or-crop-weather Oregon Crop Weather Released: August 25, 2008 Week ending: August 24, 2008 OR-CW1405 OREGON CROP WEATHER NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE USDA, NASS, Oregon Field Office Phone: 503-326-2131 Released: August 25, 2008 Toll Free: 1-800-338-2157 Week ending: cweek@, @year_cwk@ Email: nass-or@nass.usda.gov Volume: 21-08 Internet: www.nass.usda.gov/or Weather: Much needed precipitation was received throughout much of the State last week. High temperatures ranged from 105 degrees in Moro, down to 65 degrees in Crescent City. Low temperatures ranged from 54 degrees in Aurora, down to 30 degrees in Burns. The Astoria/Clatsop weather station received the most precipitation with 2.47 total inches followed by the Florence station with 2.07 total inches. Only five of the forty-two weather stations did not report measurable precipitation, all in the south central and southeastern portions of the State. Temperatures were about average and precipitation levels were above average in most areas. Field Crops: Last weeks rain interrupted field work. Some growers welcomed the precipitation, while others did not. Grain harvest and haying was limited. There was concern about sprout damage in grains if wet conditions continue. Some wheat has already been rejected due to sprout damage. Perennial grasses in the Willamette Valley benefited from the recent rains as did corn for silage. Vegetables: Farmer's markets were still flourishing throughout the Willamette Valley, with many new products coming on each week. Sweet corn, green peppers, summer squash, green beans, tomatoes, eggplant, onions, melons, okra, cabbage, and some early potatoes were all being harvested in western Oregon. Fruits and Nuts: The summer pear harvest began in the lower Hood River Valley, while Bartlett pears and some late peaches continued to be picked in Jackson County. Stone fruit crops were still being harvested in Wasco County and the early pear and apple harvest should begin soon. Blackberry, blueberries, and some late strawberries were still in production in Washington County. Growers have prepared hazelnut orchards in Yamhill County for nuts to drop. Grapes did not appear to suffer any damage from the 100 degree days and are developing nicely. Nurseries and Greenhouses: Greenhouses continued with new plantings of evergreen landscaping shrubs and other fall plants, including decorative and vegetable starts. Nurseries were busy irrigating and providing nutrients to plants. Livestock, Range and Pasture: The precipitation this week helped pastures in some areas, but was too late for others. Supplemental feeding and hauling water continues. Irrigation continues where available. Livestock were doing well. Soil Moisture-Week Ending 08/24/08 ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Very : : : : short : Short : Adequate : Surplus ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : Topsoil : 22 39 39 0 Subsoil : 31 44 25 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Progress-Week Ending 08/24/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5 year Crop : week : week : year : average -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Alfalfa hay, third cutting : 53 34 41 8 Winter wheat harvested : 96 93 96 96 Barley harvested : 92 89 89 83 Spring wheat harvested : 89 86 85 84 : Days suitable for fieldwork : 5.2 6.9 6.3 6.