Updraft Category Archive: Crops

Crops: Improving soil moisture; Early planting progress

Posted at 1:02 PM on April 24, 2012 by Paul Huttner (1 Comments)
Filed under: Crops

69% of Minnesota reporting "adequate" topsoil moisture

+20% jump from last week's numbers

84% of spring wheat planted in Minnesota as of this week

17% 5 year running average

Source: USDA/MN Ag News

Rainy week in Minnesota:

Ah, that felt good! That's the first time in months I've been able to type the phrase "rainy week."

Widespread rainfall helped boost topsoil moisture in Minnesota last week. 69% of topsoil is now reported as "adequate" according to this week's Minnesota Crop Report. That's up from 49% last week, or a full 20%.

Some areas have picked up 2" to 3" of rainfall in the past week including.

-North Mankato 2.21"
-Rosemount 2.22"
-Wheaton 2.52"
-Wadena 3.12"

Our record mild March in Minnesota means filed prep and planting is ahead of schedule. 84% of spring wheat is in the ground now, compared with 0% last year and 17% for the 5 year running average!

Source: USDA/MN Ag News

PH

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Crop Report: 30% topsoil moisture short; Crop stress visible

Posted at 4:20 PM on September 6, 2011 by Paul Huttner
Filed under: Crops, Drought

Tuesday's Minnesota Crop Report opened some eyes.

Fully 30% of topsoil moisture in Minnesota is now listed as "short or very short." That's up from about 2% at the start of August.

The latest data from the United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Dry and warm weather during August has steadily pulled mositure form Minnesota soils. You may notice your garden needs water lately, so do many fileds in Minnesota, Some crops are showing signs of drought stress.

"Average temperatures were 3.4° above normal
this past week and continued a pattern of above
average temperatures and below average
precipitation for several consecutive weeks.
Precipitation ranged from .89 inch in
southeastern areas to .27 inch in west central
areas. Some reporters noted that crops are
beginning to show signs of stress from lack of
moisture. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 7
percent very short, 23 percent short, 65 percent
adequate, and 5 percent surplus, a slight decline
from the previous week. Statewide, 5.6 days
were rated suitable for fieldwork."

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor for Minnesota confirms the trends.

With a full week of above average temperatures and little or no rainfall ahead, expect the numbers to trend even drier by next week.

There's going to be a lot more yellow on the drought map as September rolls on.

PH

Uncharted Heat Index values

Posted at 7:53 AM on July 18, 2011 by Craig Edwards (11 Comments)
Filed under: Climate, Crops, Heat, Microclimates, dew point

Austin Schoen (left), Mark Schauer (center) and Tanner Schauer cool off on the Bumper Boats ride at Lilli Putt in Coon Rapids, Minn., on July 18, 2011. (MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel)

While we are calling this sweltering, oppressive atmosphere a Heat Wave, it equally worthy of being called a High Dew Point Warning. Yesterday afternoon and evening dew points, a very good indicator of the moisture in the atmosphere, were in the lower 80s over a large swath of southern Minnesota. It is very rare to observe sustained high dew points over a broad area this far north.

Dew point measurement can me impacted by the microclimate of the sensors location. We see dew points at their highest in southern Minnesota from mid July through about mid August. A number of us in the weather business believe that these seasonally high dew points are the results of the evapo-transpiration of the maturing corn corps across Iowa and southern Minnesota. Moisture is released back into the low levels of the atmosphere and we feel its affects.

A slight drop in dew points is seen for today. We may well see a few degrees of additional heat on the thermometer. That translates to Heat Index values of 105 to 115, in the shade, during the middle of the day. This is excessively sweltering when you add into the equation direct sunlight. Stay out of the sun today if you can. Unless you are standing in the lake.

Dogs and cats instinctly slow down in this weather. If your dog needs to have a walk, make it a quick trip early in the morning or in the evening. Provide plenty of water for pet during this sultry period.

Follow the advice from health officials with regard to your well being. Apply the number one rule; slow down. Dress in light colors with a brimmed hat.

Heat spell breaks a bit towards the end of the week. Just so you know; the climate records document the next seven to ten days as the warmest period during the calendar year.

The sensible temperature is about fifteen degrees warmer in the direct sunshine.

Think cool thoughts today.
CE

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Cool weather stunting crop growth; big warm up ahead!

Posted at 8:44 AM on June 23, 2011 by Paul Huttner (1 Comments)
Filed under: Crops

Remember that old saying "Knee high by the 4th of July?"

Compared to last year, "Half as high by the 4th of July" appears to be the mantra in Minnesota cornfields this year.

Our cool wet spring (and chilly first 2 days of summer) has taken a toll on Minnesotans. The latest Minnesota Crop Report shows corn and other crops are feeling the chill too.

The numbers:

10" average height of the corn crop in Minnesota this week

18" Running 5 year average height of corn crop in Minnesota this week

20" average height of the corn crop in Minnesota last year at this time

Also, 25% of the corn crop in Minnesota is rated as "fair" or "poor."

KIMT TV in mason City, Iowa has the story.

One way to measure crop growth is by calcualting so called "Growing Degree Days."

UM's Dale Hicks explains.

"Temperature affects crop growth and development. Accumulation of heat during the growing season can be used as a predictor of plant developmental progress. Growing Degree Days (GDD's) is a calculation to express the heat accumulation. GDD's are calculated using the maximum and minimum daily air temperature to determine the average daily temperature. From the average temperature, the base of 50° is subtracted to arrive at the daily GDD's. There are temperature limits used when calculating GDD's because little or no growth occurs when the temperature is greater than 86°F or less than 50°F. So when the maximum temperature is above 86°, then 86 is used as the maximum temperature and when the minimum temperature is below 50°, then 50 is used as the minimum temperature for the day. Daily GDD's are summed for the season beginning May 1."

So far in 2011, most Minnesota locations are behind average in GDD.

Crop report showers cool temperatures again this past week. Black box on right highlights below average "Growing Degree Days" since May 17th.

There's no way to say for sure why 2011 is off to a slower crop start that the past 5 years, but our La Nina spring is one possible explanation. Actually this year's crop progress is closer to long term averages for Minnesota.

Pattern Change: Heat builds next week:

The good news is that next week the jet stream finally shows signs of lifting north into Canada. This should bring an extended period of warmer weather, with highs consistently in the 80s, and even a shot at 90 by late next week.

The added heat or "growing degree days" should give crops a boost in the next two weeks.

CPC 8-14 day outlook calls for warmer temps!

Hang in there...sunshine returns Friday and warmer weather is just around the corner!

PH

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