Released: July 7, 2003 -- 3:00 pm CST For Week ending July 6, 2003 SD-CW2703 Volume 52 Issue 27

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:    Weather patterns varied across the state with some areas receiving warm temperatures and mild rains, while other areas received extreme temperatures, strong winds, and hail storms, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major farm activities included crop spraying, haying, cultivating, and working with livestock. Statewide there were 5.4 days 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:   A turn around took place last week with all reporting stations having temperatures above normal, compared to the previous week's below- average temperatures. Philip and Porcupine reported the high for the week of 103 degrees. Custer, at 47 degrees, had the lowest temperature. Nearly all of the forty-three weather stations reported precipitation, with Long Valley receiving 3.56 inches, the greatest amount of precipitation recorded.

SOIL CONDITION:    While many reporters received thunderstorms and rain, topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions declined last week. Some felt that heat and wind increased the evaporation rates, causing moisture levels to go down. Topsoil moisture levels decreased from 85 percent adequate or surplus, to 75 percent adequate or surplus. Subsoil moisture is rated 64 percent adequate or surplus, compared to last year's 23 percent.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:    Recent weather may have caused crop conditions to deteriorate; however, crop development continued. Winter wheat condition improved slightly, while spring wheat, barley, and oats rated in good to excellent condition fell 9, 10, and 5 percentage points, respectively. Winter wheat, rated at 81 percent turning color, is slightly behind last year's 87 percent but ahead of the five-year average of 77 percent. Winter wheat is only 9 percent ripe, behind last year and the five-year average. Barley, oats, and spring wheat headed have reached 87, 93, and 96 percent, respectively; ahead of last year and the five- year average. Small grains are turning color at a slower pace than last year's drought-stressed crop. Small grain crops have yet to become ripe. Row crop conditions also declined last week; however, the majority of crops remain in good to excellent condition. Average corn height, at 32 inches, is in line with the five-year average, yet behind last year's measurement of 34 inches. Soybeans now rate 20 percent in the blooming stage, in line with last year and ahead of the five-year average. Sorghum, at 9 percent headed, is ahead of average. One percent of the sunflower have begun to bloom, compared to 5 percent for the five-year average.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Pasture conditions last week rated 56 percent good to excellent, consistent with a week earlier. The majority of livestock are also rated in good to excellent condition. Alfalfa harvest continues, with the first cutting 97 percent complete and the second cutting 12 percent complete. While the first cutting progress is ahead of last year and the five-year average, the second cutting has progressed more slowly. Other hay is 63 percent harvested, well ahead of the five-year average of 45 percent. The livestock feed and water supply comparison table was added to show current conditions.

           SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
                  AS OF July 6, 2003 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      6     3    45     12     10    41
Short      19    12    37     24     21    36
Adeq.      66    67    18     58     55    22
Surplus     9    18     0      6     14     1




           CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
                  AS OF July 6, 2003 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   5      12     22      50     11
Winter Rye     0       3     44      43     10
Spring Wheat   1       6     26      52     15
Barley         0       6     28      52     14
Oats           1       6     27      54     12
Corn           0       2     16      59     23
Alfalfa        2       8     30      45     15
Sorghum        4       8     25      57      6
Soybeans       0       2     18      59     21
Sunflower      0       7     37      48      8
Cattle         0       2     17      62     19
Sheep          0       2     12      60     26
Range &                                       
   Pasture     5      13     26      48      8




                   CROP PROGRESS 
               AS OF July 6, 2003  1/
                                                      
                                                                       
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Barley        
 boot                98     95     98      97
 headed              87     73     87      81
 turning color       21      7     27      25
 ripe                 0      0      5       2
Spring wheat 
 boot               100     98     98      97
 headed              96     86     90      87
 turning color       26      4     31      26
 ripe                 0      0     13       4 
Oats        
 boot               100     97     99      96
 headed              93     83     91      84
 turning color       19      3     34      26
 ripe                 0      0      9       5
Corn        
 ave. height (in.)   32     19     34      32
 1st cult or sprayed97     92     90      88
 2nd cult or sprayed 60     34     62      46
Sorghum     
 headed               9      0      1       1
Soybeans    
 blooming            20      7     20      17
Sunflower   
 blooming             1      0      0       5
Winter wheat
 turning color       81     52     87      77
 ripe                 9      0     41      23
 harvested            0      0      4       2
Winter rye  
 turning color       60     23     65      58
 ripe                 4      0      5      13
Alfalfa     
 1st cutting         97     88     86      88
 2nd cutting         12      3     19      17
Other hay   
 cut                 63     49     43      45      


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



            TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, AND GROWING DEGREE DAYS
                        WEEK ENDING July 6, 2003
                                     