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition-Week Ending 08/24/08 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter wheat : 15 37 32 14 2 Spring wheat : 12 35 29 20 4 Barley : 3 23 43 29 2 Corn : 0 0 9 72 19 Range and pasture : 20 24 38 18 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WESTERN OREGON BENTON/LINN/LANE: The rain dusted things off. Unharvested wheat fields were looking poor. A few grass fields were left to harvest. The peppermint harvest was completed. CLACKAMAS: It was a wet week. Combines were idle until Sunday afternoon. Some of the wheat was being rejected with sprout damage. The precipitation was good for pastures. COOS/CURRY: Temperatures were near the 5-year average for the week both in Coos and Curry Counties. Significant rainfall on Wednesday and Sunday, especially in southern Curry, with 1.71 inches recorded in Brookings on Wednesday. The breezy conditions helped keep the temperatures moderate for the week, with gusts to 27 mph recorded in Bandon. The low temperature for the period was 49.89 degrees, 0.39 degrees below the 5-year average. The high temperature for the period was 69.71 degrees, 0.82 degrees above the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.82 inches, compared to a 5-year (including drought years 2003-2004) average of 0.54 inches. Precipitation for Current weather year precipitation (began 10/07) stands at 51.63 inches, 4.35 inches below the 5- year average. Historical average precipitation through August is 58.74 inches. Brookings (Southern Curry): The low temperature for the period was 59.92 degrees, 8.46 degrees above the 5-year average. The high temperature for the period was 71.70 degrees, 2.58 degrees below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 2.47 inches (over 5 days) compared to a 5-year (including drought years 2003-2004) average of 0.40 inches. Precipitation for Current weather year precipitation (began 10/07) stands at 66.78 inches, 14.63 inches below the 5-year average. Historical average precipitation for Brookings area through August is 71.53 inches. Despite the precipitation, it was too late in the grazing season to help most pastures. JACKSON: A few days of cooler weather, but not much moisture. Need a nice rain to wet the ground. We were running about 2 inches below normal on rainfall for the time of year. It was not a bad week to get things done. Most grains were done, but there were a few fields left. Still a lot of haying was being done. Some field preparation for weed control and mulching the stubble. Bartlett pears were being picked. There were still some late peaches being picked also. Lots of wild blackberry pickers were out. Lots of fresh vegetables were being picked. Corn, green peppers, squash, string beans, tomatoes, and some early potatoes being harvested. Greenhouses were busy with getting fall plants started, both vegetable and decorative plants for fall planting. Nurseries were busy with plant upkeep watering and feeding. Livestock on good pastures were looking quite good. Lots of irrigation was being done to keep pastures growing. The spring calf crop was looking good. JOSEPHINE: Higher humidity towards the end of the week. It was nice weather. Two cool nights in the mid 40's. We had a few drops of rain, but nothing measurable and it did not wet the soil. Day time temperatures were in the 90's with some gusts of winds. Night time temperatures were in the 60's. It was good corn growing weather. Our skies continued to be smoky, with a local fire this time. Harvesting continued: tomatoes, corn, all kinds of summer squashes, beans, eggplant, onions, melons, okra, cabbage, etc. Winter squash will be plentiful and huge. Table grapes continued to mature. MARION: This was an unusual summer week for Marion County. Every day except Friday and Saturday brought some moisture ranging from sprinkles to rain. Any unharvested grain, grass seed, clover, or other crops needing very dry conditions for harvest along with hay baling were held off. Continued wet weather will be causing sprout damage in the grains. The hops harvest continued full tilt. POLK: Temperatures were a bit cooler for the first part of the week with warming by mid-week. Harvesting of small grains was delayed due to