OR-crop-weather

Oregon Crop Weather
Released: August 18, 2008 
Week ending: August 17, 2008     
OR-CW2008

OREGON CROP WEATHER
 
NATIONAL
AGRICULTURAL
STATISTICS
SERVICE

USDA, NASS, Oregon Field Office

Phone: 503-326-2131
Released: August 18, 2008
Toll Free: 1-800-338-2157
Week ending: August 17, 2008
Email: nass-or@nass.usda.gov
Volume: 20-08
Internet: www.nass.usda.gov/or

Weather: Record high temperatures were reported this past week throughout the 
State as many records for this time of year were broken. High temperatures 
ranged from 109 degrees in The Dalles, down to 63 degrees at the Crescent 
City station.  Low temperatures ranged from 59 degrees in Portland, down to 
37 degrees at the Christmas Valley and Redmond stations. Half of the stations 
reported high temperatures of at least 100 degrees.  Only six out of the 
forty three stations reported any precipitation.  The Agency Lake station 
reported the largest amount with only .08 inches. Temperatures were well 
above average and precipitation levels were still well below normal 
throughout the State.  

Field Crops: Wheat yield reports continued to be mixed, even within local. 
Some areas reported lower test weights. Active week for alfalfa harvest. 
Potato yield potential in Umatilla/Morrow area looked better than it did 
after the cool spring. Red clover ready for swather. Hop harvest started. 
Grass seed harvest, like wheat, was still significant but mostly done. Also 
like wheat, yields varied more than usual.

Vegetables: Farmer's markets and roadside stands were going strong and were 
offering an abundance of produce throughout the State.  Sweet corn was 
reported to be readily available throughout the Willamette Valley. Tomatoes 
were yielding succulent fruit in Washington County. Corn was showing a poor 
pollination, tomatoes have been slow to ripen, and truck gardens were selling 
locally grown melons in Josephine County.   

Fruits and Nuts: The blueberry harvest was winding down in southwestern 
Oregon with just a few late fields to go. Yields were reported to be down 
about 15 percent from last year. Wine grape crops were looking good and were 
only about a week behind schedule as they were getting closer to the normal 
maturity pace with all of the August heat.  Filberts were looking good and 
walnuts were sizing in Washington County.  Pear growers continued cutting 
fire blight in many locations throughout the Hood River Valley.  Lower valley 
pear growers were preparing for the Bartlett harvest.  Apples and pears were 
being picked around The Dalles, and a number of new orchards are starting to 
show up in the Wamic area. 

Nurseries and Greenhouses: Greenhouses were busy getting fall plants started 
including decorative and vegetable starts. Nurseries were planting shrubs. 
Nurseries also remained busy with watering, plant up-keep activities, and 
rotating potted plants to new locations.

Livestock, Range and Pasture: Supplemental feeding and watering continued as 
the State experienced another hot, dry week.  Pastures and range were drying 
up and water sources were starting to dry up in some locations.  Livestock 
were still in good shape, especially those on irrigated and higher elevation 
pastures.

                Soil Moisture-Week Ending 08/17/08                
------------------------------------------------------------------
                :   Very    :           :             :           
                :   short   :   Short   :  Adequate   :  Surplus  
------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                     Percent                     
                :                                                 
Topsoil         :    49          28           23            0     
Subsoil         :    34          42           24            0     
------------------------------------------------------------------

                       Crop Progress-Week Ending 08/17/08                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                :   This    :   Last    :   Last    :  5 year   
              Crop              :   week    :   week    :   year    :  average  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                :                    Percent                    
                                :                                               
Alfalfa hay, third cutting      :   34          11          24           5      
Winter wheat harvested          :   93          86          93          90      
Barley harvested                :   89          64          86          79      
Spring wheat harvested          :   86          71          77          76      
                                :                                               
Days suitable for fieldwork     :    6.9         6.5         6.7         6.8    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           Crop Condition-Week Ending 08/17/08                           
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :   Very    :           :           :           :               
           Crop          :   poor    :   Poor    :   Fair    :   Good    :   Excellent   
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                            Percent                            
                         :                                                               
Winter wheat             :    10          31          40          17             2       
Spring wheat             :     9          43          30          14             4       
Barley                   :     2          27          44          25             2       
Corn                     :     0           0          26          57            17       
Range and pasture        :    22          32          34          12             0       
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                 WESTERN OREGON                                 

CLACKAMAS: It was very hot this week. Grass seed harvest is nearing its end. 
Late blackberry varieties are coming on. Spring grains are ready. Gravenstein 
apples are starting to fall. It is time to wean spring calves as well as time 
to spray blackberries.

