Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Carrington Research Extension Center * North Dakota State University
P.O. Box 531, Oakes, ND 58474-0531, Voice: (701) 742-2744, FAX: (701) 742-2700, E-mail: Walter.Albus@ndsu.edu

WEATHER AND IRRIGATION 2006

 

Table 1. Precipitation and temperature

Table 2. Growing degree units

Table 3. Dates of last and first frosts

Table 4. Irrigation water applied

 

           The winter of 2005 - 2006 was mild with little snow cover.   Spring tillage and planting times were about average.  The last frost in the spring was on April 26, about a week earlier than average with a hard frost (26°F) on April 25.  Summer temperatures were warmer through most of the growing season.  The maximum temperature equaled or exceeded 90°F (32°C) twenty times; twice in May and June, three times in August and thirteen times in July.  The temperatures exceeded 100°F three times.  The highest temperature was 107°F (41.7°C) on July 15.  Precipitation was above average in August; below average in June, July and October; and about average in April, May and September.  Total annual precipitation was more than four inches below the long-term average.  The average daily temperatures were above average in April, May, June, July and August.  The average daily temperatures were below average in September and October.  The first frost was on September 28 and first hard frost was on October 10.  The first frost was the same as the long term average and the first hard frost was five days later than the ten and fifteen year average.  All crops matured before frost.  Growing degree units in 2006 were above average.

            On August 23 a hailstorm swept through the Oakes area with the larger hailstones measuring almost 1½ inch in diameter at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site.  Soybeans were at about R 6.5 and corn was at about the R 5.5 stage at the time of the hail.  On the corn, no visible damage was noted on the ears but the leaves were shredded and stripped as a result of the hail.  Based on local hail adjustment in the immediate area of the Oakes Irrigation Research Site we estimate that the soybean crop suffered a 15% yield reduction as a result of the hail.

 

 

Table 1. Precipitation and temperature at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site.

Month	Precipitation			Average daily temperatures
	2006	15-year average	25-year average	2006	15-year average	25-year average
	---------------- inches --------------			------------------ °F ------------------
April	1.98	1.42		49.7	44
May	2.21	3.07	2.81	59.9	56.6	57
June	2.18	3.89	3.49	67.7	66.2	66.3
July	1.44	3.58	3.24	75	70.4	71.1
August	3.83	2.02	2.03	70.4	68.8	68.9
September	2.53	2.9	2.52	56.8	59.4	58.6
October	0.51	2.05		42	46

 

The 25-year averages are not available for April and October.

 

Go to the top of weather and irrigation section

 

Table 2. Growing degree units¹ at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site.

 

Month	2006	10-year average	15-year average	25-year average
May	327	294	302	318
June	530	492	492	493
July	702	654	617	630
August	618	587	579	579
September	291	378	366	349
Total	2468	2406	2356	2370

 

¹Growing degree units = (Temp_max + Temp_min)/2 - 50. If Temp_max is greater than 86, then

 Temp_max = 86. If Temp_min is less than 50, then Temp_min = 50. Temperature is in degrees F.

 

Go to the top of weather and irrigation section

 

Table 3. Dates of last and first frosts.

 

		2006	10-year average	15-year average	25-year average
Last frost in spring
	less than 32 °F	Apr 26	Apr 30	May 3	May 5
	less than 28 °F	Apr 25	Apr 29	Apr 28	Apr 30
First frost in fall
	less than 32 °F	Sep 28	Sep 30	Sep 29	Sep 27
	less than 28 °F	Oct 10	Oct 5	Oct 5	Oct 3
Frost free period (days)		155	153	149	145

 

Go to the top of weather and irrigation section

 

Table 4. Irrigation water applied, 2006.

Study		Irrigation water applied
		inches
Barley variety trial		7.8
Cabbage hybrid performance trial		14.1
Carrot hybrid performance trial
	Cut and peel	8.1
	Cello	12.9
	Dicing and Jumbo	16.1
Field corn hybrid performance trial		13.6
Field corn population and row width study		14.9
Field corn continuous strip till N-rate study		14.6
Hard red spring wheat variety trial		8.2
Onion hybrid performance trial		16.1
Onion weed control study		16.1
Soybean plant population and row spacing study		13.4
Soybean row spacing study		13.6
Soybean variety performance trial		13.6
Sugar beet variety trial		13.4
Sunflower head rot study		16.1

 

Go to the top of weather and irrigation section

 

Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site 2006 Annual Report

Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site home page