moisture. There was light rain on Sunday in the afternoon and evening. TILLAMOOK: Last week was cooler with some moisture along the coast. Grass silage was still being harvested. Some grass hay got rained on. WASHINGTON: Temperatures ranged from 82.5 degrees to 48.2 degrees with humidity ranging from 61 percent to 34 percent. There were concerns about sprouting wheat due to the rain experienced this past weekend. Field corn was setting ears. Alfalfa hay was in the shed and in excellent condition. Red clover was nearing harvest. Blackberries continued production, blueberries were ongoing, strawberries were still producing, filberts and walnuts were sizing, and peaches were ready. Squash, sweet corn, new potatoes, and many varieties of vegetables were ready for consumption. Greenhouses were busy with new plantings of evergreen landscaping shrubs and irrigation was ongoing. Pastures were drying but had some help from the rain during the week. Cattle and calves were doing well. YAMHILL: Everyone was happy to see rain except those with wheat still standing or trying to bale straw. Fields were being worked up with lots of dust being made in the process. Hazelnut orchards were ready for the nuts to drop with the "floors" nice and tidy. Red clover was getting close to harvest. Corn for silage was looking good with lots of irrigations being applied. Perennial grass fields really liked the drinks of water and will make a big difference going into fall and winter. Need a steady dose of 80ish degree days for the grapes although the 100 degree days did not seem to hurt them. Farmers markets were still flourishing with many new products coming on each week. EASTERN OREGON BAKER/UNION: There was rainfall from Monday through Thursday. There are some concerns about sprouted grain. CROOK/DESCHUTES: Thunderstorms brought hail and heavy rain. There have been no reports of significant crop damage. GILLIAM: Thunderstorms brought harvesting operations to a temporary halt in south Gilliam County. Cutting of spring grains resumed Saturday and Sunday. HOOD RIVER: Weather was unsettled with orchard operations disrupted by rain early in the week. The summer pear harvest began in the lower Hood River Valley. Elsewhere, growers continued summer orchard operations and prepared orchards for the summer pear harvest. KLAMATH: The area experienced cooler temperatures last week. Some third cutting of hay was being dropped. Potato vines were dying off. The grain harvest continued but was limited. LAKE: No precipitation was received during the week. Temperatures cooled off towards the end of the week. The alfalfa harvest (second cutting) was late, about 90 percent complete at this time. MALHEUR: The wheat harvest was done except for straggler fields. Weight and yield were down a little from normal. Hay yield appears to be normal so far. Corn, sugarbeets, and onions were coming along. Early potatoes and onions will start soon. MORROW: There was a hail storm Monday, and some rain on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday. All wheat has been harvested in Morrow County. Yields were below normal. Average yield for winter wheat grown after summer-fallow was approximately 22 bushels per acre. Average yield for annual crop spring wheat ranged from 5 to 12 bushels per acre in most locations. Test weights were "all over the board" and ranged from 52 to 63 pounds per bushel. Rainfall since September 1st of last year has been limited and the water content of soil profiles (fields that will be seeded this fall) is about 10 percent of capacity. There will be no early-seeding in Morrow County this fall unless significant rainfall occurs within the next three weeks. SHERMAN: We received showers early in the week, which put a halt to harvest. If the sun holds out, harvesters should be going again