Released: August 27, 2001 -- 3:00 p.m. CST
For Week Ending August 26, 2001
SD-CW3301 Volume 50 Issue 34
AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY: Mostly dry and warm
weather covered the state once again last week,
adding to producers concerns about row crop and
cattle condition, according to USDA's South Dakota
Agricultural Statistics Service. Major farm activities for
the week included harvesting of small grains and silage,
cutting alfalfa, and spraying for insects. Statewide,
there were 6.5 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: Warm weather covered the
state last week, with temperatures ranging from 2 to
9 degrees above normal. Highs were in the upper 80's
and 90's, with a high of 99 degrees reported in Dupree
and Philip. Lows were mainly in the 50's, with a low
of 49 degrees reported in Roscoe, Custer, and
Yankton. Precipitation was scarce as many areas
reported no rain during last week. Custer received the
most rainfall last week, measured at 1.03 inches.
SOIL CONDITION: Lack of significant rainfall across the state last week has further depleted soil moisture in many areas. Sixty-seven percent of the state is now reporting short or very short topsoil moisture, an increase of 12 percentage points from a week earlier. Subsoil conditions also decreased, with 12 percent reporting very short, 42 percent short, and 46 percent adequate.
FIELD CROPS REPORT: As moisture conditions decline throughout the state, producers wait for precipitation to improve row crop development. Corn remains mostly in good to excellent condition, with 86 percent doughing and 43 percent dented, ahead of last year's 82 percent doughing and 40 percent dented. Soybeans are 96 percent setting pods and 21 percent dropping leaves, compared to last year's 95 percent and 11 percent. Sorghum headed, at 99 percent, is nearly complete, with 48 percent coloring and 1 percent mature. Silage harvest continues, with sorghum silage 5 percent and corn silage 6 percent complete. The sunflower crop is just behind last year's progress, as ray flowers are dry on 51 percent of the crop and 16 percent have bracts yellow. Small grain harvest is almost complete, as barley is 94 percent harvested and spring wheat is 99 percent harvested.
LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT: Cattle and sheep remain mostly in good to excellent condition, but flies are a problem in many areas. Range and pasture conditions continue to decline, with only 43 percent of the state in good to excellent condition, but feed and water supplies remain adequate. Alfalfa harvest continues, with 93 percent of second cutting and 50 percent of third cutting complete. Other hay is 96 percent harvested.
SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
AS OF AUGUST 26, 2001
TOPSOIL SUBSOIL
This Last Last This Last Last
RATING Week Week Year Week Week Year
Percent
Very
Short 26 16 19 12 8 20
Short 41 39 38 42 34 36
Adeq. 33 44 39 46 57 42
Surplus 0 1 4 0 1 2
CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
AS OF AUGUST 26, 2001
ITEM V POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCEL
Percent
Alfalfa 7 17 37 32 7
Corn 3 9 28 46 14
Soybeans 3 13 28 44 12
Sorghum 1 4 42 46 7
Sunflower 1 3 25 59 12
Cattle 0 1 15 71 13
Sheep 0 1 15 71 13
Range &
Pasture 3 18 36 37 6
CROP PROGRESS AS OF AUGUST 26, 2001 1/
This Last Last 5-Yr.
ITEM Week Week Year Ave
Percent
Barley
harvested 94 89 100 94
Spring wheat
harvested 99 94 100 93
Corn
dough 86 67 82 72
dented 43 16 40 30
mature 1 0 8 5
silage harvested 6 2 9 4
Sorghum
headed 99 91 92 88
coloring 48 33 44 33
mature 1 0 4 2
silage harvested 5 3 15 6
Soybeans
setting pods 96 88 95 95
dropping leaves 21 9 11 9
mature 0 0 0 1
Sunflower
blooming 97 92 99 95
ray flowers dry 51 35 53 45
bracts yellow 16 10 31 28
mature 0 0 0 2
Winter wheat
seeded 0 0 2 2
emerged 0 0 0 1
Winter rye
seeded 0 0 2 5
emerged 0 0 0 2
Alfalfa
2nd cutting 93 90 93 91
3rd cutting 50 43 45 NA
Other Hay
cut 96 90 95 93
1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.
TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, and GROWING DEGREE DAYS
WEEK ENDING SUNDAY, August 26, 2001
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 76 +7 93 58| 0.00 15.70 14.59 +2.31 +3.16| 2235 +287
Buffalo 76 +8 95 56| 0.15 12.66 12.02 +1.94 +2.48| 2104 +253
Dupree 76 +6 99 58| 0.00 11.05 9.60 -2.17 -1.93| 2313 +176
McIntosh 75 +7 95 53| 0.00 14.68 14.07 +1.82 +2.68| 2118 +115
Newell 76 +8 95 54| 0.00 12.03 10.48 +0.30 +0.25| 2112 +172
Timber Lake 76 +7 95 58| 0.00 13.39 11.71 -0.51 -0.23| 2251 +208
Aberdeen 74 +5 88 60| 0.02 16.89 15.04 +2.65 +2.98| 2269 +206
Eureka 75 +7 89 58| 0.00 16.44 15.49 +3.29 +3.92| 2280 +355
Faulkton 76 +8 94 58| 0.00 14.76 11.80 +0.34 -0.52| 2403 +385
Mobridge 77 +8 92 62| 0.00 14.74 14.19 +1.55 +2.90| 2303 +206
Roscoe 73 +5 91 49| 0.00 14.51 13.05 -0.23 +0.23| 2101 +80
Britton 76 +8 89 63| 0.36 15.44 13.95 +1.21 +1.43| 2449 +348
Clear Lake 72 +4 84 56| 0.00 23.05 19.45 +5.10 +4.41| 2105 +78
Sisseton 71 +2 88 55| 0.09 15.48 14.35 -0.32 +0.98| 2171 +26
Webster 74 +6 88 60| 0.58 14.81 13.69 -1.19 -0.02| 2212 +191
Watertown 73 +5 87 58| 0.01 16.22 15.24 -0.42 +1.13| 2194 +159
Faith 76 +7 97 58| 0.00 10.87 10.32 -2.38 -1.12| 2340 +216
Milesville 77 +6 98 58| 0.00 15.61 13.70 +1.52 +1.53| 2428 +166
Long Valley 76 +6 97 55| 0.19 14.16 11.56 -0.29 -1.02| 2438 +211
Philip 78 +7 99 59| 0.06 8.18 7.72 -4.62 -3.44| 2551 +225
Rapid City 76 +7 95 56| 0.06 12.33 11.49 -0.70 +0.40| 2223 +307
Spearfish 76 +9 94 54| 0.00 15.30 12.53 -1.57 -1.55| 2265 +434
Chamberlain 75 +3 93 50| 0.00 20.11 17.20 +6.22 +5.08| 2451 +0
Highmore 77 +7 94 61| 0.00 15.91 14.79 +0.56 +1.51| 2476 +258
Huron 75 +5 89 61| 0.00 21.08 17.52 +5.68 +4.87| 2482 +281
Onida 78 +7 95 62| 0.00 15.54 13.62 +1.11 +1.52| 2349 +65
Pierre 79 +7 96 62| 0.00 15.41 12.72 +0.84 +0.19| 2583 +238
Brookings 72 +6 85 55| 0.02 16.74 14.70 -0.24 -0.30| 2129 +282
Madison 72 +5 86 55| 0.06 17.35 15.28 -0.27 +0.77| 2249 +237
Mitchell 73 +3 88 54| 0.04 17.80 14.28 +1.53 +0.64| 2498 +135
Sioux Falls 73 +4 87 57| 0.18 21.25 18.29 +4.48 +4.31| 2440 +224
Custer 67 +5 88 49| 1.03 17.32 15.68 +2.23 +2.47| 1442 +174
Hot Springs 74 +4 95 53| 0.00 10.69 8.83 -1.81 -2.18| 2176 +67
Oelrichs 74 +4 97 52| 0.23 13.12 10.40 -0.20 -1.00| 2217 +13
Porcupine 74 +5 95 54| 0.31 15.33 12.54 +2.59 +1.28| 2165 +26
Murdo 77 +7 96 52| 0.11 17.24 15.13 +2.91 +3.06| 2402 +199
Winner 78 +5 96 62| 0.12 21.32 18.52 +2.96 +2.99| 2625 +68
Armour 75 +4 94 59| 0.00 22.66 19.56 +5.45 +5.23| 2612 +164
Centerville 72 +4 85 50| 0.09 19.02 16.50 +0.46 +0.72| 2410 +174
Marion 72 +4 85 51| 0.12 22.54 19.07 +5.02 +4.54| 2335 +141
Pickstown 75 +4 90 50| 0.00 20.37 16.78 +3.97 +2.87| 2531 +137
Vermillion 75 +4 87 58| 0.02 16.70 14.44 -1.62 -1.25| 2700 +154
Yankton 73 +3 90 49| 0.24 20.25 16.58 +2.67 +1.51| 2636 +289
Map to weather reporting stations
Topsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
Subsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
Return to the List of 2001 Crop Weather Reports