Released: October 20, 2003 -- 3:00 pm CST For Week ending October 19, 2003 SD-CW4203 Volume 52 Issue 42

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:    Temperatures across the state were predominantly above normal again last week, with farmers utilizing the mild weather to advance their harvest progress, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major farm activities included row crop harvest, winter wheat seeding, fall tillage, weaning calves, working cattle, and caring for 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:   Precipitation was scattered last week, with the majority of the state experiencing continually mild temperatures. Average temperatures were in the lower 50's, with a low of 25 degrees in Brookings and a high of 93 degrees in Spearfish. Pierre, at 0.36 inch, received the most precipitation for the week.

SOIL CONDITION:    Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels varied slightly last week, with spotty precipitation received across the state. Topsoil is currently rated 30 percent very short, 39 percent short, and 31 percent adequate, with no surplus. Subsoil is rated at 42 percent very short, 35 percent short, and 23 percent adequate, with no surplus.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:    Row crop harvest continues, with progress advancing ahead of last year pace's, as well as that of the five-year average. The corn crop is 44 percent harvested, compared to last year's 32 percent and the five-year average of 40 percent. Soybean harvest advanced 14 percentage points last week, to 92 percent complete, well ahead of last year's 73 percent and the five-year average of 77 percent. Sorghum harvest also increased 14 percentage points last week to 82 percent complete, compared to last year's 45 percent and the five-year average of 59 percent. Sunflower harvest, at 67 percent complete, is ahead of last year's 54 percent and the five-year average of 55 percent. While winter wheat seeding, at 97 percent, is ahead of the five-year average of 94 percent; emergence, at 62 percent, is behind the five- year average of 76 percent.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    While alfalfa harvest nears completion, many farmers continue to graze cattle on field residues in order to save on feed supplies. Livestock remain in fair to excellent condition. The majority of range and pasture conditions vary from very poor to good, with several farmers and ranchers reporting dry stock dams and the need for precipitation.

        SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
               AS OF October 19, 2003 

TOPSOIL         SUBSOIL
         This   Last  Last  This   Last  Last
RATING    Week   Week  Year  Week   Week  Year
                       Percent
Very 
 Short     30    36    22     42     46    31
Short      39    35    23     35     33    25
Adeq.      31    29    52     23     21    43
Surplus     0     0     3      0      0     1

 



           CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
                  AS OF October 19, 2003 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Corn           9      13     21      44     13
Alfalfa       14      23     37      23      3
Cattle         0       4     24      60     12
Sheep          0       3     20      61     16
Range &                                       
   Pasture    22      33     29      15      1




                   CROP PROGRESS 
               AS OF October 19, 2003  1/
                                                      
                                                                       
                  This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent

Corn        
 grain harvested     44     32     32      40
Sorghum     
 grain harvested     82     68     45      59
Soybeans    
 harvested           92     78     73      77
Sunflower   
 mature              93     88     95      95
 harvested           67     50     54      55
Winter wheat
 seeded              97     93     96      94
 emerged             62     50     78      76
Winter rye  
 emerged             92     60     82      88
Alfalfa     
 3rd cutting         97     94     97      98

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


      SOIL TEMPERATURES  WEEK ENDING OCT. 19, 2003
                     (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP
          
Beresford      54              Gettysburg   53
Brookings      49              Nisland      54
Caputa         51              Pierre       55
Chamberlain    56              Redfield     48
Cottonwood     53              Watertown    47






	         TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION
                  WEEK ENDING October 19, 2003
                                     
