Released: September 26, 2005 -- 3:00 pm CST For Week Ending September 25, 2005 SD-CW3905 Volume 54 Issue 39

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:   Above normal temperatures across the state helped to push crops to maturity, with farmers in many areas focusing on row crop harvest. Many producers are hoping for a freeze to help dry the crop in the field and reduce drying expenses, while other producers fear that a frost might damage late planted fields of corn and sunflower. Major farm activities included row crop harvest, seeding of winter wheat, silage harvest, cutting alfalfa, moving hay and grain, machinery maintenance, and caring for livestock. Statewide, there were 5.7 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:   Average temperatures across the state were mostly in the 60's last week, approximately 6 degrees above normal. The high temperature for the week was 97 degrees, reported in Pickstown, while the low for the week was 39 degrees, reported in both Sisseton and Philip. Precipitation was reported at all of the 43 reporting weather stations, with Armour reporting the most precipitation, at 4.87 inches.

SOIL CONDITION:   With the majority of the state receiving precipitation last week, soil moisture levels showed some improvement. Topsoil moisture levels rose from 52 percent adequate to surplus the previous week, to 59 percent adequate to surplus last week. Subsoil moisture levels rose from 45 percent adequate to surplus the previous week, to 47 percent adequate to surplus last week.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:   Farmers and ranchers were in their fields in full force last week, harvesting row crops and seeding winter wheat. Winter wheat seeding advanced to 65 percent complete, with 13 percent emerged. The corn crop is reaching maturity at a much faster pace than last year, with 74 percent of the crop rated mature. Corn harvest is 8 percent complete, ahead of last year's 1 percent and the five-year average of 6 percent. Corn silage harvest is also ahead of last year and the five-year average, with harvest 87 percent complete. Soybeans are also quickly reaching maturity, with the crop 64 percent mature, well ahead of last year's 19 percent and the five- year average of 50 percent. Soybean harvest advanced to 15 percent complete. Sorghum development is ahead of last year and the five-year average, with 97 percent of the crop coloring, 61 percent rated mature, and 12 percent harvested for grain. Sorghum silage harvest advanced to 90 percent compete, ahead of last year's 52 percent and the five-year average of 69 percent. Sunflower maturity and harvest are behind average, with 28 percent of the crop mature compared to the average of 42 percent; and 3 percent of the crop harvested, with the average at 7 percent.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:   Last week's warm temperatures and precipitation helped to improve range and pasture conditions throughout the state, bringing the condition rating up to 41 percent good to excellent. Cattle and sheep are rated in mostly good to excellent condition. Stock water supplies showed marginal improvement, with a current rating of 61 percent adequate to surplus. Alfalfa harvest continued, with the third cutting harvest now 85 percent complete.

          FEED AND WATER SUPPLIES COMPARISON
                 AS OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2005 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      3    12    11     16     23   23
Short      10    22    24     23     25   26
Adeq.      79    62    61     58     49   49
Surplus     8     4     4      3      3    2




        SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
           AS OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2005 

               TOPSOIL         SUBSOIL
         This   Last  Last  This   Last  Last
RATING   Week   Week  Year  Week   Week  Year
                       Percent
Very 
 Short     19    25     8     25     26    16
Short      22    23    14     28     29    23
Adeq.      55    48    68     45     44    57
Surplus     4     4    10      2      1     4



                        
          CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
              AS OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2005 

ITEM        V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                          Percent
Soybeans       5      12     25      45     13
Corn           6      13     24      44     13
Sorghum       11      12     37      39      1
Sunflower      4      14     27      45     10
Alfalfa       10      16     26      41      7
Cattle         0       2     12      68     18
Sheep          0       2      8      62     28
Range &                                        
  Pasture     10      17     32      37      4
                   


      CROP PROGRESS AS OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2005  1/
                                                                         
                                                                           
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Corn        
 mature              74     43     28      61
 grain harvested      8      2      1       6
 silage harvested    87     74     54      81 
Sorghum       
 coloring            97     93     92      96
 mature              61     41     35      51
 grain harvested     12      3      4      11
 silage harvested    90     74     52      69
Soybeans      
 dropping leaves     95     86     79      88
 mature              64     32     19      50
 harvested           15      3      1      11 
Sunflower   
 ray flowers dry     97     92     91      96
 bracts yellow       86     75     75      84
 mature              28     10     16      42
 harvested            3      1      1       7 
Winter wheat
 seeded              65     44     48      51
 emerged             13      4     15      16
Alfalfa     
 3rd cutting         85     80     82      80

