SD-CROP-LIVESTOCK

                         South Dakota        
                      OCTOBER CROP REPORT

News Release                                   October 12, 2005 
               
          FORECASTED PRODUCTION UP FROM LAST MONTH 
                   FOR CORN AND SOYBEANS
                       
SIOUX FALLS, October 12, 2005   South Dakota's October 1 corn
production is forecast at 466.1 million bushels, up 3 percent 
from last month but down 14 percent from last year's level 
according to the South Dakota Office of USDA's National 
Agricultural Statistics Service.   Yield is  forecast at 118 
bushels per acre, up 2 bushels from the September forecast but 
down 12 bushels from last year.  Acres to be harvested for 
grain are forecast at 3.95 million, up 1 percent from the 
previous forecast but down 5 percent from last year.

Soybean production is forecast at 138.6 million bushels, up 5
percent from last month but 1 percent below last year.  Yield, 
at 36 bushels per acre, is up 3 bushels from the previous 
forecast and up 2 bushels from last year.  Acres for harvest 
are forecast at 3.85 million, down 4 percent from the previous 
forecast and down 7 percent from last year. 

Sorghum production is forecast at 6.6 million bushels, up 6 
percent from last month and 5 percent above last year's level.  
Yield, at 60 bushels per acre, is up 8 bushels from last month 
and 18 bushels above last year.  Grain sorghum harvested acres, 
forecast at 110,000, are down 27 percent from last year. 

All sunflower production is forecast at 734.9 million pounds, 
up 21 percent from last year.  The estimated yield, at 1,389 
pounds per acre, is down 73 pounds (5 percent) from last year.  
Harvested acres, at 529,000, are up 27percent from last year.
     
Alfalfa hay, with a forecasted production of 4.73 million tons, 
yielded 2.1 tons per acre from 2.25 million acres harvested.  
Other hay, with a forecasted production of 2.38 million tons, 
has a yield of 1.4 tons per acre from 1.70 million acres 
harvested. 

Dry edible bean production is forecast at 270,000 cwt. for 
2005, up 65 percent from last year.  Producers plan to harvest 
15,000 acres with a forecasted yield of 1,800 pounds per acre.

  The complete report can be accessed at www.usda.gov/nass/
           or call Carter Anderson or Steve Noyes at
                        605-323-6500