or-crop-weather Oregon Crop Weather Released: August 4, 2008 Week ending: August~3, 2008 OR-CW1405 OREGON CROP WEATHER NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE USDA, NASS, Oregon Field Office Phone: 503-326-2131 Released: August 4, 2008 Toll Free: 1-800-338-2157 Week ending: cweek@, @year_cwk@ Email: nass-or@nass.usda.gov Volume: 18-08 Internet: www.nass.usda.gov/or Weather: Conditions became slightly cooler and drier throughout most of the State. High temperatures ranged from 96 degrees in Rome, down to 65 degrees at the Crescent City weather station. Low temperatures ranged from 53 degrees in Medford and Grants Pass, down to 36 degrees in Christmas Valley. The Florence weather station received the most precipitation with 1.03 total inches followed by the Astoria/Clatsop weather station with 0.43 total inches. Only eleven of the forty-two weather stations reported measurable precipitation, all along the coast and in the Willamette Valley. Most stations, again, reported below average precipitation levels and temperatures. Field Crops: The grass seed harvest was active, with average to less than average yields reported so far. Overall weather conditions continued to aid grain crop development as well as grass and hay cutting. The moisture received last week provided good field burning conditions for grass seed fields in Marion County, though it delayed some thrashing. Third cutting of hay started in western Oregon, while the second cutting of hay continued across eastern areas. Wheat yields varied according to soil type and moisture conditions in north central Oregon. Winter wheat and barley conditions were reported to be fair across the State, while spring wheat condition was reported to be fair to poor and corn condition was reported to be good. Vegetables: Despite being about ten days late in development this year, vegetable crops were reported to be growing well throughout the Willamette Valley. Green onions, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, rhubarb, tomatoes, cabbage, green beans, and potatoes were available at farmer's markets and roadside stands. Conditions this past week have been excellent for pollination of carrot and onion seed crops in central Oregon. Fruits and Nuts: Summer berry harvest continued; some varieties were starting to wind down. Tart cherry picking continued in the Willamette Valley. Early peaches and Gravenstein apples were also picked. Hazelnut development remains two to three weeks behind normal. Douglas County wine grapes were developing well and were about 50 days past fruit set; they will be at véraison in about two weeks. Some hybrid and vinifera grapes in Jefferson County have very good fruit set for the third year in a row. Summer orchard operations continued throughout the Hood River Valley. Pear growers continued cutting fire blight in many locations throughout the valley. Cherry harvest continued in the mid and upper valley. Southern Oregon apples and pears were starting to size; Bartlett pear harvest will begin soon. Nurseries and Greenhouses: Nurseries were busy with plant watering and feeding activities. Greenhouses continued with clean up and fall planting preparation. Livestock, Range and Pasture: Non-irrigated pastures and rangelands were drying up in most areas. Water sources were becoming limited, restricting usage of some pastures. Supplemental feeding was necessary in dryer areas. Cattle, sheep, and buffalo were all still looking good despite grazing conditions. Soil Moisture-Week Ending 08/03/08 ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Very : : : : short : Short : Adequate : Surplus ------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : Topsoil : 39 39 22 0 Subsoil : 29 48 23 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Progress-Week Ending 08/03/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5 year Crop : week : week : year : average -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Alfalfa hay, second cutting : 89 76 96 38 Alfalfa hay, third cutting : 7 - - - Winter wheat harvested : 65 45 76 63 Barley harvested : 55 49 67 56 Spring wheat harvested : 61 41 57 48 : Days suitable for fieldwork : 6.8 6.7 6.8 6.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Condition-Week Ending 08/03/08 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Winter wheat : 4 26 48 18 4 Spring wheat : 4 36 33 21 6 Barley : 0 19 53 24 4 Corn : 0 0 25 54 21 Range and pasture : 13 26 40 20 1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WESTERN OREGON BENTON/LINN/LANE: The grass seed harvest was two-thirds complete with yields looking average. The peppermint harvest is getting set to begin this week. CLACKAMAS: It was a somewhat cool week for late July. A couple days of high moisture mornings interrupted the grass seed harvest. Marionberries and raspberries were nearing the end. There were disappointing crops for many growers. The cold wet weather during pollination may have been the culprit along with the cold weather earlier in the spring and winter damage to canes. COOS/CURRY: Warm, sunny, dry, and all but the best sub-irrigated pastures were too dry