Released: July 21, 2003 -- 3:00 pm CST For Week ending July 20, 2003 SD-CW2903 Volume 52 Issue 29

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:    The state continues to deal with hot and dry weather conditions, with last week bringing little precipitation to the areas that need it the most, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Showers were received in some areas; however, dryness is putting further stress on crops and water supplies. Major farm activities included harvesting small grains, cutting hay, spraying, fixing fences, cultivating, and working with livestock. Statewide there were 6.2 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:   Rain fell in scattered areas last week, but with temperature highs in the 100's, more rain will be needed to keep crop development going. Philip, at 109 degrees, received the highest temperature of the week, while Porcupine had the low of 51 degrees. Britton received the most precipitation last week, with 1.51 inches reported.

SOIL CONDITION:    Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels decreased with the hot weather of last week. Topsoil is rated at 57 percent adequate to surplus, compared to the previous week's 77 percent and last year's 10 percent. Subsoil is rated at 59 percent adequate to surplus, compared to last week's 67 percent and last year's 12 percent.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:    Progress was made on the harvest of small grains last week; however, the progress is well behind last year. Winter wheat is 51 percent harvested, compared to last year's 66 percent harvested. Barley is rated at 20 percent ripe, behind last year and the five-year average. Three percent of the barley is harvested, compared to last year's 15 percent and the five-year average of 6 percent. Oats are rated at 34 percent ripe, behind last year's 56 percent and the five-year average of 39 percent. Ten percent of oats are harvested, compared to last year's 34 percent and the five-year average of 15 percent. Spring wheat is rated at 14 percent ripe, behind last year's 47 percent and the five-year average of 27 percent. Spring wheat harvest is reported at 2 percent, behind last year's 17 percent and the five-year average of 5 percent. Row crop conditions remain mostly good to excellent. Average corn height reached 57 inches, in line with the five-year average of 59 inches. Corn is 26 percent tasseled and 6 percent silked; behind last year and the five-year average. Soybeans blooming, at 60 percent, increased 22 percentage points from the previous week, and 8 percent are setting pods. Sorghum is 24 percent headed, ahead of last year and the five-year average. Sunflower are blooming later than last year with only 4 percent blooming, compared to 7 percent a year ago.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Stock water supplies are stressed due to dry conditions, with ratings decreasing 5 percentage points from the previous week in the adequate to surplus categories. Stock water supples are rated at 60 percent adequate to surplus, compared to last year's 27 percent. Range and pasture conditions also decreased, with 52 percent rated good to excellent compared to the previous week's 61 percent. Second cutting alfalfa is 58 percent harvested, and other hay is 83 percent harvested. The livestock feed and water supply comparison table was added to show current conditions.

           SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
                  AS OF July 20, 2003 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short     11     4    56     14     10    53
Short      32    19    34     27     23    35
Adeq.      51    65    10     53     54    12
Surplus     6    12     0      6     13     0




           CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
                  AS OF July 20, 2003 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   5       8     28      44     15
Winter Rye     0       1     37      50     12
Spring Wheat   3       5     27      48     17
Barley         1       5     27      61      6
Oats           1       5     30      52     12
Corn           1       3     17      50     29
Alfalfa        3       7     27      50     13
Sorghum        1       8     30      54      7
Soybeans       1       2     20      51     26
Sunflower      2       3     32      55      8
Cattle         0       2     15      64     19
Sheep          0       2     12      63     23
Range &                                       
   Pasture     4      13     31      42     10




                   CROP PROGRESS 
               AS OF July 20, 2003  1/
                                                      
                                                                       
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Barley        
 turning color       85     46     69      69
 ripe                20      1     44      27
 harvested            3      0     15       6 
Spring wheat 
 turning color       87     50     92      79
 ripe                14      2     47      27
 harvested            2      0     17       5 
Oats        
 turning color       86     41     91      77
 ripe                34      6     56      39
 harvested           10      1     34      15
Corn        
 ave. height (in.)   57     47     56      59
 2nd cult or sprayed 90     78     87      87
 tasseling           26      7     38      37
 silked               6      0     13      17
Sorghum     
 headed              24     12     13      14
 coloring             5      0      8       2 
Soybeans    
 blooming            60     38     64      55
 setting pods         8      1     16      18
Sunflower   
 blooming             4      2      7      10
Winter wheat
 ripe                89     51     93      80
 harvested           51     10     66      44
Winter rye  
 turning color       98     92     99      96
 ripe                52     13     76      56
 harvested            4      0     25      18
Alfalfa     
 2nd cutting         58     35     49      49
Other hay   
 cut                 83     71     72      68   