             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  +6  96  55| 0.06  11.59   7.66  +1.10  -0.87|   823    -5
Buffalo     75  +6  96  54| 0.01   6.40   4.28  -1.99  -2.93|   851   +75
Dupree      76  +5  99  54| 0.36   8.00   5.71  -2.26  -2.86|   935    +6
Mc Intosh   74  +5  95  55| 0.18   9.02   7.92  -0.61  -0.24|   796   -70
Newell      74  +4  99  52| 0.24   8.50   6.08  -0.69  -1.61|   824   +12
Timber Lake 75  +4  94  54| 0.33   8.87   6.76  -1.75  -1.90|   840   -65
Aberdeen    74  +4  94  56| 0.61  12.37  11.37  +2.08  +3.26|   901   -29
Eureka      76  +6  94  57| 0.40  13.40  12.86  +3.85  +4.89|   919   +79
Faulkton    74  +4  95  54| 0.46  14.04  11.82  +3.45  +3.33|   919   +23
Mobridge    76  +5  98  57| 0.34   8.51   7.89  -1.61  -0.33|   956   +30
Roscoe      74  +4  96  54| 0.21  13.64  11.96  +2.65  +2.89|   786  -116
Britton     77  +6  94  58| 0.63  14.13  13.64  +3.70  +4.92|  1016   +59
Clear Lake  73  +3  91  53| 0.72  10.92   8.79  -1.61  -0.83|   822  -113
Sisseton    74  +3  94  54| 1.02  13.60  13.28  +2.49  +4.60|   884  -106
Webster     74  +4  91  55| 0.55  14.10  13.08  +3.13  +4.40|   879   -41
Watertown   73  +3  92  55| 0.67  10.30   9.32  -1.63  -0.08|   860   -61
Faith       76  +5  98  56| 0.04   6.03   5.11  -4.28  -3.39|   902   -19
Milesville  76  +4 101  55| 0.53   9.56   6.57  -1.09  -2.16|   956   -45
Long Valley 76  +4 101  54| 3.56  15.07  12.43  +4.31  +3.54|   985    +3
Philip      77  +4 103  51| 0.37   8.63   6.99  -1.03  -1.03|  1016   -12
Rapid City  76  +6  99  54| 0.20   7.65   6.05  -2.40  -2.06|   871   +75
Spearfish   75  +6  94  53| 0.89  14.30  10.20  +0.34  -0.97|   856  +103
Chamberlain 75  +2  99  56| 0.27  14.49  12.45  +4.31  +4.04|   987  -137
Highmore    76  +5  98  56| 0.35  10.62   9.38  -0.36  +0.47|  1029   +39
Huron       76  +4  95  54| 0.43  10.02   8.82  -1.64  -0.09|  1024   +29
Onida       77  +4  98  56| 0.24  12.76  10.64  +2.19  +2.40|   925  -103
Pierre      76  +3 102  55| 0.16   9.16   8.02  -1.97  -1.07|  1023   -20
Brookings   73  +4  92  50| 0.19   9.26   8.45  -2.82  -1.65|   836    -3
Madison     73  +3  91  52| 0.16  10.21   9.20  -2.52  -0.42|   864   -61
Mitchell    74  +0  94  54| 1.07  14.11  12.00  +1.59  +2.11|   924  -190
Sioux Falls 75  +3  93  54| 0.57  11.61  10.46  -0.72  +0.92|   990   -36
Custer      67  +3  90  47| 0.07  11.99   8.96  +1.25  +0.10|   420   -50
Hot Springs 75  +4  97  51| 0.00  12.67   9.61  +3.37  +1.80|   828  -101
Oelrichs    74  +2  99  49| 0.00  12.47   9.94  +2.22  +1.61|   851  -102
Porcupine   75  +4 103  53| 0.03  10.35   7.12  +0.81  -0.94|   852   -73
Murdo       76  +3  99  57| 0.25  10.98   8.76  +0.02  +0.06|   979    +6
Winner      77  +2 100  54| 0.09  12.38  10.35  -1.24  -0.44|  1183   -25
Armour      76  +2  96  54| 1.85  13.98  12.62  +0.99  +2.51|  1107   -61
Centerville 74  +2  94  55| 1.72  14.33  12.51  +0.88  +1.84|  1040   -42
Marion      74  +2  93  54| 1.33  14.08  12.35  +0.98  +2.24|   925  -109
Pickstown   74  +0  96  50| 2.03  13.73  11.86  +1.29  +1.91|  1057   -52
Vermillion  76  +2  95  55| 1.83  14.44  11.32  +1.16  +0.67|  1179   -93
Yankton     74  +1  98  54| 1.27  17.43  14.25  +4.53  +3.86|  1050   -69


 

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