to make livestock forage. DOUGLAS: Mild seasonal temperatures have allowed irrigated crops to grow nicely this past week. We are seeing the plum harvest progress as well as the blueberry harvest. We have reached about 25 percent complete with plums and 70 percent complete with blueberries. Wine grapes were developing well and are currently about 50 days past fruit set and will be at véraison in about two weeks. Grapes were about 10 days behind normal development pace. No significant disease issues with grapes, berries, or tree fruit. Vegetable crops were also growing well despite being about 10 days later in development this year. JACKSON: It was a good week for field work. Good hay making weather, and good for ripening grain. Lots of harvest activities and lots of irrigation. Hay continued to be baled, both alfalfa and grass hay. The grain harvest continued. Some ground preparation was being done to control weeds, and mulch the grain stubble. Caneberries were being harvested. Mostly blueberries, and some blackberries and raspberries were being harvested. Peaches were being picked. Apples and pears were starting to size up. Bartlett pears will soon be picked. Lots of good vegetable's are now at roadside stands and farmers markets. Some u-pick signs were up on some operations. Greenhouses were doing some plant care, but still mostly in maintenance work. Nurseries were mostly doing plant and tree care, and plenty of feeding and watering. Most all livestock were still on good irrigated grass, some cattle are now on higher ranges. JOSEPHINE: Hot days and moderate nights again. Some smoke was still filtering in from the California fires. Gardens were producing well; corn, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, cabbage, green beans. We will have a bumper crop of grapes. The second cutting of grass hay was being done in some fields. Operators were busy keeping things wet. MARION: This past week saw variable summer weather with a slight amount of moisture on Tuesday morning and a little more on Friday. The moisture Friday morning was heavier in some areas and lighter in others, but with the coolness of the day, thrashing activity came to a halt. It appears that all grass seed has been swathed but there is still some to be thrashed. Although the cool and damp weather put a hold on harvest, it was helpful in providing good conditions for open field burning in grass seed fields. Some wheat was getting combined last week as well, although not much. The flower harvest continues as the different varieties bloom and go to seed. The third cutting alfalfa has been cut and awaits the baler. Nice summer weather, but a little warmer is forecasted for the upcoming week. This coming week should pretty well wrap up the grass seed harvest. POLK: Cooler conditions last week, but still dry. The harvest of grass seed continued. The small grain harvest will begin soon. TILLAMOOK: The area received some rain during the week but it was still very dry. WASHINGTON: Temperatures were as high as 84 degrees and as low as 41 degrees with humidity ranging from 62 percent and 33 percent. The grass seed harvest was completed. There were reports of 15 percent reduction in yields for perennial rye grass and tall fescue. Winter wheat harvest started, oats were ripening, and sugarbeets for seed were growing well. Gravenstein apples were showing at markets. Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and rhubarb were also at markets. Green onions, zucchini, crook neck, tomatoes, and potatoes were ready at farmers markets. Greenhouses were planting evergreen trees and were busy with irrigation. Pastures were dwindling with supplemental feed needed. Cows, calves, and buffalo's were looking good. YAMHILL: The tart cherry harvest continued in the higher elevations. Some early peach harvesting was being started. Hazelnut development remains about two to three weeks behind normal. EASTERN OREGON BAKER: It has been warm and dry. Second cutting alfalfa was being put up. Range conditions were looking favorable. Grasshoppers were moving down from rangelands to irrigated fields. Not much damage has occurred yet. CROOK/DESCHUTES/JEFFERSON: Conditions have been excellent for pollination of carrot and onion seed crops. Likewise, conditions have been excellent for the bluegrass seed harvest. Some rust was found on a field of Twin Spring wheat (too late to spray). Take-All root rot was found to be severely affecting a field of back to back Buck Pronto HRSW. Hybrid grapes in northern Deschutes County were growing well and have a very good fruit set in their second year. Some hybrid and vinifera grapes in Jefferson County have very good fruit set for the third year in a row. Weather has been very cooperative this summer for putting up hay. HARNEY: Daily high temperatures were normal to slightly below normal. Moderate temperatures have been good for irrigation of second cutting alfalfa, especially on lower output alfalfa pivots. Desert ranges have cured and declined in quality; insufficient livestock water is limiting use of some areas. Livestock were performing well on higher elevation ranges that