             TEMPERATURE       -----  PRECIPITATION -----    
             -----------          SINCE  SINCE  SINCE  SINCE 
            CURRENT WEEK    CURR  JAN 1  APR 1  JAN 1  APR 1 
STATION     AVG DFN HI  LO  WEEK  TOTAL  TOTAL    DFN    DFN 
-------     --  --  --  -- -----  -----  -----  -----  ----- 
Bison       52  +5  81  34| 0.15  15.95  12.02  +0.36  -1.61
Buffalo     52  +5  82  34| 0.14  10.66   8.54  -2.20  -3.14
Dupree      52  +3  85  35| 0.21  11.55   9.26  -3.83  -4.43
Mc Intosh   52  +5  88  30| 0.00  12.09  10.99  -3.17  -2.80
Newell      52  +5  85  35| 0.23  11.83   9.41  -2.04  -2.96
Timber Lake 52  +4  86  32| 0.00  12.65  10.54  -3.63  -3.78
Aberdeen    49  +2  80  26| 0.02  17.15  16.15  -0.05  +1.13
Eureka      51  +5  86  29| 0.00  17.28  16.74  +1.65  +2.69
Faulkton    54  +8  87  32| 0.00  17.21  14.99  +0.00  -0.12
Mobridge    52  +4  85  30| 0.00  11.59  10.97  -4.00  -2.72
Roscoe      49  +1  81  29| 0.00  17.09  15.41  -0.25  -0.01
Britton     51  +3  87  29| 0.00  20.53  20.04  +3.16  +4.38
Clear Lake  48  -1  80  29| 0.00  16.80  14.67  -5.16  -4.38
Sisseton    50  +2  75  32| 0.00  16.79  16.47  -2.26  -0.15
Webster     51  +5  85  31| 0.00  19.91  18.89  +0.58  +1.85
Watertown   48  -1  79  29| 0.00  15.65  14.67  -4.58  -3.03
Faith       52  +4  82  36| 0.18   8.98   8.06  -6.41  -5.52
Milesville  54  +4  83  36| 0.20  11.89   8.90  -4.75  -5.82
Long Valley 54  +3  90  26| 0.08  16.41  13.77  -0.24  -1.01
Philip      53  +3  85  33| 0.32  11.06   9.42  -3.80  -3.80
Rapid City  54  +6  85  33| 0.01  10.17   8.57  -5.08  -4.74
Spearfish   55  +7  93  35| 0.00  19.57  15.47  -0.41  -1.72
Chamberlain 54  +3  89  36| 0.12  19.33  17.29  +3.09  +2.82
Highmore    53  +4  88  31| 0.00  14.83  13.59  -3.41  -2.58
Huron       51  +3  84  29| 0.01  14.83  13.63  -3.56  -2.01
Onida       53  +4  85  30| 0.01  16.23  14.11  -0.58  -0.37
Pierre      54  +4  85  33| 0.36  12.44  11.30  -4.78  -3.88
Brookings   46  -1  79  25| 0.00  18.33  17.52  -2.90  -1.73
Madison     49  +2  82  28| 0.00  17.40  16.39  -4.25  -2.15
Mitchell    51  +2  84  32| 0.05  21.69  19.58  +1.71  +2.23
Sioux Falls 51  +2  84  30| 0.00  19.90  18.75  -1.62  +0.02
Custer      48  +3  76  26| 0.11  17.61  14.58  +0.02  -1.13
Hot Springs 53  +3  83  27| 0.02  16.49  13.43  +1.76  +0.19
Oelrichs    52  +2  85  30| 0.00  15.31  12.78  -0.19  -0.80
Porcupine   50  +3  85  26| 0.06  13.22   9.99  -1.55  -3.30
Murdo       53  +4  84  36| 0.33  13.03  10.81  -3.52  -3.48
Winner      58  +6  92  36| 0.00  16.08  14.05  -5.68  -4.88
Armour      54  +4  85  32| 0.02  22.82  21.46  +1.80  +3.32
Centerville 50  +2  85  32| 0.03  25.57  23.75  +2.74  +3.70
Marion      50  +2  84  31| 0.00  23.12  21.39  +1.08  +2.34
Pickstown   55  +4  88  34| 0.00  18.08  16.21  -2.23  -1.61
Vermillion  54  +3  85  32| 0.00  24.19  21.07  +1.84  +1.35
Yankton     52  +2  90  33| 0.01  27.57  24.39  +6.12  +5.45

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