09/30/2001 VOLUME 50 ISSUE 39 CROP WEATHER

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Released: October 1, 2001 -- 3:00 p.m. CST For Week Ending September 30, 2001 SD-CW3901 VOLUME 50 ISSUE 39

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY: Clear skies and warm temperatures last week helped dry row crops and allowed producers to spend time in the fields harvesting, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major farm activities for the week included preparing equipment for harvest, moving hay and cattle, and working calves. 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: Beautiful autumn temperatures and dry conditions were prevalent across the state, with a few reports of light frosts in some areas. Average temperatures ranged from 52 to 65 degrees. Hot Springs reported the high for last week at 94 degrees, while Brookings recorded the low of 28 degrees. No rain was recorded for the week.

SOIL CONDITION: No precipitation was received last week, hurting soil moisture levels across the state. Topsoil moisture levels declined and are now rated at 8 percent very short, 25 percent short, and 66 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture is 11 percent very short, 35 percent short, and 53 percent adequate. Average soil temperature is reported at 61 degrees.

FIELD CROPS REPORT: Excellent weather conditions helped row crops mature last week, enabling producers to get a jump on harvest. Corn increased to 84 percent mature, up 28 percentage points from the previous week. Corn harvested, at 11 percent, is 5 percentage points behind last year's pace, but 1 point ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans made significant progress from a week ago, with 94 percent now reporting leaves dropping, 65 percent mature, and 15 percent harvested; however, all three stages are behind last year. Sunflower are reported at 96 percent bracts yellowing and 68 percent mature. Harvested sunflower increased from 2 percent a week ago to 10 percent harvested, 4 percentage points behind the five-year average and 18 points behind last year. Winter wheat seeding continues to progress despite dry conditions, with 72 percent complete, 13 percentage points ahead of last year and right in line with the five-year average. Thirty-three percent of the winter wheat crop has emerged.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT: Farmers and ranchers continue to move cattle and wean calves. Range and pasture conditions showed some improvement, with reports of greener pastures thanks to cooler temperatures and added moisture received toward the end of September. Range and pasture conditions are 41 percent fair, 31 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. Feed supplies are at 81 percent adequate to surplus. No change was seen in water supplies, with 77 percent still adequate to surplus. Cattle and sheep remain in mostly good to excellent condition, at 83 and 86 percent respectively.




       SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON                                           
               AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2001 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      8     6   37    11     8    36
Short      25    19   37    35    40    35
Adeq.      66    73   26    53    51    28
Surplus     1     2    0     1     1     1



             CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
                AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2001 
  
ITEM       V POOR    POOR   FAIR    GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Alfalfa        4      18     34      38      6
Corn           2       7     30      47     14
Soybeans       4      16     31      40      9
Sorghum        1       6     47      40      6
Sunflower      1       7     35      51      6
Cattle         0       2     15      66     17
Sheep          0       1     13      68     18
Range & 
   Pasture     7      15     41      31      6

CROP PROGRESS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2001 1/ This Last Last 5-Yr. ITEM Week Week Year Ave Percent Corn mature 84 56 89 74 grain harvested 11 3 16 10 silage harvested 93 80 94 82 Sorghum mature 76 55 72 73 grain harvested 21 5 25 14 silage harvested 68 60 74 60 Soybeans dropping leaves 94 77 98 93 mature 65 31 90 69 harvested 15 2 40 21 Sunflower bracts yellow 96 87 94 92 mature 68 40 72 64 harvested 10 2 28 14 Winter wheat seeded 72 38 59 73 emerged 33 13 19 41 Winter rye seeded 81 57 81 77 emerged 41 9 23 46 Alfalfa 3rd cutting 84 82 84 57 1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.

