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 2011
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 2010-2011 was colder than average with above average snowfall. Spring planting began with barley and wheat April 28.
	The last frost in the spring was on May 3. With the exception of July, summer temperatures were near average for most of the
	growing season. The maximum temperature equaled or exceeded 90°F nine times; twice in June, five times in July, and twice in
	August. The highest temperature was 98°F on August 1. Precipitation was near average in August; below average in May,
	September and October; above average April, June and July. Annual precipitation was near the long term average. The mean daily
	temperatures were above average in July and October; near average in June, August and September and below average in April
	and May. The first frost was September 15 with the first hard frost (≤ 28°F) October 19. All crops reached maturity before frost.
	Growing degree units in 2011 were slightly above average. A storm on July 10 brought winds of 100 MPH plus, causing significant
	damage. Green snap in corn varied from slight to 80 per cent.


Table 1. Precipitation and temperature at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site.
	Precipitation			Average daily temperatures
Month	2011	15-year average	25-year average	2011	15-year average	25-year average
	-------------------------- inches ------------------------			--------------------------°F --------------------------

April	2.16	1.50	1.47	42	45	44
May	2.29	3.25	2.95	54	56	57
June	5.42	4.60	3.90	66	66	67
July	4.78	3.17	3.31	75	72	71
August	2.56	2.40	2.20	70	69	69
September	0.32	3.02	2.87	59	60	60
October	0.78	2.20	1.89	50	46	46


Table 2. Growing degree units¹ at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site.
Month	2011	10-year average	15-year average	25-year average

May	238	286	296	318
June	485	498	490	503
July	742	653	654	633
August	608	576	586	582
September	353	373	372	366

Total	2425	2385	2397	2402
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.


Table 3. Dates of last and first frosts.
		2011	10-year average	15-year average	25-year average
Last frost in spring
	32 °F or less	3-May	6-May	2-May	4-May
	28 °F or less	1-May	28-Apr	26-Apr	27-Apr
First frost in fall
	32 °F or less	15-Sep	4-Oct	3-Oct	30-Sep
	28 °F or less	19-Oct	11-Oct	10-Oct	6-Oct
Frost free period (days)		135	154	155	150


Table 4. Irrigation water applied, 2011.
Study	Irrigation water applied
	inches
Barley variety trial	4.8
Dry edible bean trials	8.0
Energy sugarbeet variety trial	9.6
Field corn hybrid performance trial	9.4
Field corn variety and row width study	9.4
Hard red spring wheat variety trial	5.3
Onion hybrid performance trial	10.2
Onion weed control study	10.2
Optimum corn stover removal for bio-fuel
corn on corn	8.9
corn on soybean	8.9
soybean on corn	8.9
Potato trials	10.3
Soybean nursery
conventional	10.3
natto	10.3
tufo	10.3
Soybean variety performance trials
conventional	10.8
roundup ready	10.8
Strip-till
corn on soybean	8.9
soybean on corn	9.9
corn on corn	8.0
Sunflower head rot study*	2.0
*Received additional irrigation via the misting system

Oakes Irrigation Research Site
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