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


	         TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION
                  WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 25, 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       62  +6  87  44| 0.13  16.12  15.35  +1.42  +2.61|  2570  +265
Buffalo     61  +6  87  44| 0.07   7.37   7.14  -4.65  -3.70|  2641  +454
Dupree      62  +4  91  43| 0.19  15.68  14.56  +1.24  +1.81|  2766  +229
Mc Intosh   60  +5  89  41| 0.79  13.74  12.96  -0.67  +0.02|  2706  +360
Newell      60  +4  87  41| 0.29  15.04  14.13  +2.10  +2.69|  2547  +254
Timber Lake 62  +6  90  44| 0.14  12.84  11.23  -2.48  -2.13|  2666  +270
Aberdeen    61  +4  86  43| 0.17  16.22  14.99  +0.05  +1.00|  2701  +287
Eureka      61  +6  88  44| 0.36  14.48  13.64  -0.24  +0.50|  2802  +549
Faulkton    61  +4  88  44| 0.59  19.09  17.79  +2.96  +3.76|  2742  +370
Mobridge    62  +5  91  44| 0.12  13.83  12.70  -0.83  -0.06|  2863  +396
Roscoe      60  +4  89  42| 0.17  17.22  16.18  +0.86  +1.74|  2434   +62
Britton     63  +6  85  48| 0.63  25.91  24.83  +9.70 +10.33|  2852  +384
Clear Lake  62  +5  85  43| 1.57  23.80  21.60  +3.47  +4.18|  2508  +127
Sisseton    63  +6  87  39| 0.21  22.44  21.01  +4.60  +5.60|  2685  +163
Webster     61  +5  86  45| 0.35  21.62  20.73  +3.54  +4.94|  2570  +213
Watertown   63  +7  83  49| 0.43  17.17  16.11  -1.53  -0.06|  2720  +334
Faith AP    63  +5  89  46| 0.20  13.38  12.13  -1.09  -0.53|  2696  +172
Milesville  64  +5  92  44| 0.20  17.02  15.39  +1.44  +1.73|  2965  +274
Long Valley 64  +4  91  42| 0.72  17.75  15.92  +1.98  +2.02|  2984  +317
Philip      63  +4  92  39| 0.07  12.58  11.55  -1.36  -0.75|  3051  +279
Rapid City  62  +5  89  43| 0.41  13.47  11.16  -0.84  -1.21|  2784  +502
Spearfish   61  +5  83  42| 0.34  15.15  13.26  -3.43  -2.53|  2757  +582
Chamberlain 65  +5  91  48| 1.88  21.09  18.84  +5.81  +5.33|  3088  +163
Highmore    64  +6  89  49| 0.94  14.96  13.94  -2.12  -1.07|  3089  +452
Huron       66  +8  86  48| 1.59  20.35  19.55  +3.18  +5.13|  3163  +576
Onida       64  +5  90  46| 0.54  13.46  12.66  -2.43  -0.90|  3073  +362
Pierre      64  +5  90  48| 1.12  11.54  11.02  -4.59  -3.07|  3179  +395
Brookings   63  +8  90  42| 2.75  27.56  25.91  +7.87  +8.20|  2604  +448
Madison     64  +7  90  43| 2.68  24.47  22.65  +4.38  +5.67|  2736  +370
Mitchell    66  +7  91  47| 2.03  26.53  24.41  +7.84  +8.35|  2888   +97
Sioux Falls 68 +10  92  44| 2.14  25.53  22.66  +5.68  +5.60|  3045  +441
Custer      55  +3  79  41| 0.57  14.09  12.78  -2.61  -2.04|  1709  +204
Hot Springs 62  +3  86  41| 0.24  17.69  16.18  +3.83  +3.81|  2635  +113
Oelrichs    61  +2  90  43| 0.19  18.04  16.93  +3.42  +4.23|  2580   -62
Porcupine   61  +4  90  43| 0.40  17.36  15.49  +3.46  +3.07|  2670  +140
Murdo       64  +6  91  47| 0.78  16.99  14.92  +1.46  +1.65|  2984  +369
Winner      67  +5  92  48| 1.67  21.27  18.84  +0.81  +1.21|  3338  +286
Armour      68  +8  94  48| 4.87  25.35  23.23  +5.79  +6.55|  3322  +421
Centerville 68 +10  93  45| 2.20  23.67  21.11  +2.41  +2.63|  3118  +493
Marion      66  +8  92  45| 2.36  28.18  25.89  +7.64  +8.34|  2898  +326
Pickstown   69  +9  97  51| 3.19  22.70  20.31  +3.80  +3.90|  3185  +345
Vermillion  72 +11  94  44| 2.80  28.12  25.44  +7.27  +7.22|  3474  +453
Yankton     69 +10  95  47| 4.00  25.42  22.42  +5.37  +4.88|  3226  +451

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