SOIL TEMPERATURES WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2001 (4-inch Depth) LOCATION TEMP LOCATION TEMP Beresford 60 Gettysburg 59 Brookings 56 Nisland 66 Caputa 59 Pierre 63 Chamberlain 63 Redfield 60 Cottonwood 64 Watertown 56
TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, and GROWING DEGREE DAYS WEEK ENDING SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 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 62 +8 84 37| 0.00 16.87 15.76 +2.01 +2.86| 2727 +394 Buffalo 62 +8 88 40| 0.00 13.21 12.57 +1.04 +1.58| 2603 +389 Dupree 61 +5 81 35| 0.00 11.78 10.33 -2.86 -2.62| 2794 +222 McIntosh 59 +5 78 33| 0.00 16.84 16.23 +2.23 +3.09| 2558 +185 Newell 60 +6 86 37| 0.00 12.37 10.82 -0.77 -0.82| 2562 +241 Timber Lake 60 +6 78 35| 0.00 15.04 13.36 -0.48 -0.20| 2728 +304 Aberdeen 58 +3 79 32| 0.00 19.50 17.65 +3.07 +3.40| 2726 +284 Eureka 60 +7 80 35| 0.00 18.24 17.29 +3.32 +3.95| 2753 +475 Faulkton 58 +4 80 31| 0.00 16.41 13.45 +0.03 -0.83| 2905 +504 Mobridge 63 +7 82 38| 0.00 16.27 15.72 +1.41 +2.76| 2844 +346 Roscoe 55 -1 80 32| 0.00 16.24 14.78 -0.34 +0.12| 2512 +112 Britton 61 +6 79 36| 0.00 17.80 16.31 +1.31 +1.53| 2962 +463 Clear Lake 54 -3 76 31| 0.00 26.15 22.55 +5.47 +4.78| 2491 +79 Sisseton 54 -3 79 29| 0.00 18.28 17.15 +0.14 +1.44| 2578 +23 Webster 58 +4 76 37| 0.00 17.62 16.50 -0.75 +0.42| 2641 +257 Watertown 55 +0 76 30| 0.00 18.60 17.62 -0.41 +1.14| 2630 +215 Faith 61 +5 83 35| 0.00 11.78 11.23 -2.89 -1.63| 2856 +297 Milesville 63 +6 84 37| 0.00 16.70 14.79 +0.90 +0.91| 2958 +229 Long Valley 65 +7 85 34| 0.00 14.81 12.21 -1.16 -1.89| 3017 +308 Philip 63 +6 87 34| 0.00 8.73 8.27 -5.41 -4.23| 3152 +340 Rapid City 63 +8 88 36| 0.00 13.25 12.41 -1.26 -0.16| 2760 +446 Spearfish 64 +9 92 40| 0.00 15.67 12.90 -3.21 -3.19| 2792 +587 Chamberlain 58 -2 80 35| 0.00 23.64 20.73 +8.16 +7.02| 3010 +41 Highmore 61 +4 81 34| 0.00 17.91 16.79 +0.58 +1.53| 3020 +346 Huron 59 +3 79 31| 0.00 22.82 19.26 +5.40 +4.59| 3021 +401 Onida 62 +5 82 35| 0.00 16.79 14.87 +0.70 +1.11| 2871 +122 Pierre 62 +5 85 36| 0.00 17.43 14.74 +1.05 +0.40| 3195 +373 Brookings 52 -2 76 28| 0.00 19.30 17.26 -0.79 -0.85| 2536 +355 Madison 53 -4 76 29| 0.00 20.44 18.37 +0.00 +1.04| 2671 +275 Mitchell 56 -3 80 31| 0.00 21.88 18.36 +2.84 +1.95| 2998 +167 Sioux Falls 55 -3 77 31| 0.00 24.56 21.60 +4.27 +4.10| 2908 +271 Custer 60 +9 86 34| 0.00 18.72 17.08 +1.80 +2.04| 1772 +248 Hot Springs 64 +7 94 33| 0.00 11.06 9.20 -3.00 -3.37| 2702 +140 Oelrichs 62 +4 88 33| 0.00 13.64 10.92 -1.18 -1.98| 2772 +90 Porcupine 62 +7 89 39| 0.00 16.13 13.34 +2.03 +0.72| 2660 +97 Murdo 61 +5 85 35| 0.00 18.87 16.76 +3.14 +3.29| 2979 +327 Winner 62 +2 82 32| 0.00 25.04 22.24 +4.28 +4.31| 3269 +167 Armour 59 +0 79 34| 0.00 26.79 23.69 +6.85 +6.63| 3174 +230 Centerville 55 -2 78 32| 0.00 22.59 20.07 +0.93 +1.19| 2875 +215 Marion 55 -3 78 32| 0.00 25.85 22.38 +4.88 +4.40| 2797 +192 Pickstown 60 +3 82 37| 0.00 24.20 20.61 +4.94 +3.84| 3131 +249 Vermillion 57 -4 79 33| 0.00 20.29 18.03 -0.91 -0.54| 3257 +188 Yankton 56 -3 78 34| 0.00 24.21 20.54 +3.89 +2.73| 3171 +354

Map to weather reporting stations

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

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