nd-crop-weather STATE NORTH DAKOTA CROP, LIVESTOCK & WEATHER REPORT RELEASE DATE, WEEK ENDING DATE Released: October 17, 2005 For Week Ending: October 16, 2005 ISSUE CW-ND4205 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY General: Harvest progress picked up toward the end of last week as conditions improved following the previous week's winter storm, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office. The dry edible bean, soybean, potato and sugarbeet harvests were nearing completion while the corn and sunflower harvests made limited progress. A two to three week period of dry conditions was reported as needed in addition to a hard freeze to help dry down green stalks and firm up muddy fields. On average, there were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork statewide. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 14 short, 80 adequate and 5 surplus compared with the 5-year (2000-2004) average of 17 percent very short, 28 short, 52 adequate and 3 surplus. FIELD CROPS REPORT Crops: The dry edible bean and potato harvests were nearly finished last week while the soybean harvest made good progress and stayed ahead of average. Dry edible beans were 95 percent harvested, over two weeks ahead of last year and nearly a week ahead of average. Potatoes dug reached 94 percent complete by week's end, slightly ahead of last year, but behind average. Soybeans were 87 percent harvested, an increase of 14 percentage points from the previous week and still ahead of average. The sugarbeet harvest also made good progress, with a total of 81 percent lifted, but was still behind the average of 92 percent. The corn for grain harvest was only 13 percent complete, more than a week behind average. Only 10 percent of the sunflower acreage was combined during the week to reach 17 percent harvested, ahead of last year's 7 percent but behind the average of 29 percent. LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT Livestock: Livestock producers were hauling hay and weaning calves. Pasture condition ratings decreased slightly to 46 percent good to excellent from 49 percent the previous week. Stockwater supplies were rated 85 percent adequate to surplus, down from the previous week's 87 percent. CROP PROGRESS TABLES Crop Development Progress 1/ October 16, 2005 with Comparisons Week Ending 2000- Crop Oct 16, Oct 9, Oct 16, 2004 2005 2005 2004 Avg. (Percent) CORN Harvested for Grain 13 6 4 28 CORN FOR SILAGE Chopped 95 91 91 97 DRY EDIBLE BEANS Harvested 95 90 78 92 POTATOES Dug 94 86 92 96 SOYBEANS Harvested 87 73 75 84 SUGARBEETS Lifted 81 35 86 92 SUNFLOWER Harvested 17 7 7 29 1/ Crop development percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage. NA = Not Available Crop and Pasture Condition Week Ending October 16, 2005 Crop Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent (Percent) Corn 1 6 23 49 21 Sugarbeets 2 15 27 50 6 Sunflower 1 5 19 60 15 Pasture and Range 3 15 36 42 4 Harvest Progress by District October 16, 2005 Crop NW NC NE WC C EC SW SC SE (Percent) Corn 4 12 11 49 15 7 24 37 12 Dry Edible Beans NA 86 94 100 98 98 NA NA 98 Soybeans 66 88 80 92 86 86 NA 90 92 Sunflowers 17 16 9 18 10 20 8 29 21 NA = Not Available SOIL MOISTURE TABLE Soil Moisture: North Dakota Week Ending 2000- Oct 16, Oct 9, Oct 16, 2004 Date 2005 2005 2004 Avg. (Percent) TOPSOIL Very Short 1 1 14 17 Short 14 12 16 28 Adequate 80 79 65 52 Surplus 5 8 5 3 SUBSOIL Very Short 4 4 18 18 Short 21 20 16 29 Adequate 70 70 60 50 Surplus 5 6 6 3 WEATHER SUMMARY Weather: The week started off with temperatures slightly below seasonal norms in the west due to lingering snow cover. Temperatures were slightly above seasonal norms in the east. A system brought some showers to the southern and eastern parts of the state on Wednesday. Dense fog was reported across the eastern areas early on Thursday. High temperatures climbed into the low 60s north and