are still in good condition. HOOD RIVER: Fair weather prevailed through the week, with lower than average high temperatures ranging from the mid 60's to low 80's. Summer orchard operations continued throughout the Hood River Valley. Pear growers continued cutting fire blight in many locations throughout the valley. Cherry harvest continued in the mid and upper valley. KLAMATH: Warmer temperatures during the week. The second cutting of hay was down. It is taking longer to dry the hay because of the smoke that has been in the area. Early variety potatoes were blooming. Some grain crops were turning. LAKE: We did not receive any precipitation during the week. The second cutting of alfalfa hay was underway. It appears to be a short crop due to the delayed first cutting. SHERMAN: Grain harvest continued with reports on yields very mixed. Heat in May and limited rainfall since then reduced the crop, but areas that received rain in spotty showers in late May were doing much better. Drier, sandier soils were reporting lighter crops than average; deeper, moisture saving soils were at average or slightly better. However, no yields were near record setting despite great stands. Many grain reports were also showing light test weight. Many growers were complaining about the lack of herbicide success as weeds were slowed but not killed as well as had been hoped for. Again, this could be attributed to the weird, cold temperatures and the short spring. UNION: The fine fescue harvest was completed. The Kentucky bluegrass seed harvest continued. Winter wheat harvest started this week. Continued dry conditions last week facilitated excellent threshing conditions for grass seed. Cooler than normal night temperatures was slowing the growth of mint, sugarbeets, and potatoes. WALLOWA: Moisture conditions continued to be normal with sufficient supplies so far. WASCO: The wheat harvest moved rapidly through Wasco County. Seventy percent of the crop has been harvested. The alfalfa hay crops were looking good. Apricots and peaches continued to be harvested. Cattle were doing well despite pastures being rapidly used up. Ponds for watering cattle were drying up. The Dufur Threshing Bee is this coming week end, August 9 and 10. Weather data for selected stations in Oregon, Week ending: August 3, 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 : 46 67 58 -3 60 -17 0.43 0.22 4 60.93 -4.26 93 192 Bandon 8/ : 45 67 56 -3 46 -17 0.11 -0.01 3 52.53 -5.48 91 176 Crescent City : 44 65 55 -4 40 -23 - -0.13 - 44.23 -20.10 69 117 Florence : 40 76 58 -3 59 -14 1.03 0.83 3 85.64 10.41 114 162 North Bend : 48 70 60 -1 68 -2 0.08 -0.05 2 57.88 -4.54 93 151 Tillamook : 45 72 60 +1 70 +7 0.18 -0.10 4 57.00 -30.03 65 178 WILLAMETTE : VALLEY : Aurora 8/ : 45 82 64 -4 97 -22 0.05 -0.09 1 41.69 1.51 104 168 Corvallis : 45 83 63 -5 90 -29 0.01 -0.13 1 42.32 0.41 101 155 Detroit Lake 8/ : 47 84 64 +1 101 +3 0.02 -0.19 1 89.52 23.14 135 180 Eugene : 44 81 64 -5 100 -26 - -0.14 - 34.62 -13.75 72 140 Hillsboro : 41 82 61 -6 80 -39 0.02 -0.13 2 30.58 -6.01 84 142 McMinnville : 44 81 63 -5 93 -26 - -0.09 - 33.84 -8.65 80 148 Portland : 51 84 65 -5 107 -27 0.04 -0.10 2 32.81 -2.48 93 159 Salem : 48 81 63 -5 95 -26 0.03 -0.09 1 35.95 -2.52 93 135 SW VALLEYS : Grants Pass : 53 91 71 -3 148 -12 - -0.07 - 28.20 -2.37 92 124 Medford : 53 92 72 -3 157 -11 - -0.07 - 16.35 -2.02 89 102 Roseburg : 51 87 68 -3 129 -11 - -0.07 - 31.86 -0.25 99 139 NORTH CENTRAL : Condon : 42 88 65 -3 105 -14 - -0.14 - 11.50 -1.92 86 102 Echo 8/ : 42 91 69 -5 137 -31 - -0.07 - 7.79 -0.81 91 98 Heppner : 45 87 66 -5 116 -24 - -0.09 - 13.65 0.37 103 117 Hermiston : 43 89 70 -4 140 -28 - -0.07 - 7.64 -0.96 89 83 Madras 8/ : 40 89 65 -4 103 -23 - -0.08 - 7.83 -2.09 79 96 Moro : 42 85 63 -7 93 -40 - -0.07 - 9.37 -1.32 88 86 Parkdale 8/ : 38 82 60 -9 72 -54 - -0.07 - 21.99 -8.28 73 111 Pendleton : 45 87 69 -6 133 -35 - -0.07 - 10.89 -0.64 94 94 Prairie City 8/ : 40 89 65 -4 103 -23 - -0.08 - 7.83 -2.09 79 96 The Dalles : 49 88 68 +2 130 +4 - -0.07 - 12.94 0.89 107 81 SOUTH CENTRAL : Agency Lake 8/ : 43 84 63 -2 92 -6 - -0.12 - 12.53 -3.02 81 93 Bend : 43 88 64 -1 100 +2 - -0.10 - 11.69 0.53 105 77 Burns : 42 90 66 -2 113 -5 - -0.14 - 8.95 -0.43 95 99 Christmas Valley 8/ : 36 86 62 -8 87 -46 - -0.12 - 7.34 -4.49 62 72 Klamath Falls : 44 83 64 -6 96 -32 - -0.12 - 9.43 -3.53 73 81 Klamath Falls 8/ : 44 85 64 -5 99 -29 - -0.12 - 10.76 -2.20 83 106 Lakeview : - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lorella 8/ : 41 86 63 -6 91 -37 - -0.12 - 9.39 -3.57 72 109 Redmond : 37 89 62 -5 84 -35 - -0.10 - 1.91 -6.15 24 41 Worden 8/ : 40 83 62 -7 86 -42 - -0.12 - 8.11 -4.85 63 100 NORTHEAST : Baker City : 39 90 64 -4 104 -22 - -0.16 - 9.84 -0.19 98 115 Joseph : 44 83 61 -1 80 +2 - -0.21 - 18.71 -5.14 78 128 La Grande : 39 91 67 -4 124 -22 - -0.15 - 14.13 -2.49 85 102 Union : 40 93 67 -2 120 -6 - -0.14 - 11.15 -1.78 86 101 SOUTHEAST : Ontario : 51 94 76 -2 182 -6 - -0.07 - 6.23 -3.05 67 70 Rome : 47 96 73 +1 165 +7 - -0.07 - 7.06 -0.77 90 85 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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.