Released: September 12, 2005 -- 3:00 pm CST For Week Ending September 11, 2005 SD-CW3705 Volume 54 Issue 37

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:   Temperatures averaged 12 degrees above normal for the state last week, further stressing crop conditions and soil moisture levels. Spotty rains throughout the week may have caused some delays in fieldwork, but it also made conditions ideal in some areas for the seeding of winter wheat. Major farm activities included seeding winter wheat, silage harvest, cutting alfalfa, moving hay and grain, preparing for fall harvest, and caring for livestock. Statewide, there were 5.8 days reported suitable for fieldwork. This report is based on information from county extension educators, Farm Service Agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.

WEATHER INFORMATION:   Temperatures averaged 12 degrees above normal for the state last week, with averages mostly in the 70's. The high for the week was 102 degrees, reported in Philip and Pierre. Bison reported the low for the week, at 45 degrees. Precipitation was scattered throughout the state, with Brookings reporting the most rain, at 4.21 inches.

SOIL CONDITION:   Despite last week's hot temperatures, topsoil and subsoil moisture levels improved. Topsoil moisture, while rated at 38 percent adequate to surplus the previous week, rose to 45 percent adequate to surplus last week. Subsoil moisture levels rose from 39 percent adequate to surplus the previous week, to 44 percent adequate to surplus last week.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:   Significant advancements were made in winter wheat seeding last week, jumping from 15 percent seeded the previous week to 29 percent seeded last week, with 1 percent of the crop emerged. Many producers commented that recent rains may be too late to benefit row crop development, but they should be beneficial to the winter wheat crop. Corn development remains ahead of last year's progress, with 92 percent in the dent stage and 21 percent of the crop rated mature. Corn silage harvest is ahead of both last year and the five-year average, with 50 percent harvested. Soybeans are rated 58 percent in good to excellent condition, with 62 percent of the crop dropping leaves and 12 percent rated mature; both ahead of last year's 37 percent and 4 percent, respectively. The sorghum crop is 83 percent coloring, with 15 percent rated mature. Sorghum silage harvest is well ahead of last year and the five-year average, with harvest 58 percent complete. Sunflower development remains ahead of last year, with 84 percent of the crop having ray flowers dry, 65 percent having bracts yellow, and 5 percent rated mature.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:   Last week's hot weather caused range and pasture conditions to further deteriorate, with only 42 percent rated in good to excellent condition. Livestock remain in mostly good to excellent condition. Stock water supplies remain similar to the previous week, with a rating of 58 percent adequate to surplus. Alfalfa harvest continues with the third cutting 72 percent compete. Alfalfa condition is rated at 43 percent good to excellent.

          FEED AND WATER SUPPLIES COMPARISON
                 AS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2005 

       FEED SUPPLIES      STOCK WATER
        This  Last 5-Yr.   This  Last  5-Yr.
RATING   Week  Year  Ave.   Week  Year   Ave.

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      3    13    12     17     23   24
Short      10    20    23     25     27   25
Adeq.      76    63    60     56     50   48
Surplus    11     4     5      2      0    3




        SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
                  AS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2005 

               TOPSOIL         SUBSOIL
         This   Last  Last  This   Last  Last
RATING   Week   Week  Year  Week   Week  Year
                       Percent
Very 
 Short     30    35    15     27     30    24
Short      25    27    27     29     31    27
Adeq.      44    37    56     43     37    49
Surplus     1     1     2      1      2     0


                        
          CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
              AS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2005 

ITEM        V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                          Percent
Soybeans       4      15     23      42     16
Corn           7      14     25      39     15
Sorghum       10      11     36      42      1
Sunflower      5      13     28      43     11
Alfalfa       11      15     31      38      5
Cattle         0       2     12      68     18
Sheep          0       1      8      64     27
Range &                                        
  Pasture     10      18     30      37      5
                   


      CROP PROGRESS AS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2005  1/
                                                                         
                                                                           
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Corn        
 dent                92     72     52      76
 mature              21      6      6      22
 silage harvested    50     34     23      45
Sorghum       
 coloring            83     61     72      80
 mature              15      4     13      19
 grain harvested      0      0      0       2
 silage harvested    58     39     27      40
Soybeans      
 dropping leaves     62     30     37      49
 mature              12      1      4      13 
Sunflower   
 ray flowers dry     84     61     64      80
 bracts yellow       65     31     33      54
 mature               5      1      1      10 
Winter wheat
 seeded              29     15     17      15
 emerged              1      0      1       1
Alfalfa     
 3rd cutting         72     64     70      66

1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage. 