east to around 70 degrees south and west by midweek. Lows ranged from the mid-30s west to the low 40s east. A weak front brought slightly cooler weather to the state on Friday. Breezy conditions and very warm temperatures greeted the state for the weekend. Highs reached into the 60s across the state, with some areas in the south reaching the mid-70s under sunny skies. Outlook, October 17-23: Highs will reach into the mid-60s to mid-70s across the state on Monday. Look for a chance of showers in the central and northern areas early on Tuesday along with cooler temperatures in the north. Dry and cooler conditions will settle in for midweek. Highs will be in the mid-50s east to low 60s west on Wednesday. Southerly winds will boost temperatures across the west on Thursday. A front will move across the state on Friday and bring a slight drop in temperatures. The weekend should see mainly dry conditions, with only a slight chance of showers in the east on Saturday. Temperatures will be near seasonal normals in the east to above normal in the west. WEATHER INFORMATION TABLES Temperature & Precipitation: Districts and Stations North Dakota, Week ending October 16, 2005 Average Seasonal Precipitation District Temperature Beginning April 1 1/ Averages Past Depart Past Depart Week Normal 2/ Week Total Normal 2/ (Degrees F) (Inches) Northwest (1) 50 5 0.05 12.82 -0.56 N. Central (2) 50 6 0.07 19.19 4.53 Northeast (3) 50 4 0.01 17.82 3.27 W. Central (4) 50 3 0.05 13.80 0.41 Central (5) 53 6 0.04 15.44 1.09 E. Central (6) 50 4 0.21 22.24 5.88 Southwest (7) 51 5 0.02 13.55 0.83 S. Central (8) 55 9 0.07 16.55 2.88 Southeast (9) 53 5 0.40 23.02 6.88 1/ Precipitation amounts may vary due to an inaccurate snowfall melt. 2/ Normal is the 1971-2000 average. NA=Not Available. Weather data collected from NDAWN stations and compiled by UND Aerospace Regional Weather Information Center. Temperature & Precipitation: Districts and Stations North Dakota, Week ending October 16, 2005 Temperature Seasonal Precipitation Stations Past Week Beginning April 1 1/ by Past Depart District High Low Week Total Normal 2/ (Degrees F) (Inches) (1) Bowbells 66 32 0.00 11.91 -2.18 Williston 67 35 0.00 10.13 -0.85 Mohall 69 30 0.16 11.71 -2.51 Minot 72 34 0.04 17.51 3.29 (2) Baker 72 36 0.01 19.69 5.62 Bottineau 68 29 0.14 19.87 4.80 Rugby 70 30 0.05 18.00 3.18 (3) Cando 72 29 0.00 17.45 4.41 Cavalier 70 30 0.00 17.58 2.48 Forest River 69 33 0.00 19.07 4.55 Grand Forks 68 34 0.04 19.80 4.83 Langdon 69 31 0.00 16.93 1.83 St. Thomas 68 32 0.00 16.06 1.54 (4) Hazen 71 28 0.02 16.19 2.63 Turtle Lake 69 35 0.12 12.30 -1.60 Watford City 67 34 0.01 12.92 0.20 (5) Carrington 77 30 0.01 12.71 -3.48 Harvey 73 30 0.00 16.81 4.39 Jamestown 75 32 0.06 21.50 6.71 Robinson 75 33 0.00 12.90 -1.06 Streeter 78 32 0.13 13.30 -1.11 (6) Dazey 71 33 0.04 20.14 3.89 Fargo 68 34 0.31 23.08 6.82 Hillsboro 67 32 0.28 23.51 6.92 (7) Beach 70 33 0.02 15.42 3.20 Bowman 71 32 0.03 11.51 -0.78 Dickinson 70 32 0.03 14.75 1.30 Hettinger 73 34 0.01 12.54 -0.41 (8) Mandan 75 33 0.06 16.76 2.58 Linton 78 37 0.09 16.34 3.18 (9) Edgeley 73 34 0.39 22.21 6.67 Oakes 71 33 0.59 23.39 7.79 Wyndmere 73 34 0.22 23.47 6.18 1/ Precipitation amounts may vary due to an inaccurate snowfall melt. 2/ Normal is the 1971-2000 average. NA=Not Available. Weather data collected from NDAWN stations and compiled by UND Aerospace Regional Weather Information Center. CONTACT INFORMATION USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office Cooperating with: NDSU Extension Service, Farm Service Agency, ND Ag Weather Network (NDAWN) and UND Aerospace Regional Weather Information Center FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: David Knopf, Director USDA, NASS, North Dakota Field Office NDSU, IACC Bldg., Room 448 P.O. Box 3166 Fargo, ND 58108-3166 Telephone: (701) 239-5306 E-Mail: nass-nd@nass.usda.gov Internet: http://www.nass.usda.gov/nd/