09/23/2001 VOLUME 50 ISSUE 38 CROP WEATHER

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Released: September 24, 2001 -- 3:00 p.m. CST For Week Ending September 23, 2001 SD-CW3601 VOLUME 50 ISSUE 38

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY: Fall-like weather patterns and additional moisture moving into the state have slowed row crop harvest and fall tillage for many producers and ranchers, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major farm activities for the week included preparing equipment for harvest, cutting silage, and moving hay and cattle. Statewide, there were 4.2 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 with cloudy skies existed across much of the state, minimizing crop harvest progress. Temperatures ranged from highs in the mid 80's to lows recorded in the upper 30's to low 40's. Spearfish reported the high for last week at 88 degrees, while Custer recorded the low of 33 degrees. Although rain was present but minimal across most of the state, Mitchell did receive the largest precipitation, with 1.1 inches.

SOIL CONDITION: Some rain fell across the state again last week, improving soil moisture conditions but hampering fieldwork progress in some areas. A substantial increase in topsoil moisture occurred again last week, with 73 percent now rated as adequate, 19 percent short, and only 6 percent rated as very short. Subsoil moisture improved by 16 percentage points to rate at 51 percent adequate.

FIELD CROPS REPORT: Cloud cover and cooler temperatures have slowed row crop harvest progress. Corn mature increased to 56 percent, although percent harvested is reported at only 3 percent, behind last year and the five-year average. Corn silage harvest continues to progress and reached 80 percent last week. Soybeans are reported at 31 percent mature and 2 percent harvested, both behind the five-year averages, at 47 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Winter wheat planted is rated at 38 percent, while emerged is 13 percent, up 10 percent from the previous week but behind the five-year average. Grain sorghum mature increased to 55 percent. Grain sorghum harvest continues to move along slowly, with only 5 percent harvested, 9 percentage points behind last year. Sunflower progress is at 87 percent bracts yellowing, 40 percent mature, and 2 percent harvested.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT: Farmers and ranchers began weaning calves and moving cattle to winter pastures last week. Range and pasture conditions showed little change, with 41 percent in fair condition and 31 percent in good to excellent condition. Feed supplies are at 77 percent adequate to surplus. An improvement in water supplies was seen last week, with 74 percent rated as adequate and 3 percent surplus. Cattle remain in mostly good to excellent condition, at 79 percent. Sheep condition increased to 83 percent good to excellent, a 10 percentage point difference from the previous week.




       SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON                                           
               AS OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2001 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      6    20   33     8    20    37
Short      19    30   40    40    44    36
Adeq.      73    50   27    51    35    27
Surplus     2     0    0     1     1     0




             CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
                AS OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2001 
  
ITEM       V POOR    POOR   FAIR    GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Alfalfa        3      20     41      31      5
Corn           3       8     30      45     14
Soybeans       5      15     30      40     10
Sorghum        2       5     51      33      9
Sunflower      1       6     42      43      8
Cattle         0       1     20      64     15
Sheep          0       2     15      67     16
Range & 
   Pasture     8      20     41      26      5

CROP PROGRESS AS OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2001 1/ This Last Last 5-Yr. ITEM Week Week Year Ave Percent Corn dented 97 91 98 93 mature 56 35 72 53 grain harvested 3 1 9 5 silage harvested 80 69 89 66 Sorghum mature 55 37 48 49 grain harvested 5 4 14 7 silage harvested 60 47 67 43 Soybeans dropping leaves 77 57 94 82 mature 31 21 68 47 harvested 2 1 14 8 Sunflower bracts yellow 87 77 87 84 mature 40 19 46 40 harvested 2 1 9 5 Winter wheat seeded 38 22 41 57 emerged 13 3 11 22 Winter rye seeded 57 33 50 57 emerged 9 5 8 29 Alfalfa 3rd cutting 82 61 74 NA 1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.

TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, and GROWING DEGREE DAYS WEEK ENDING SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 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 61 +4 83 40| 0.00 16.87 15.76 +2.25 +3.10| 2653 +362 Buffalo 61 +5 85 42| 0.02 13.21 12.57 +1.32 +1.86| 2517 +342 Dupree 61 +2 80 43| 0.09 11.75 10.30 -2.61 -2.37| 2725 +204 McIntosh 57 +1 78 39| 0.60 16.84 16.23 +2.53 +3.39| 2491 +157 Newell 61 +4 85 42| 0.09 12.37 10.82 -0.49 -0.54| 2489 +210 Timber Lake 59 +2 77 41| 0.46 15.04 13.36 -0.20 +0.08| 2655 +273 Aberdeen 59 +3 81 45| 0.99 19.50 17.65 +3.45 +3.78| 2665 +264 Eureka 59 +3 77 41| 0.48 18.24 17.29 +3.60 +4.23| 2679 +438 Faulkton 61 +4 80 45| 0.15 16.41 13.45 +0.38 -0.48| 2841 +483 Mobridge 60 +2 78 44| 0.34 16.27 15.72 +1.69 +3.04| 2753 +300 Roscoe 58 +1 76 41| 0.25 16.24 14.78 -0.02 +0.44| 2470 +111 Britton 59 +1 73 42| 0.76 17.84 16.35 +1.75 +1.97| 2877 +423 Clear Lake 57 -1 73 44| 0.96 26.15 22.55 +5.96 +5.27| 2452 +85 Sisseton 58 -2 74 43| 0.93 18.28 17.15 +0.56 +1.86| 2537 +31 Webster 57 +0 75 42| 0.73 17.62 16.50 -0.34 +0.83| 2579 +234 Watertown 58 +1 75 45| 0.80 18.60 17.62 +0.02 +1.57| 2585 +213 Faith 61 +3 81 43| 0.07 11.78 11.23 -2.61 -1.35| 2774 +266 Milesville 61 +2 81 43| 0.27 16.70 14.79 +1.20 +1.21| 2867 +194 Long Valley 63 +2 85 38| 0.03 14.81 12.21 -0.88 -1.61| 2914 +266 Philip 63 +3 87 40| 0.09 8.73 8.27 -5.13 -3.95| 3054 +300 Rapid City 61 +3 84 41| 0.15 13.25 12.41 -0.98 +0.12| 2665 +398 Spearfish 60 +3 88 38| 0.23 15.67 12.90 -2.79 -2.77| 2692 +531 Chamberlain 63 +2 87 46| 0.05 23.64 20.73 +8.44 +7.30| 2949 +44 Highmore 62 +3 80 43| 0.50 17.91 16.79 +0.93 +1.88| 2940 +320 Huron 62 +4 83 46| 0.13 22.82 19.26 +5.75 +4.94| 2954 +383 Onida 59 -2 81 39| 0.17 16.79 14.87 +0.98 +1.39| 2784 +91 Pierre 63 +3 82 46| 0.01 17.43 14.74 +1.40 +0.75| 3106 +340 Brookings 58 +2 76 46| 0.45 19.30 17.26 -0.23 -0.29| 2504 +360 Madison 58 +0 76 45| 0.17 20.44 18.37 +0.49 +1.53| 2642 +290 Mitchell 61 +1 81 48| 1.11 21.88 18.36 +3.35 +2.46| 2949 +176 Sioux Falls 60 +1 74 47| 0.30 24.56 21.60 +4.89 +4.72| 2868 +280 Custer 55 +2 75 33| 0.06 18.72 17.08 +2.12 +2.36| 1702 +206 Hot Springs 62 +2 84 38| 0.00 11.06 9.20 -2.71 -3.08| 2604 +100 Oelrichs 60 +0 87 39| 0.15 13.79 11.07 -0.75 -1.55| 2674 +51 Porcupine 60 +2 86 35| 0.03 16.13 13.34 +2.31 +1.00| 2575 +61 Murdo 62 +3 83 45| 0.06 18.87 16.76 +3.42 +3.57| 2894 +296 Winner 64 +2 83 46| 0.00 25.04 22.24 +4.72 +4.75| 3185 +155 Armour 63 +2 79 48| 0.07 26.79 23.69 +7.39 +7.17| 3110 +229 Centerville 60 +2 77 43| 0.02 22.59 20.07 +1.49 +1.75| 2832 +223 Marion 60 +2 78 47| 0.36 25.85 22.38 +5.49 +5.01| 2757 +201 Pickstown 64 +3 81 48| 0.20 24.20 20.61 +5.46 +4.36| 3057 +236 Vermillion 64 +2 80 45| 0.00 20.29 18.03 -0.42 -0.05| 3204 +205 Yankton 63 +3 79 48| 0.12 24.21 20.54 +4.38 +3.22| 3124 +368

Map to weather reporting stations

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

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