Released: July 15, 2002 -- 3:00 p.m. CST For Week Ending July 14, 2002 SD-CW2702 Volume 51 Issue 28

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:   Relief from the hot, dry weather came last week, as many areas of the state received some rain showers and cooler, overcast days, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Although rain showers did move across the state, the precipitation was spotty and most areas desperately need additional moisture. Major farm activities included combining small grains, cutting hay, spraying, fixing fences, cultivating, and moving cattle to market. Statewide, there were 6.0 days reported suitable for fieldwork last week. This report is based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.

WEATHER INFORMATION:  Welcomed rain showers and cooler temperatures moved across the state last week. Scattered rain showers brought some hope to row crop farmers, although much more precipitation is needed. Temperatures ranged from highs in the 100's to lows in the 40's. Milesville was the warmest spot in the state with a high of 103 degrees. Madison felt the low for the week at 45 degrees. Vermillion received the greatest amount of precipitation with 1.84 inches reported. Drought conditions continue throughout the state with nearly all reporting stations well below average rainfall for the year.

SOIL CONDITION:   Very little change in soil moisture conditions was seen from a week ago, with ratings remaining mostly short to very short. Topsoil moisture is at 45 percent very short, 37 percent short, and 18 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture is at 45 percent very short, 36 percent short, 18 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:   Small grain harvest is underway, although, some of the acres are being put up as hay, due to the drought conditions. Winter wheat harvested is 26 percent complete. Spring wheat turning color is 69 percent, with 9 percent of the grain harvested. Both winter and spring wheat harvested are well ahead of last year and the five-year averages. Row crops have been able to hold their own until recently, but they desperately need moisture as they reach their critical stages of development. Soybeans are 44 percent bloomed and 7 percent setting pods, ahead of last year's 27 percent and 2 percent, respectively. Seven percent of the corn acres are tasseling, while 1 percent have silked, about even with last year but behind the five-year average.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Alfalfa and pasture conditions continue to decline with lack of moisture. Cattle continue to be sold, as producers are running out of grass. Producers are relying on CRP acres for additional forage sources for their livestock. First cutting alfalfa is 94 percent harvested and other hay is 59 percent harvested. Water quality problems are only getting worse with the continued hot, dry weather patterns.

           SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
                  AS OF July 14, 2002 

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

                        Percent
Very 
 Short     45    44     6     45     41     2
Short      37    38    33     36     36    20
Adeq.      18    18    59     18     22    73
Surplus     0     0     2      1      1     5






          CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
                AS OF JULY 14, 2002 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                           Percent
Winter Wheat  43      25     20      10      2
Winter Rye    23      47      9      21      0
Spring Wheat  33      35     18      12      2
Barley        44      35     13       8      0
Oats          37      35     18       9      1
Corn          10      16     33      36      5
Soybeans       7      16     36      38      3
Alfalfa       44      32     17       7      0
Sorghum       23      30     37      10      0
Sunflower     24      20     47       8      1
Cattle         5      10     29      49      7
Sheep          4       7     23      60      6
Range & 
   Pasture    36      35     20       8      1





            CROP PROGRESS AS OF JULY 14, 2002   1/
                                                       
                                                                           
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave  
                             Percent
Barley      
 headed              97     91     91      91
 turning color       49     31     31      46
 ripe                17      6      1       8
 harvested            4      1      0       0 
Spring Wheat
 headed              98     92     94      94
 turning color       69     36     36      46
 ripe                26     15      2       8
 harvested            9      2      0       0
Oats        
 headed              99     93     92      92 
 turning color       72     38     37      46
 ripe                30     11      3      16
 harvested           16      4      0       3 
Corn          
 ave. height (in.)   49     36     44      46
 1st cult or sprayed 95     90     95      96
 2nd cult or sprayed 80     68     70      67
 tasseling            7     NA      7      10
 silked               1      0      0       3
Sorghum     
 headed               5      1      5       5 
Soybeans    
 blooming            44     22     27      32
 setting pods         7      5      2       8
Sunflower   
 blooming             1      0      3       7 
Winter Wheat
 turning color       98     91     76      88
 ripe                78     47     12      41
 harvested           26      5      1      12 
Winter Rye  
 turning color       91     72     63      76
 ripe                44      6      6      27
 harvested            2      1      0       3 
Alfalfa     
 lst cutting         94     87     96      96 
 2nd cutting         32     21     38      29 
Other Hay   
 cut                 59     45     62      58

