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Released: August 21, 2000 -- 3:00 p. For Week Ending August 20, 2000 Volume 49 Issue 25

GENERAL:    Warm temperatures and dry weather continue to put stress on crops, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major activities by farmers and ranchers were irrigation, haying, caring for livestock, and harvesting silage. Statewide, there were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork. This report is based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.

SOIL CONDITIONS:    Topsoil moisture conditions decreased slightly last week, as 48 percent of the state is reported having short or very short topsoil moisture, compared to 45 percent last week. Subsoil conditions improved though, with 52 percent of the state having adequate to surplus subsoil moisture, up 4 percentage points from last week. 



    SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON AUGUST 20

               TOPSOIL         SUBSOIL
          This  Last Last  This  Last  Last
RATING    Week  Week Year  Week  Week  Year

                       Percent
Very 
 Short     17    11   11    18    17     3
Short      31    34   44    30    35    36
Adeq.      47    51   43    47    44    59
Surplus     5     4    2     5     4     2

CROPS:    Small grain harvest is wrapping up, as 97 percent of spring wheat is harvested, 17 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Producers are getting an early start on winter wheat, with 2 percent seeded, a week ahead of the five-year average. Warm temperatures are helping row crops continue to develop ahead of average. Corn is 74 percent in dough stage, 26 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans are 92 percent setting pods, with 4 percent dropping leaves. Sunflower blooming is nearly complete at 96 percent, and flowers dry is at 34 percent, 23 percentage points ahead of last week. Sorghum turning color is at 35 percent and 3 percent mature. Cutting silage continues, with corn at 6 percent and sorghum at 11 percent harvested. 

 
            CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS AUGUST 20

ITEM         V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Alfalfa        9      15     31      36      9
Corn           4       9     20      44     23
Soybeans       1       9     18      49     23
Sorghum        5      26     33      30      6
Sunflower      3      12     24      46     15
Cattle         0       1     11      66     22
Sheep          0       0     12      62     26
Range & 
   Pasture     5      17     31      38      9

LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE:    Water supplies continue to be a concern for producers, as runoff from rain has been minimal. Range and pasture conditions declined slightly from last week, but livestock continue to stay in mostly good to excellent condition. Cattle and sheep are 88 percent in good to excellent condition, with a few reports of problems with flies. Second cutting of alfalfa nears completion, with 90 percent now harvested. Third cutting is 43 percent complete, and other hay harvested is 92 percent harvested.

WEATHER:    Slightly below normal temperatures covered the state last week providing relief from the heat of past weeks. Although temperatures were below normal, highs for the week reached 100+ degrees in several places, with the high of 107 degrees in Pickstown. Hot Springs and Porcupine had the low for last week of 42 degrees. Precipitation was minimal, as only two stations reported over an inch of rain last week and many received no precipitation. Vermillion reported 1.59 inches and Yankton reported 1.70 inches. 

             
                 CROP PROGRESS - AUGUST 20 1/
                                                                                                    
                  This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM              Week   Week   Year    Ave
                           Percent
Spring Wheat  
 harvested         97     93     90     80
Corn    
 dough             74     50     69     48
 dented            27     16     20     12
 mature             5      0      0      3
 silage harvested   6      2      1      1
Sorghum 
 headed            89     80     72     73
 coloring          35     25     25     18
 mature             3      0      0      0
 silage harvested  11      4      1      1
Soybeans
 blooming          98     95     99     97
 setting pods      92     83     84     83
 dropping leaves    4      4      4      4
Sunflower
 blooming          96     89     85     87
 ray flowers dry   34     11     26     24
 bracts yellow     17      6     23     16
 mature             0      0      0      1
Winter wheat
 seeded             2      0      1      1 
Winter rye
 seeded             0      0      1      2 
Alfalfa  
 2nd cutting       90     87     87     86
 3rd cutting       43     31     28     NA
Other hay
 cut               92     90     88     NA