COOS/CURRY: Very little wind this past week so fog has extended the grazing 
season on lowland coastal pastures, but everything else is dry and brown. 
Temperatures were near the 5-year average for the week, both in Coos and 
Northern Curry and in Southern Curry County. Bandon (Coos & Northern Curry): 
Low temperature for the period was 53.06 degrees, 4.37 degrees above the 5-
year average. High temperature for the period was 65.81 degrees, 3.46 degrees 
below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.04 inches, 
compared to a 5-year (including drought years 2003-2004) average of 0.00 
inches. Precipitation for Current weather year, (began 10/07) stands at 50.81 
inches, 4.63 inches below the 5 year average. Historical average 
precipitation through August is 58.74 inches. Brookings (Southern Curry): Low 
temperature for the period was 54.82 degrees, 3.65 degrees above the 5-year 
average. High temperature for the period was 69.22 degrees, 2.85 degrees 
below the 5-year average. Precipitation for the period was 0.02 inches (over 
2 days) compared to a 5-year (including drought years 2003-2004) average of 
.01 inches. Precipitation for Current weather year, (began 10/07) stands at 
64.31 inches, 16.69 inches below the 5 year average. Historical average 
precipitation for Brookings area through August is 71.53 inches.

DOUGLAS: Blazing hot temperatures late in the week have people focusing on 
irrigation. Harvest of plums is complete, early apples are beginning, and 
Bartlett pears will begin harvest in one week. Blueberry harvest is winding 
down with just a few late fields to go. Yields on blueberries were down about 
15 percent from last year. Yields on apples and pears look like they will be 
up about 10-15 percent from last year. Wine grape crops look good. They are 
getting closer to normal maturity pace with all of our August heat. Only 
about 5-7 days behind normal now.

JACKSON: There is still some grain being harvested. Second cutting of grass 
hay is being made and some second and third of alfalfa. Some ground 
preparation work is ongoing for weed control. Pears are looking good but are 
a bit behind last year. Bartlett's are being picked. Peaches are also being 
picked and wild blackberries are also now ready. Lots of good fresh 
vegetables are available at roadside stands and farmer's markets. Corn, 
peppers, tomatoes, and summer squash are being harvested. Greenhouses are 
getting started on fall plants, both vegetable and decorative plant starts. 
Nurseries are mostly doing plant up-keep, watering, and feeding. Cattle are 
looking quite good on good pastures. The dry ground is really dead. Other 
livestock are doing well. It has been another hot and dry week. Lots of 
irrigation is taking place in an attempt to try to keep pastures up.

JOSEPHINE: A miserable hot week with record breaking temperatures. High 
temperatures ranged from 100 to 113 degrees with heavy smoke. It was hard to 
breathe and visibility was limited. Plants were showing stress from the heat 
and drying winds. Watering is an important issue. Saturday, Sunday, and 
Monday brought lightning storms. The situation is very explosive here! Truck 
gardens are selling melons locally grown now.  
Quality has been poor in crops that needed warm, dry nighttime temperatures 
from 50 to 60 degrees earlier in season. Corn is showing a poor pollination, 
while tomatoes have been slow to ripen. Animals appear to be doing well on 
irrigated acreage. Pastures look good. A few farmers have taken second 
cutting hay off of grass fields.  

MARION: This past week started out with nice summer weather with highs in the 
80's, and then turned very hot with highs in the 100 degree range on 
Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sunday was mostly cloudy with the high 
temperatures dropping down to the low 80's. I hear thunder and see rain 
falling this morning as I write this report. The very warm late week weather 
was good for those rushing to finish grass seed and grain harvest. The 
thunderstorm activity and moisture that came with it slowed down those who 
hadn't yet finished their grass seed and grain harvest. I see some combines 
already parked in their sheds as though they are stored until next season. 
Most grass fields look like they are threshed, as do most wheat fields. Hops 
harvest has started. Beans, corn, flowers, and other specialty crops continue 
to be harvested as they become ready. Flower and vegetable seed fields are 
currently being harvested. Cane berry growers are taking out the old vines 
and training up the new vines for next year's crop. Oregon State Fair begins 
this Friday, August 22nd.

