Issue
Select issue to view:
Search
Other Options
View article as PDF
(right-click on above link to save as a file).
Download free viewer...
View all articles in the January, 2010 issue
Cover Photo Gallery
View our covers back to 1998
Order back issues
Newsfeed
View headlines from our latest issue with your news reader:
Northwest Ag Reports
January, 2010 page 22
Crop Progress and Condition for the Month of December 2009
--Western
Clark/Skamania/Cowlitz/Wakiakum: Weather conditions have been rainy, and temperatures fluctuated between freezing and 50 degrees during the month of December. On December 29, a surprise snowstorm shut down much of Clark County. Most carrots have been harvested, but three to six acres were expected to be lost due to cold temperatures. The cold weather created problems for the Holly harvest. When temperatures drop below freezing Holly cannot be cut because the leaves turn black.
Grays Harbor: Christmas tree growers breathed a huge sigh of relief upon completion of another harvest season. Initial reports indicated that the inventory of trees exceeded the demand, which resulted in lower prices to the growers than last year. Unseasonably cold temperatures during the first half of the month resulted in frozen soils. Livestock producers were kept busy breaking ice in watering troughs and feeding additional forage as temperatures dropped. At the end of the month, rain and mild temperatures returned.
Pacific: Although cold winter weather limited field activities for most agricultural producers, shellfish growers continued oyster and clam harvest operations. Christmas tree growers completed their season which was marked by weak market conditions due to an oversupply of trees. Equipment repair and maintenance activities continued for agricultural producers.
Pierce/South King: Fields were very wet, which halted farming activities.
San Juan: Drier and clearer December weather helped preserve winter pasture conditions. Producers were able to conserve feed because of fewer below-normal cold days and no significant snowfall.
Skagit: Not much was growing during December except cabbage seed and
flower bulbs.
Snohomish/North King: The weather for December was relatively chilly and dry, and lows were in the single digits early in the month. Christmas tree farms stayed busy all month with tree sales. Little fieldwork was being done.
Thurston: Temperatures were unseasonably cold during the early part of December. Livestock producers were forced to break ice in watering troughs several times a day as temperatures dropped to -2 degrees in some areas. Forage producers reported strong demand for haylage during the cold weather. Christmas tree growers were pleased that the frozen soils provided nearly ideal field conditions for tree harvest. More typical December weather returned after the holidays, with frequent rain showers and warmer temperatures.
Whatcom: December was a cold month with temperatures dropping to 14 degrees. The area received less than two inches of rain for the month.
--Central
Douglas: During the month of December, Waterville received 0.96 inches of moisture. The recent snow cover was very welcomed.
Douglas/Chelan: Some snow was received during December, but moisture levels were still well below average. Cattle were on full feed.
Kittitas: Snow cover has come and gone and come again. Nevertheless, winter has been relatively open thus far, allowing for pasture use and late grazing. Temperatures have been average with about half an inch of precipitation received during the month of December.
Klickitat: Winter arrived in full force with arctic air settling over the area that kept temperatures just under 0 degrees or in the low single digits for several days in December. Later, moisture in the form of snow and freezing rain arrived, which resulted in the warmest weather seen during the month at 46 degrees. Significant snowfall was received during the last week of December with a heavy accumulation on New Year’s Eve. No flooding was reported during periods of thaw, although water levels in creeks and drainages rose and low swales and ponds iced over. Pruning was well underway in orchards, and livestock continued on hay and other supplemental feed.
Yakima: The temperatures during December remained mild throughout most of the month. A cold spell from December 7 to December 13 dropped nighttime temperatures to 0 degrees. Less than an inch of precipitation was received during the month. Significant progress was made on pruning fruit trees. Average temperatures were generally cooler than normal, varying from 20 degrees below normal to seven degrees above normal, with 0.97 inch of precipitation received. No crop damage due to weather conditions was reported.
--Eastern
Adams: Winter moisture continued, but frozen soil conditions had limited infiltration. December’s precipitation was a little less than normal. There was a short arctic outbreak of cold air in early December, but damage to the wheat crop appeared to be minimal.
Asotin/Garfield: Weather conditions varied greatly over the month of December. Temperatures turned extremely cold during the first half of the month, with temperatures dipping below zero in many places. There was no snow cover, which left winter wheat vulnerable to freeze damage. Snow came to the area mid-month, but left quickly as temperatures went well above freezing. Additional rains came, and with the frozen ground there was some runoff. Mild temperatures and more rain continued for the last part of the month.
Franklin: December’s temperatures were below normal dropping into the single digits, with several reports of zero to -2 degrees. About 2.5 inches of snow were received during the month. Producers were concerned about the freeze damaging the dryland winter wheat crop.
Lincoln: Winter wheat was in good condition throughout the county. Winter moisture continued, but frozen soil conditions have limited infiltration. The month of December began with very cold conditions causing the ground to freeze, and later snow was received. When the snow melted it caused field runoff causing some erosion and ditching. Some significant erosion was occurring on the frozen slopes of the winter wheat ground. Due to the frozen ground, the recent rain was not soaking into the soil.
Pend Oreille/Spokane: The month of December was a mixed bag with a deep freeze early in the month and then snow that turned to rain later in the month. A fair amount of erosion took place, and a large amount of moisture was lost due to the frozen ground. Temperatures for the most part were slightly above normal. Some cattlemen reportedshortages of hay for their operations.
Stevens: Other than a couple of cold periods, December was warmer than normal with a little snowfall received. Winter wheat and alfalfa fields have not had snow cover most of the winter, which may become an issue in the spring.
Walla Walla: Typical winter weather for the month of December included snow, rain, cold and fog. There was some concern about freeze damage to the winter wheat. Weather conditions were very wet. Not much to report as crops were in dormancy. There was still some concern over potential crop damage resulting from cold temperatures in early December.
Whitman: There was very little snow received during the month of December, and precipitation was below normal. Winter wheat conditions remained good despite the below normal precipitation.
Top