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/