POLK: Hot and dry temperatures were well above normal with highs in the upper 
90's to 100 degree range for several days. A heat advisory was posted for 
Western Oregon. Harvest of small grains continues. Baling of grass and wheat 
straw continues.

TILLAMOOK: It was warm and dry most of the week. There was some fog inland 
during mornings that kept the temperatures down. Grass hay is being 
harvested.

WASHINGTON: Grass for seed harvest is finished and yields were variable 
throughout the county. Red clover is ready for the swather with the continual 
hot weather. Field corn is tasseling and setting ears. Growers are baling 
wheat straw. Everbearing strawberries continue to produce while blackberries 
are just about ripe. Filberts look good and walnuts are sizing. Sweet corn is 
available at some farmer's markets and roadside stands. Other vegetables are 
very abundant. Tomatoes are yielding succulent fruit. Nurseries are rotating 
potted plants from high plantations to low, and are planting and irrigating 
new shrubs. Buffalo and calves look good. Beef cows and calves also look good 
where water and supplemental feed is plentiful. The top high temperatures 
were 102 on Thursday, 101on Friday, and 100 on Saturday. No rain or even mist 
received. 

                                 EASTERN OREGON                                 

BAKER/UNION: Grain harvest is well underway. Some producers are reporting 
higher yields with lower test weights.

GILLIAM: Spring grain is being harvested. Test weights in fall wheat are low.

HARNEY: Weather has been hot and dry. Most second cutting alfalfa was 
completed. Desert ranges have cured and declined in quality. Insufficient 
livestock water is limiting use in some areas. Livestock were performing well 
on higher elevation ranges that are still in relatively good condition.  

HOOD RIVER: High temperatures ranged from the low 80's up to 105 degrees. 
Summer orchard operations continued work throughout the Hood River Valley. 
Pear growers continued cutting fire blight in many locations throughout the 
valley. Lower valley pear growers prepared for Bartlett harvest.  

KLAMATH: Hot temperatures during the week with a little rain received during 
the middle of the week. Grain harvest is underway.

MALHEUR: Wheat conditions looked good until harvest started. Producers are 
reporting "average" to "below average" production. Many think heat during the 
critical growing stage caused shrinkage.

SHERMAN: After last weeks thunder and lightning, a few relatively nice days 
with some very hot temperatures! Hopefully it will be cooler and windier for 
the County Fair next week.

UMATILLA: Potato yield prospects have rebounded considerably from poor up to 
average after the cold spring.  Onions were progressing nicely.  It is too 
early to assess damage from previous week's hail storm. Alfalfa looks good. 
Grass seed and wheat yields vary greatly. 

WASCO: Grain harvest is nearly completed in all areas. Alfalfa haying and 
irrigation were active all week. Apple and pears are being picked in The 
Dalles area. There are a number of orchards starting to show up in the Wamic 
area. Grapes are coloring in their maturity cycle. Dry land range and 
pastures are rapidly being depleted. Stock watering is becoming a premium, as 
ponds and springs continue to dry up. Livestock, however, continue to be 
doing well, and no early sales are being reported.  