	         TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION
                  WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 11, 2005
                                     

             TEMPERATURE       -----  PRECIPITATION -----     GDD BASE 50F
             -----------          SINCE  SINCE  SINCE  SINCE  ------------
            CURRENT WEEK    CURR  JAN 1  APR 1  JAN 1  APR 1 SINCE APRIL 1
STATION     AVG DFN HI  LO  WEEK  TOTAL  TOTAL    DFN    DFN  TOTAL   DFN
-------     --  --  --  -- -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  ----
Bison       72 +11  93  45| 0.00  15.64  14.87  +1.50  +2.69|  2411  +230
Buffalo     72 +11  96  49| 0.01   6.89   6.66  -4.52  -3.57|  2481  +408
Dupree      74 +11  94  49| 0.02  15.43  14.31  +1.55  +2.12|  2586  +191
Mc Intosh   73 +12  97  48| 0.00  12.81  12.03  -0.90  -0.21|  2549  +318
Newell      71 +10  92  50| 0.00  14.55  13.64  +2.17  +2.76|  2394  +223
Timber Lake 73 +11  96  49| 0.07  12.63  11.02  -2.13  -1.78|  2487  +212
Aberdeen    75 +13  94  48| 0.47  15.88  14.65  +0.55  +1.50|  2521  +227
Eureka      74 +14  95  49| 0.26  13.87  13.03  -0.17  +0.57|  2621  +478
Faulkton    74 +12  97  50| 1.75  17.32  16.02  +1.89  +2.69|  2561  +313
Mobridge    75 +13  99  49| 0.03  13.57  12.44  -0.42  +0.35|  2664  +326
Roscoe      72 +10  96  50| 0.33  16.46  15.42  +0.80  +1.68|  2265   +13
Britton     74 +12  91  53| 0.68  24.61  23.53  +9.26  +9.89|  2643  +303
Clear Lake  72 +10  87  54| 1.72  20.80  18.60  +1.50  +2.21|  2320   +65
Sisseton    74 +12  93  50| 0.23  21.31  19.88  +4.31  +5.31|  2479   +91
Webster     72 +11  89  55| 0.52  20.30  19.41  +3.08  +4.48|  2397  +154
Watertown   74 +12  90  56| 1.11  15.19  14.13  -2.64  -1.17|  2526  +263
Faith       74 +11  96  52| 0.02  13.13  11.88  -0.76  -0.20|  2512  +131
Milesville  76 +13  99  53| 0.40  16.77  15.14  +1.84  +2.13|  2765  +229
Long Valley 76 +12  96  53| 0.00  16.96  15.13  +1.75  +1.79|  2780  +277
Philip      78 +13 102  51| 0.01  12.51  11.48  -0.93  -0.32|  2847  +236
Rapid City  75 +12  98  50| 0.00  13.00  10.69  -0.75  -1.12|  2601  +448
Spearfish   74 +13  96  52| 0.00  14.60  12.71  -3.23  -2.33|  2590  +537
Chamberlain 77 +11 100  55| 0.19  18.77  16.52  +4.05  +3.57|  2849  +100
Highmore    78 +14  95  57| 0.70  13.48  12.46  -2.86  -1.81|  2863  +378
Huron       78 +15  98  58| 3.77  17.59  16.79  +1.23  +3.18|  2920  +471
Onida       78 +13  96  55| 0.21  12.50  11.70  -2.79  -1.26|  2856  +299
Pierre      80 +15 102  57| 0.00  10.38   9.86  -5.02  -3.50|  2945  +319
Brookings   72 +12  89  55| 4.21  24.20  22.55  +5.75  +6.08|  2400  +351
Madison     73 +11  91  56| 2.79  21.32  19.50  +2.31  +3.60|  2524  +284
Mitchell    76 +12  95  58| 2.17  23.74  21.62  +6.17  +6.68|  2655   +22
Sioux Falls 76 +13  92  59| 2.02  23.01  20.14  +4.56  +4.48|  2794  +329
Custer      67 +10  88  47| 0.01  13.29  11.98  -2.71  -2.14|  1623  +199
Hot Springs 73 +10  94  50| 0.10  17.45  15.94  +4.28  +4.26|  2468   +98
Oelrichs    74  +9  98  48| 0.42  17.74  16.63  +3.68  +4.49|  2417   -63
Porcupine   74 +11  97  47| 0.00  16.85  14.98  +3.51  +3.12|  2505  +114
Murdo       79 +15  99  59| 0.00  16.21  14.14  +1.23  +1.42|  2765  +300
Winner      80 +13  96  57| 0.12  19.60  17.17  +0.12  +0.52|  3082  +218
Armour      80 +15  98  61| 0.02  20.04  17.92  +1.60  +2.36|  3027  +294
Centerville 77 +14  95  60| 0.41  20.82  18.26  +0.79  +1.01|  2871  +388
Marion      75 +13  93  59| 2.32  25.12  22.83  +5.97  +6.67|  2663  +229
Pickstown   81 +16  98  65| 0.00  19.26  16.87  +1.52  +1.62|  2903  +228
Vermillion  78 +12  94  62| 0.14  24.47  21.79  +4.72  +4.67|  3180  +343
Yankton     78 +14  96  60| 0.52  20.75  17.75  +1.78  +1.29|  2964  +350

Source: National Weather Service, provided by AWIS, Inc.