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



                TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, and GROWING DEGREE DAYS
                            WEEK ENDING SUNDAY JULY 14, 2002
             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       75  +4 101  55| 0.00   3.14   2.55  -7.93  -6.56|  1187  +186
Buffalo     75  +5 102  54| 0.24   3.77   3.40  -5.13  -4.32|  1092  +148
Dupree      75  +2 100  53| 0.09   4.21   3.59  -6.64  -5.57|  1249  +132
McIntosh    73  +2  99  53| 0.00   3.46   2.67  -6.77  -6.09|  1165  +121
Newell      74  +2  97  56| 0.00   5.81   4.58  -3.88  -3.61|  1122  +133
Timber Lake 73  +2  96  56| 0.13   4.17   3.35  -6.98  -5.84|  1237  +153
Aberdeen    71  -2  88  53| 0.52   5.95   5.11  -5.08  -3.74|  1232  +123
Eureka      73  +3  94  55| 0.26   5.77   5.12  -4.43  -3.50|  1251  +240
Faulkton    73  +2  91  55| 0.08  11.02   9.73  -0.19  +0.62|  1292  +215
Mobridge    74  +1  92  57| 0.03   4.15   3.97  -6.51  -4.79|  1309  +196
Roscoe      71  -2  87  57| 0.68   5.67   4.83  -6.04  -4.96|  1123   +46
Britton     72  +0  88  55| 0.13   5.23   4.47  -5.90  -4.95|  1331  +195
Clear Lake  71  -1  93  51| 0.24   9.79   6.85  -3.70  -3.73|  1120    +9
Sisseton    70  -4  85  51| 1.20  10.48  10.26  -1.45  +0.76|  1127   -46
Webster     72  +1  89  56| 0.37   9.16   8.31  -2.65  -1.21|  1188   +93
Watertown   71  -2  92  49| 0.08   5.67   4.96  -7.06  -5.24|  1183   +84
Faith       74  +1  96  52| 0.05   3.90   3.71  -7.05  -5.43|  1218  +110
Milesville  76  +2 103  56| 0.00   5.54   3.94  -5.70  -5.38|  1362  +164
Long Valley 77  +3  98  53| 0.00   3.87   3.58  -7.64  -6.06|  1395  +218
Philip      76  +1  98  51| 0.00   3.21   2.82  -7.09  -5.84|  1428  +198
Rapid City  75  +4  99  54| 0.44   5.68   4.76  -4.92  -3.90|  1232  +262
Spearfish   74  +4  99  53| 0.00   5.87   3.73  -8.63  -7.98|  1153  +231
Chamberlain 74  -3  98  53| 0.02   7.28   5.56  -3.56  -3.51|  1333    -2
Highmore    72  -3  95  48| 0.15   5.36   4.96  -6.42  -4.75|  1334  +150
Huron       75  +1  99  49| 0.17   5.77   4.36  -6.62  -5.28|  1417  +228
Onida       73  -3  97  55| 0.03   5.61   4.99  -5.67  -3.96|  1299   +74
Pierre      74  -2  94  54| 0.02   6.57   6.09  -5.30  -3.74|  1386  +139
Brookings   70  -1  92  46| 0.09   9.90   7.03  -3.09  -3.98|  1168  +163
Madison     71  -1  94  45| 0.18   5.23   3.96  -8.31  -6.47|  1241  +140
Mitchell    74  -2  98  52| 0.33   7.69   5.39  -5.51  -5.18|  1369   +54
Sioux Falls 73  -2  95  53| 1.11   9.68   7.85  -3.37  -2.41|  1408  +190
Custer      67  +2  89  46| 0.20   7.93   6.43  -3.69  -3.31|   733  +138
Hot Springs 74  +1  99  49| 0.00   8.12   5.71  -1.90  -2.82|  1190   +75
Oelrichs    75  +0 101  48| 0.00   6.73   4.26  -4.13  -4.68|  1207   +59
Porcupine   75  +2  98  48| 0.00   6.71   5.04  -3.55  -3.74|  1199   +79
Murdo       73  -2  95  56| 0.00   4.20   2.91  -7.45  -6.48|  1336  +166
Winner      76  -2  97  57| 0.03   7.43   5.83  -7.15  -5.92|  1580  +158
Armour      76  +1  98  55| 0.12   6.55   5.52  -7.31  -5.46|  1559  +186
Centerville 73  -1  95  56| 1.31   9.17   8.12  -5.19  -3.46|  1403  +131
Marion      73  -2  94  53| 0.59   9.06   7.58  -4.82  -3.31|  1313   +87
Pickstown   74  -2 101  50| 0.16   6.11   4.99  -7.09  -5.72|  1469  +156
Vermillion  75  -2  93  56| 1.84  14.22  13.10  +0.10  +1.61|  1637  +157
Yankton     75  +0  96  57| 0.64   7.57   5.55  -6.18  -5.69|  1473  +154

Source: National Weather Service, provided by AWIS, Inc.
Growing Degree Day values calculated using standard corn formula with no temperature caps.