburg : 44 87 65 +6 110 +36 - -0.28 - - -1.15 - - NORTH CENTRAL : Condon : 40 79 61 +7 76 +44 0.01 -0.13 1 0.03 -0.69 4 2 Echo 8/ : 39 88 63 +6 94 +35 - -0.07 - 0.06 -0.37 14 1 Heppner : 43 80 62 +6 87 +37 - -0.19 - - -0.81 - - Hermiston : 40 86 63 +5 91 +32 - -0.07 - 0.03 -0.40 7 1 Madras 8/ : 35 80 61 +6 77 +35 - -0.08 - 0.06 -0.48 11 3 Moro : 38 79 61 +6 76 +36 - -0.08 - - -0.54 - - Parkdale 8/ : 33 84 60 +4 69 +22 - -0.28 - 0.02 -1.13 2 2 Pendleton : 41 81 63 +5 92 +31 - -0.14 - - -0.60 - - Prairie City 8/ : 35 80 61 +6 77 +35 - -0.08 - 0.06 -0.48 11 3 The Dalles : 46 85 67 +12 119 +75 - -0.09 - - -0.55 - - SOUTH CENTRAL : Agency Lake 8/ : 29 82 55 +5 39 +15 - -0.18 - - -0.64 - - Bend : 39 81 59 +8 67 +39 - -0.07 - - -0.46 - - Burns : 32 82 59 +8 61 +38 - -0.10 - - -0.56 - - Christmas Valley 8/ : 27 83 56 +1 42 -2 - -0.14 - - -0.58 - - Klamath Falls : 35 84 59 +4 64 +21 - -0.14 - - -0.55 - - Klamath Falls 8/ : 37 83 60 +5 70 +27 - -0.14 - - -0.55 - - Lakeview 8/ : 34 82 57 +4 51 +15 - -0.18 - 0.01 -0.63 2 1 Lorella 8/ : 31 83 56 +2 46 +3 - -0.14 - - -0.55 - - Redmond : 32 84 59 +6 63 +30 - -0.07 - 0.05 -0.35 13 2 Worden 8/ : 31 84 57 +2 53 +10 - -0.14 - - -0.55 - - NORTHEAST : Baker City : 30 79 56 +4 45 +14 0.01 -0.13 1 0.06 -0.67 8 2 Joseph : 40 76 58 +10 53 +36 0.37 +0.02 1 0.41 -0.96 30 2 La Grande : 34 81 59 +4 61 +17 - -0.23 - 0.14 -0.80 15 2 Imbler 8/ : 32 81 59 +6 66 +30 0.01 -0.27 1 0.03 -1.06 3 3 SOUTHEAST : Ontario : 44 85 65 +7 103 +46 0.01 -0.07 1 0.09 -0.44 17 2 Rome : 40 85 62 +7 87 +44 0.15 +0.03 1 0.15 -0.43 26 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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.