Weather Data exchange August 2009
August Weather Data from Bill Arthur, South Perth County
I was surprised! I thought we were ahead of normal HU accumulation in August but
when I finished August and put numbers together I discovered we were still a
little below average Hu's for the month.
So we are still behind normal for this time of year with 2194 and an average of 2422.
In our benchmark year of '92 we had 2159 HU at end of August and only 2112 in 1997.
If I record an average HU number by Sept 20th of 390 HU I will be about 230 HU below
my average.
We need some heat in September and no frost until October to finish our corn but it
can happen as evidenced by 1997.
Spring wheat harvest dragged on through August with all the wet weather, 15 days with
at least a trace in my gauge, but is pretty well done now. Low protein and variable
yields as with winter wheat yields some above normal and some below.
Corn looks good with some fields now showing firing of bottom leaves but overall
good green colour and lots of double cobs, just waiting for some more heat.
Soys look well podded and good growth. There has been some spraying for aphids, mine
were building in number and then suddenly disappeared and there is some evidence
of white mould damage in places.
Hay is being cut for third time on some fields where haylage is used but those trying
to make good dry hay are still struggling to get second cut off. Good horse hay with
no rain is extremely rare this year and should bring a premium price.
The highest temperature for the month was 26.5C and only 6 days at 25 or higher. Add
to that 7 nights in the single digits and that is why I have so few HU.
We need more heat and sun but past records indicate we can still mature our crops
if Mother Nature just helps a little
|
AUGUST
|
Rainfall (mm)
|
Heat Units
|
|
'09
|
85
|
693
|
|
'08
|
53.5
|
676
|
|
25 yr Avg
|
73.6
|
717
|
|
High
|
144 in '92
|
829 in '95
|
|
Low
|
9 in '02
|
610 in '97
|
|
Year to date
|
May to August
|
May 10 to August
|
|
2009
|
363
|
2194
|
|
2008
|
334.5
|
2300
|
|
25 year avg
|
364.1
|
2422
|
|
Low year
|
259 in '01
|
2034 in '00
|
|
High year
|
709 in '00
|
2967 in '99
|
August Weather Stats from Peter Stewart, S.E. Northumberland County
Good thing to run the numbers because I am feeling a lot better now. Our HU
were actually above the long term average. Considering how close we were to
the '92 average at the end of July and the gains we made in August, make me
feel much more comfortable. We have also changed our planting dates since '92,
so corn is planted several weeks earlier. All in all, a much more optimistic
outlook. However, if you take take away half of the May HU for late planted
corn, things get a bit dicey again. There is still a lot of crop, corn and
beans that need a late and open fall.
I think wheat harvest is pretty well wrapped up. A lot of rather mediocre
yields and variable quality. Nothing very exciting about wheat this year. The
straw was short and people are scrambling to find enough. Corn looks good and
beans look very good. Some leaves are starting to turn on the earliest planted
soys. The last hay harvest is in full swing now. Everyone comments on how
much hay is cut. It is a good yield also, but then it should be with adequate
moisture.
|
AUGUST
|
Rainfall (mm)
|
Heat Units
|
|
09
|
70.5
|
785
|
|
08
|
133.5
|
726
|
|
Avg since '79
|
73.5
|
773
|
|
High
|
133.5 in '08
|
833 in '01
|
|
Low
|
31 in '03
|
693 in '92
|
|
Year May 1 to date
|
351.5
|
2479
|
|
Historical Avg May 1 to date
|
300
|
2639
|
August Weather Data from Neil Moore, Lindsay area
Above average rainfall was distributed much more evenly over the month
and average heat units for August - those 11 days of summer helped
Corn and beans still growing well but all need more heat to finish
Short season soybeans and some white beans turning yellow
Second cut and third hay cuts between showers
Night temperatures above 15C on 16 nights, 10C or below on 5 nights
Day highs: 3 days 30C or above, 13 days 25C or above, and 3 days below 20C
|
AUGUST
|
Rainfall (mm)
|
Heat Units
|
|
'09
|
101
|
744
|
|
'08
|
118
|
697
|
|
20 year avg
|
80
|
745
|
|
High
|
142 in '93
|
794,796 in '01,'03
|
|
Low
|
30 in '04,'06
|
645 in '92
|
|
Season
|
April 1 to August 31
|
May 1 to August 31
|
|
2009
|
447
|
2434
|
|
2008
|
524
|
2445
|
|
20 yr avg
|
373
|
2569
|
|
Low year
|
240 in '01
|
2227 in '92
|
|
High year
|
524 in '08
|
2805 in '91
|
|