soon. WALLOWA: Cooler weather was helping some crops but was also delaying grain maturation. WASCO: The winter wheat harvest was nearly complete, while some spring wheat was not quite ripe. Third cutting of alfalfa hay in the Tygh Valley and Dufur areas was underway. Cattle continued to hold their own on the dry pastures that were becoming over grazed. Watering ponds and springs continued to dry up. Stone fruit crops continued to be harvested through the week, while early pear and apple crops will soon be harvested. Fire danger has eased due to the recent rains. More rain is needed for the fall seeding of grain crops. Weather data for selected stations in Oregon, Week ending: August 24, 2008 (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/Clatsop : 50 75 61 +0 74 +0 2.47 2.13 5 63.44 -2.59 96 198 Bandon 8/ : 50 70 60 +2 74 +14 0.82 0.55 5 53.46 -5.20 91 187 Crescent City : 53 65 59 -1 62 -1 0.94 0.68 3 45.25 -19.72 70 124 Florence : 46 73 59 -2 67 -10 2.07 1.72 4 87.91 11.80 116 170 North Bend : 48 75 61 +2 80 +10 0.73 0.46 3 58.69 -4.37 93 158 Tillamook : 46 79 62 +4 89 +26 1.44 0.99 5 58.48 -29.66 66 184 WILLAMETTE : VALLEY : Aurora 8/ : 54 84 66 +0 114 +2 1.38 1.13 5 43.09 2.29 106 175 Corvallis : 50 85 65 -2 106 -6 1.17 0.96 5 43.50 1.03 102 161 Detroit Lake 8/ : 48 84 64 +3 103 +21 1.77 1.43 4 91.32 24.09 136 187 Eugene : 47 86 66 -2 112 -8 0.22 -0.06 3 34.87 -14.22 71 144 Hillsboro : 47 85 65 -2 104 -4 0.57 0.29 4 31.27 -6.06 84 147 McMinnville : 46 84 65 -2 108 -4 0.20 0.00 3 34.04 -8.93 79 151 Portland : 52 86 67 -1 123 -6 0.73 0.45 5 33.72 -2.30 94 166 Salem : 50 84 66 +0 114 -1 0.64 0.43 3 36.61 -2.35 94 139 SW VALLEYS : Grants Pass : 52 94 71 +0 145 +0 0.03 -0.11 1 28.23 -2.66 91 125 Medford : 53 95 73 +2 165 +13 0.01 -0.13 1 16.39 -2.34 88 105 Roseburg : 51 91 70 +1 138 +6 0.05 -0.11 2 31.91 -0.64 98 141 NORTH CENTRAL : Condon : 40 101 66 +2 112 +10 0.40 0.23 3 12.14 -1.73 88 107 Echo 8/ : 42 97 69 -2 137 -9 0.14 0.04 3 7.93 -0.91 90 101 Heppner : 45 103 69 +1 134 +6 0.34 0.17 3 14.04 0.31 102 121 Hermiston : 44 98 71 -1 147 +1 0.27 0.17 3 7.91 -0.93 89 86 Madras 8/ : 40 89 66 +0 113 +4 0.23 0.09 2 8.13 -2.17 79 100 Moro : 41 105 66 +0 117 +1 0.21 0.07 2 9.67 -1.33 88 89 Parkdale 8/ : 41 83 63 -4 94 -19 0.61 0.47 4 22.60 -8.04 74 115 Pendleton : 45 95 69 -2 137 -10 0.71 0.57 3 11.64 -0.26 98 100 Prairie City 8/ : 40 89 66 +0 113 +4 0.23 0.09 2 8.13 -2.17 79 100 The Dalles : 47 92 70 +5 141 +31 0.24 0.10 2 13.19 0.80 106 84 SOUTH CENTRAL : Agency Lake 8/ : 38 87 62 +1 84 +4 0.01 -0.20 1 12.90 -3.18 80 97 Bend : 38 100 65 +4 110 +24 0.15 0.01 1 11.84 0.26 102 78 Burns : 30 93 65 +3 103 +11 0.12 -0.06 2 9.12 -0.72 93 103 Christmas Valley 8/ : 32 89 63 -4 90 -24 0.02 -0.12 2 7.36 -4.89 60 74 Klamath Falls : 44 88 65 -1 107 -3 - -0.14 - 9.72 -3.66 73 84 Klamath Falls 8/ : 48 89 65 -1 110 +0 - -0.14 - 10.96 -2.42 82 108 Lakeview : - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lorella 8/ : 38 89 65 -2 102 -8 - -0.14 - 9.40 -3.98 70 110 Redmond : 39 89 65 +1 104 +4 0.86 0.72 3 2.90 -5.56 34 45 Worden 8/ : 34 89 62 -5 82 -28 - -0.14 - 8.38 -5.00 63 102 NORTHEAST : Baker City : 33 96 64 -2 103 -3 0.17 -0.07 3 10.07 -0.62 94 119 Joseph : 40 93 63 +4 93 +22 0.42 0.14 4 19.35 -5.26 79 134 La Grande : 41 93 66 -2 113 -11 0.67 0.46 3 14.89 -2.36 86 108 Union : 40 103 67 +2 121 +13 0.95 0.73 4 12.20 -1.35 90 106 SOUTHEAST : Ontario : 43 100 72 -2 153 -3 - -0.14 - 6.33 -3.23 66 71 Rome : 48 101 72 +5 157 +28 0.03 -0.11 2 7.10 -1.06 87 88 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Summary based on NWS data. Copyright 2008: 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, 2007. 6/ DFN=Departure from normal (using 1961-1990 normals period). 7/ Precipitation days = Days with precipitation of 0.01 inch or more. 8/ Agri-Met weather stations.