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

WEATHER AND IRRIGATION 2010

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 2009 - 2010 was colder than average with above average snowfall. Favorable conditions allowed early crops to be planted beginning mid-April. Row crop planting became difficult in May with untimely rainfall. The last frost in the spring was on May 9, about 7 days later than average. Summer temperatures were near average for most of the growing season. The maximum temperature equaled or exceeded 90°F eleven times; twice in May, four times in July, and five times in August. The highest temperature was 96°F on August 22. Precipitation was near average in April, May, and July; below average in June, August, and October. September rainfall was more than six inches above the long term average (9.33 inches). Annual precipitation was above average. The mean daily temperatures were above average in April, August, and October; near average in May, June, and July and below average in September. The first frost was October 15 with the first hard frost (≤ 28°F) October 21. This was about two weeks later than normal. All crops reached maturity before frost. Growing degree units in 2010 were slightly below average.

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

Month	Precipitation			Average daily temperatures
	2010	15-year average	25-year average	2010	15-year average	25-year average
	-------------------------- inches ------------------------			--------------------------°F --------------------------
April	1.79	1.37	1.71	51	44	44
May	3.82	3.36	2.99	57	56	57
June	3.19	4.35	3.77	67	66	67
July	3.41	2.97	3.32	71	71	71
August	1.67	2.31	2.23	72	69	69
September	9.33	3.47	2.97	57	60	59
October	0.87	2.31	1.87	52	46	46

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

Month	2010	10-year average	15-year average	25-year average
May	305	294	295	321
June	515	497	492	504
July	650	649	642	629
August	648	578	586	577
September	267	374	371	361
Total	2383	2393	2387	2391

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.

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Table 3. Dates of last and first frosts.

		2010	10-year average	15-year average	25-year average
Last frost in spring
	32 °F or less	May 9	May 5	May 2	May 4
	28 °F or less	Apr 8	Apr 27	Apr 26	Apr 27
First frost in fall
	32 °F or less	Oct 15	Oct 6	Oct 4	Oct 1
	28 °F or less	Oct 21	Oct 9	Oct 8	Oct 6
Frost free period (days)		159	154	155	150

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Table 4. Irrigation water applied, 2010.

Study	Irrigation water applied
	inches
Barley variety trial	6.8
Dry edible bean trials
pinto bean variety trial	6.8
miscellaneous edible bean variety trial	6.5
navy bean variety trial	6.5
Energy sugarbeet variety trial	13.1
Field corn variety and row width study	9.5
Hard red spring wheat variety trial	6.8
Onion hybrid performance trial	11.3
Onion weed control study	11.3
Optimum corn stover removal for bio-fuel
corn on corn	9.8
corn on soybean	9.8
soybean on corn	9.8
Potato trials	13.0
Soybean nursery
conventional early	11.4
conventional late	11.4
natto	11.4
tufo	11.4
Soybean variety performance trials
conventional	11.4
roundup ready	11.4
Strip-till
corn on soybean	8.8
soybean on corn	9.3
corn on corn	9.8
Sunflower head rot study*	4.3

*Received additional irrigation via the misting system

Oakes Irrigation Research Site

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