Released: November 08, 2004 -- 3:00 pm CST For Week ending November 07, 2004 SD-CW4504 Volume 53 Issue 45

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:    Corn harvest continues in full swing with moisture and wet fields a concern for several farmers throughout the state, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Wet weather throughout the state has caused harvest progress to fall further behind average for corn, sorghum, and sunflowers. Major farm activities included combining row crops, fall tillage, working cattle, and caring for livestock. Statewide, 4.9 days were 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:   Temperatures were above normal for the state again last week, with average temperatures in the 40's. The high for the week was 75 degrees, reported in Rapid City, Pickstown, and Yankton. Custer had the low for the week at 18 degrees. Precipitation was scattered throughout the state with Vermillion, at 0.66 inch, receiving the most precipitation.

SOIL CONDITION:    Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels improved slightly last week, with several areas receiving precipitation throughout the state. Topsoil moisture was rated at 84 percent adequate to surplus last week, compared to the previous week's 80 percent. Subsoil moisture was rated 71 percent adequate to surplus, compared to the previous week's 66 percent. Soil temperatures averaged 4.3 degrees above normal last week, with the average soil temperature for the state at 44 degrees.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:    Damp weather continues to hinder harvest progress throughout the state with corn harvest only 47 percent complete, well behind the five-year average of 84 percent. Sorghum harvest progressed to 76 percent complete last week, behind last year's 97 percent and the five-year average of 91 percent. Sunflower harvest also remains behind with harvest 47 percent complete, compared to the average of 90 percent. Winter wheat emergence nears completion with 95 percent of the crop emerged, ahead of last year's 84 percent.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Cattle and sheep were rated in fair to excellent condition last week. Cattle in some areas are being moved into field residue to graze corn stalks as an additional feed source. Many farmers and ranchers report that more moisture will be needed throughout the winter for range and pasture conditions to improve.

                                     
          SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
                 AS OF November 7, 2004 
               TOPSOIL         SUBSOIL
         This   Last  Last  This   Last  Last
RATING   Week   Week  Year  Week   Week  Year
                       Percent
Very 
 Short      4     5    33     12     14    48
Short      12    15    38     17     20    33
Adeq.      77    72    29     68     63    19
Surplus     7     8     0      3      3     0
                    

             CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
                 AS OF November 7, 2004 
ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                          Percent
Sunflower      9       9     31      42      9
Winter wheat   0       0     21      60     19
Cattle         0       1     16      64     19
Sheep          0       3     13      60     24
     
                         
       CROP PROGRESS AS OF November 7, 2004  1/ 
                                                                                        

                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Corn        
 grain harvested     47     33     92      84
Sorghum     
 mature             100    100    100     100
 grain harvested     76     71     97      91
Soybeans    
 harvested           99     95    100      98
Sunflower   
 harvested           47     35     94      90
Winter wheat
 seeded             100    100    100     100
 emerged             95     91     84      87

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



SOIL TEMPERATURES WEEK ENDING November 7, 2004
                (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP

Beresford      46              Gettysburg   43
Brookings      44              Nisland      44
Caputa         43              Pierre       46
Chamberlain    47              Redfield     43
Cottonwood     44              Watertown    42





	        TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION
                 WEEK ENDING November 7, 2004
                                     
             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       44  +7  67  23| 0.00  12.51  10.53  -3.59  -3.55
Buffalo     45  +9  68  25| 0.02  10.01   9.60  -3.31  -2.50
Dupree      43  +6  66  25| 0.06  19.51  17.96  +3.62  +3.81
Mc Intosh   44  +8  68  22| 0.04  14.41  12.98  -1.37  -1.28
Newell      42  +5  71  23| 0.16  12.05  10.59  -2.34  -2.26
Timber Lake 43  +6  66  24| 0.09  16.57  14.38  -0.26  -0.44
Aberdeen    43  +8  68  22| 0.14  21.33  18.84  +3.62  +3.37
Eureka      44  +9  67  22| 0.07  16.59  15.20  +0.31  +0.55
Faulkton    41  +6  69  23| 0.34  25.69  23.10  +7.87  +7.44
Mobridge    44  +7  69  23| 0.05  14.76  13.73  -1.34  -0.41
Roscoe      40  +5  66  22| 0.18  22.67  19.57  +4.77  +3.65
Britton     44  +8  66  24| 0.10  21.75  20.21  +3.75  +3.96
Clear Lake  42  +5  68  28| 0.05  33.29  31.32 +10.31 +11.31
Sisseton    45  +8  68  31| 0.11  23.07  21.37  +3.08  +3.87
Webster     43  +8  65  27| 0.05  24.34  21.41  +4.30  +3.71
Watertown   44  +8  68  30| 0.05  26.13  24.76  +4.93  +6.15
Faith       44  +6  68  26| 0.07  19.38  18.66  +3.48  +4.62
Milesville  44  +6  70  24| 0.00  20.88  18.89  +3.62  +3.60
Long Valley 45  +4  72  26| 0.22  17.40  15.42  +0.26  +0.21
Philip      46  +6  74  26| 0.04  15.27  14.46  -0.11  +0.76
Rapid City  44  +6  75  21| 0.10  13.14  11.20  -2.65  -2.60
Spearfish   46  +7  68  21| 0.05  14.81  12.39  -6.02  -5.58
Chamberlain 45  +6  74  25| 0.30  23.81  20.59  +7.01  +5.61
Highmore    45  +7  71  25| 0.17  24.42  22.15  +5.51  +5.38
Huron       45  +8  73  25| 0.06  28.46  25.30  +9.33  +8.98
Onida       43  +6  69  25| 0.16  19.73  16.99  +2.29  +1.94
Pierre      45  +6  74  27| 0.26  18.10  15.74  +0.33  +0.06
Brookings   42  +6  69  22| 0.01  24.76  22.95  +2.74  +2.97
Madison     43  +6  71  26| 0.02  26.46  24.56  +3.86  +5.14
Mitchell    43  +4  72  27| 0.18  30.12  27.16  +9.31  +9.05
Sioux Falls 45  +7  73  28| 0.24  30.18  26.61  +7.79  +7.08
Custer      40  +4  65  18| 0.12  11.87  10.39  -6.19  -5.75
Hot Springs 46  +5  71  22| 0.14  12.40  10.24  -2.79  -3.42
Oelrichs    43  +3  69  22| 0.35  11.93  10.09  -4.08  -3.95
Porcupine   43  +5  72  23| 0.25  14.92  12.30  -0.33  -1.43
Murdo       45  +7  72  27| 0.18  17.71  15.26  +0.51  +0.38
Winner      48  +6  73  27| 0.42  22.46  18.88  +0.01  -0.68
Armour      46  +6  72  27| 0.20  23.35  19.98  +1.61  +1.19
Centerville 43  +4  74  23| 0.42  26.54  22.31  +2.86  +1.47
Marion      43  +6  72  28| 0.28  32.03  28.63  +9.05  +8.72
Pickstown   45  +4  75  26| 0.27  20.75  18.16  -0.26  -0.29
Vermillion  46  +5  74  26| 0.66  27.24  22.43  +3.97  +1.85
Yankton     45  +5  75  24| 0.00  29.84  24.59  +7.57  +4.88

Source: National Weather Service, provided by AWIS, Inc.