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



            TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, AND GROWING DEGREE DAYS
                        WEEK ENDING July 20, 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       81  +9 100  57| 0.08  12.99   9.06  +1.54  -0.43|  1180   +43
Buffalo     82 +10 107  58| 0.26   6.75   4.63  -2.48  -3.42|  1212  +136
Dupree      81  +7 103  52| 0.08   9.08   6.79  -2.16  -2.76|  1307   +43
Mc Intosh   78  +6 103  54| 0.00   9.61   8.51  -1.03  -0.66|  1122   -60
Newell      81  +9 107  55| 0.00   8.26   5.84  -1.75  -2.67|  1206   +79
Timber Lake 79  +6  99  55| 0.00  10.41   8.30  -1.10  -1.25|  1184   -38
Aberdeen    75  +2  92  55| 0.71  13.68  12.68  +2.12  +3.30|  1204   -43
Eureka      77  +6  96  54| 0.23  14.60  14.06  +3.97  +5.01|  1253  +110
Faulkton    76  +3  95  56| 0.35  15.96  13.74  +4.33  +4.21|  1233   +17
Mobridge    79  +6 100  52| 0.08  10.04   9.42  -0.98  +0.30|  1299   +42
Roscoe      74  +2  94  57| 0.29  15.15  13.47  +2.96  +3.20|  1071  -144
Britton     76  +3  89  60| 1.51  17.01  16.52  +5.40  +6.62|  1334   +60
Clear Lake  73  +1  90  59| 1.04  12.50  10.37  -1.65  -0.87|  1106  -140
Sisseton    75  +3  93  59| 1.22  15.08  14.76  +2.74  +4.85|  1200  -117
Webster     74  +2  91  59| 0.49  15.45  14.43  +3.04  +4.31|  1174   -57
Watertown   75  +3  90  59| 0.99  11.66  10.68  -1.67  -0.12|  1162   -75
Faith       82  +9 105  59| 0.00   6.72   5.80  -4.65  -3.76|  1278   +25
Milesville  82  +7 104  57| 0.20   9.93   6.94  -1.73  -2.80|  1351    -1
Long Valley 80  +6  99  54| 0.00  15.11  12.47  +3.08  +2.31|  1366   +38
Philip      84  +8 109  53| 0.11   8.97   7.33  -1.76  -1.76|  1409   +23
Rapid City  82 +10 105  56| 0.03   7.68   6.08  -3.28  -2.94|  1258  +150
Spearfish   80  +9  99  60| 0.17  14.47  10.37  -0.35  -1.66|  1230  +176
Chamberlain 79  +3  99  57| 0.09  15.43  13.39  +4.11  +3.84|  1336  -161
Highmore    79  +5  96  56| 0.11  11.79  10.55  -0.58  +0.25|  1389   +55
Huron       79  +5  95  56| 0.04  10.60   9.40  -2.29  -0.74|  1373   +34
Onida       79  +4 101  54| 0.00  13.85  11.73  +2.09  +2.30|  1281   -98
Pierre      81  +6 102  55| 0.02  10.36   9.22  -1.99  -1.09|  1394   -12
Brookings   73  +2  89  56| 0.69  11.13  10.32  -2.47  -1.30|  1117   -14
Madison     74  +2  89  57| 0.05  11.33  10.32  -2.81  -0.71|  1167   -70
Mitchell    76  +0  93  58| 0.25  15.35  13.24  +1.70  +2.22|  1248  -223
Sioux Falls 75  +1  88  58| 0.01  12.39  11.24  -1.15  +0.49|  1313   -55
Custer      73  +7  95  53| 0.84  12.85   9.82  +0.57  -0.58|   688    -8
Hot Springs 80  +7 103  58| 0.20  12.87   9.81  +2.32  +0.75|  1195   -64
Oelrichs    81  +6 107  56| 0.07  12.59  10.06  +1.31  +0.70|  1222   -78
Porcupine   80  +6 106  51| 0.17  10.52   7.29  -0.24  -1.99|  1223   -47
Murdo       82  +7 101  63| 0.00  11.04   8.82  -1.09  -1.05|  1356   +34
Winner      81  +4 100  58| 0.00  13.03  11.00  -2.21  -1.41|  1566   -21
Armour      79  +3  94  65| 0.20  17.04  15.68  +2.58  +4.10|  1454   -75
Centerville 75  +1  90  58| 0.07  17.20  15.38  +2.21  +3.17|  1353   -63
Marion      75  +1  89  58| 0.17  15.40  13.67  +0.98  +2.24|  1238  -134
Pickstown   78  +2  96  58| 0.00  13.79  11.92  +0.09  +0.71|  1404   -65
Vermillion  78  +3  94  57| 0.00  15.04  11.92  +0.32  -0.17|  1532  -106
Yankton     76  +1  91  60| 0.04  18.35  15.17  +4.00  +3.33|  1379   -94


 

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