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




             TEMPERATURE       -----  PRECIPITATION -----     GDD BASE 50F
             -----------          SINCE  SINCE  SINCE  SINCE  ------------
            CURRENT WEEK    CURR  JAN 1  APR 1  JAN 1  APR 1 SINCE APRIL 1
STATION     VG DFN  HI  LO  WEEK  TOTAL  TOTAL    DFN    DFN  TOTAL   DFN
-------     --  --  --  -- -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  ----
Bison       73  +3  95  51| 0.00  13.43  10.90  +0.29  -0.22|  1979  +126
Buffalo     73  +4  98  50| 0.00   9.17   8.42  -1.41  -0.94|  1952  +192
Dupree      73  +1  95  51| 0.00  15.61  11.84  +2.64  +0.61|  1987   -47
McIntos h   68  -4  94  46| 0.18  14.63   8.36  +2.07  -2.68|  1835   -74
Newell      70  -1 100  47| 0.00  12.39  10.83  +0.86  +0.84|  1693  -153
Timber Lake 69  -3  92  50| 0.00  15.37  10.95  +1.77  -0.64|  1929   -19
Aberdeen    67  -4  92  45| 0.15  17.96  15.79  +4.05  +4.12|  1915   -54
Eureka      68  -3  93  47| 0.17  17.46  13.51  +4.61  +2.29|  1915   +80
Faulkton    68  -3  92  46| 0.11  18.54  16.39  +4.49  +4.50|  2171  +245
Mobridge    71  +0  95  49| 0.00  14.61  12.01  +1.67  +1.03|  1963   -36
Roscoe      66  -5  89  50| 0.06  20.85  17.26  +6.41  +4.80|  1768  -159
Britton     68  -4  90  51| 0.48  15.81  14.65  +1.93  +2.52|  2081   +77
Clear Lake  66  -5  92  51| 0.02  13.96  12.07  -3.53  -2.45|  1778  -159
Sisseton    66  -5  94  46| 0.51  16.22  13.96  +0.87  +1.10|  1848  -201
Webster     66  -5  89  53| 0.37  14.43  12.70  -1.12  -0.51|  1864   -67
Watertown   66  -4  94  45| 0.11  14.80  13.43  -1.41  -0.19|  1866   -77
Faith       73  +2  95  52| 0.06  16.74  13.87  +3.69  +2.68|  1963   -58
Milesville  73  -1  96  51| 0.00  13.81  10.22  +0.02  -1.60|  2089   -65
Long Valley 73  +1  97  50| 0.58  14.87  10.99  +0.67  -1.28|  2221  +100
Philip      75  +1  98  50| 0.00  10.42   8.32  -2.16  -2.58|  2136   -79
Rapid City  73  +4  98  48| 0.00  17.28  13.60  +4.50  +2.81|  1960  +138
Spearfish   74  +6  99  53| 0.00  13.16  10.97  -3.41  -2.74|  1789   +48
Chamberlain 71  -4 104  50| 0.10  11.82  10.87  -1.77  -0.90|  2178  -159
Highmore    71  -2  98  47| 0.00  14.26  12.63  -0.75  -0.24|  2235  +122
Huron       70  -3 102  44| 0.01  14.61  13.51  -0.49  +1.22|  2188   +87
Onida       69  -5  94  45| 0.28  13.49  11.88  -0.64  +0.14|  2003  -173
Pierre      74  +0  98  49| 0.00   8.83   7.61  -5.49  -4.62|  2442  +208
Brookings   66  -3  92  44| 0.06  17.00  14.79  +0.47  +0.30|  1792   +26
Madison     67  -3  94  46| 0.48  18.77  16.88  +1.60  +2.89|  1929    +6
Mitchell    69  -5  98  50| 0.00  16.97  13.64  +1.08  +0.45|  2177   -82
Sioux Falls 69  -3  91  49| 0.25  20.24  17.58  +3.97  +4.17|  2040   -78
Custer      67  +4  87  50| 0.01  13.02  11.90  -1.77  -0.97|  1284   +80
Hot Springs 72  +1  96  42| 0.00  10.84   8.66  -1.47  -2.12|  1997   -11
Oelrichs    72  -1  98  48| 0.00  12.81  10.25  -0.26  -0.85|  2039   -57
Porcupine   72  +1  96  42| 0.00  15.48  11.14  +2.94  +0.12|  1904  -135
Murdo       72  +0  99  53| 0.00  14.14  11.86  +0.06  +0.10|  2146   +45
Winner      73  -2 101  53| 0.06  13.35  12.47  -4.65  -2.64|  2441    +0
Armour      72  -2 101  50| 0.17  13.08  11.01  -3.69  -2.81|  2426   +87
Centerville 69  -2  94  50| 0.58  16.42  13.19  -1.69  -2.08|  2202   +62
Marion      69  -2  92  50| 0.56  17.02  14.67  -0.05  +0.67|  2064   -36
Pickstown   73  +0 107  52| 0.27  10.79   8.73  -5.21  -4.71|  2398  +113
Vermillion  72  -2  95  52| 1.59  16.28  13.98  -1.58  -1.19|  2440    +4
Yankton     72  +0  97  54| 1.70  21.55  18.66  +4.32  +3.99|  2317   +73

 
Precipitation (rain or melted snow/ice) in inches.
Air Temperatures in Degrees Fahrenheit.


 
 
 
South Dakota county map showing topsoil moisture South Dakota county map showing subsoil moisture

Topsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
Subsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
 

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