                      Weather data for selected stations in Oregon, Week ending: August 17, 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        :  54       78     63       +3       92      +15     -        -0.28     -      60.97    -4.72      93       193  
  Bandon 8/              :  54       66     59       +1       67       +4     0.04     -0.17     2      52.64    -5.75      90       182  
  Crescent City          :  51       63     57       -3       48      -15     -        -0.21     -      44.31   -20.40      68       121  
  Florence               :  47       77     61       -1       79       +2     0.02     -0.27     1      85.84    10.08     113       166  
  North Bend             :  52       70     60       +0       71       -1     0.05     -0.16     3      57.96    -4.83      92       155  
  Tillamook              :  54       77     64       +6      102      +36     -        -0.36     -      57.04   -30.65      65       179  
WILLAMETTE               :                                                                                                                
 VALLEY                  :                                                                                                                
  Aurora 8/              :  55      103     76      +11      186      +70     0.01     -0.20     1      41.71     1.16     103       170  
  Corvallis              :  48       98     74       +8      169      +57     -        -0.21     -      42.33     0.07     100       156  
  Detroit Lake 8/        :  51      103     76      +14      185      +96     -        -0.28     -      89.55    22.66     134       183  
  Eugene                 :  44       99     74       +7      169      +43     -        -0.24     -      34.65   -14.16      71       141  
  Hillsboro              :  50      103     74       +9      168      +56     -        -0.25     -      30.70    -6.35      83       143  
  McMinnville            :  48      102     74       +8      166      +49     -        -0.14     -      33.84    -8.93      79       148  
  Portland               :  59      101     77       +9      193      +60     -        -0.24     -      32.99    -2.75      92       161  
  Salem                  :  50      100     75       +9      179      +60     -        -0.14     -      35.97    -2.78      93       136  
SW VALLEYS               :                                                                                                                
  Grants Pass            :  52      106     78       +7      198      +46     -        -0.11     -      28.20    -2.55      92       124  
  Medford                :  53      108     81       +9      218      +57     -        -0.14     -      16.38    -2.21      88       104  
  Roseburg               :  51      102     78       +9      194      +57     -        -0.14     -      31.86    -0.53      98       139  
NORTH CENTRAL            :                                                                                                                
  Condon                 :  46       99     72       +7      159      +49     -        -0.14     -      11.74    -1.96      86       104  
  Echo 8/                :  50      106     77       +5      191      +35     -        -0.07     -       7.79    -0.95      89        98  
  Heppner                :  50      102     74       +6      172      +36     -        -0.14     -      13.70     0.14     101       118  
  Hermiston              :  52      107     77       +5      189      +33     -        -0.07     -       7.64    -1.10      87        83  
  Madras 8/              :  47      103     75       +9      175      +57     -        -0.14     -       7.90    -2.26      78        98  
  Moro                   :  49      104     75       +7      174      +50     -        -0.10     -       9.46    -1.40      87        87  
  Parkdale 8/            :  48      101     73       +7      164      +45     -        -0.14     -      21.99    -8.51      72       111  
  Pendleton              :  51      108     78       +6      196      +39     -        -0.14     -      10.93    -0.83      93        97  
  Prairie City 8/        :  47      103     75       +9      175      +57     -        -0.14     -       7.90    -2.26      78        98  
  The Dalles             :  58      109     80      +14      214      +96     -        -0.13     -      12.95     0.70     106        82  
SOUTH CENTRAL            :                                                                                                                
  Agency Lake 8/         :  43       96     69       +7      135      +47     0.08     -0.10     1      12.89    -2.98      81        96  
  Bend                   :  41      100     71       +8      145      +52     -        -0.14     -      11.69     0.25     102        77  
  Burns                  :  40       98     70       +6      141      +39     -        -0.14     -       9.00    -0.66      93       101  
  Christmas Valley 8/    :  37       98     68       +2      131       +8     -        -0.14     -       7.34    -4.77      61        72  
  Klamath Falls          :  44       97     72       +5      153      +34     0.04     -0.10     1       9.72    -3.52      73        84  
  Klamath Falls 8/       :  46       97     73       +7      166      +47     -        -0.14     -      10.96    -2.28      83       108  
  Lakeview               :   -        -      -        -        -        -     -         -        -       -        -          -         -  
  Lorella 8/             :  41       98     69       +3      137      +18     -        -0.14     -       9.40    -3.84      71       110  
  Redmond                :  37      106     71       +7      152      +43     -        -0.14     -       2.04    -6.28      25        42  
  Worden 8/              :  39       97     68       +1      125       +6     -        -0.14     -       8.38    -4.86      63       102  
NORTHEAST                :                                                                                                                
  Baker City             :  40       98     67       +0      120       +5     -        -0.21     -       9.90    -0.55      95       116  
  Joseph                 :  42       91     67       +7      120      +43     -        -0.27     -      18.93    -5.40      78       130  
  La Grande              :  45      102     72       +4      160      +25     -        -0.21     -      14.22    -2.82      83       105  
  Union                  :  44       99     70       +4      144      +27     -        -0.21     -      11.25    -2.08      84       102  
SOUTHEAST                :                                                                                                                
  Ontario                :  54       99     77       +3      189      +18     -        -0.07     -       6.33    -3.09      67        71  
  Rome                   :  48      100     73       +3      164      +22     -        -0.12     -       7.07    -0.95      88        86  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.