Return to the List of 1997 Crop Weather Reports

Released: June 23, 1997 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending June 22, 1997 Volume 46 Issue 16

GENERAL
Warm temperatures spurred crop progress, however, crop development for most crops was still behind normal according to the USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Weed control was becoming the main concern for most farmers. Major activities by South Dakota farmers and ranchers during the week were spraying, cultivating, and haying. Statewide, there were 5.4 days suitable for field work.

This report is based on information from county agents and other reporters around the state. 

SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
               TOPSOIL           SUBSOIL
          This  Last  Last  This  Last  Last
RATING    Week  Week  Year  Week  Week  Year
                        Percent
Very 
 Short      4     3    0     0     0     0
     
Short      16    10    6     6     2     3
Adeq.      69    75   61    72    75    54
Surplus    11    12   33    22    23    43


CROPS
Warm weather accelerated crop progress during the week. The percent of winter wheat headed jumped 23 points to 79 percent but was still behind the five-year average of 83 percent. Spring small grains also made progress during the week with 51 percent of barley, 48 percent of the oats, and 56 percent of the spring wheat in boot. Spring small grains were starting to head with 9 percent of the barley, 12 percent of the oats, and 18 percent of the spring wheat headed; however, this is behind their respective five-year averages of 33, 35, and 33 percent. Corn planting is complete, while 98 percent of the soybeans, 86 percent of the sorghum, and 89 percent of the sunflowers were planted. Weed control was becoming a major concern across the state. Thunderstorms caused severe hail damage in Hutchinson County. Douglas County also reported hail damage and strong winds. 

CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
ITEM         V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                            Percent
Winter Wht      7      15     38     36      4
Winter Rye      0      27     32     33      8
Spring Wht      0       5     24     55     16
Flaxseed        2       0     69     24      5
Sorghum         0       0     43     46     11
Oats            1      11     18     59     11
Barley          0       3     11     70     16
Soybeans        2       7     28     48     15
Sunflowers      1       1     25     59     14
Corn            1       6     17     58     18
Alfalfa         1       8     26     51     14
Livestock       0       1      9     73     17
Range &
   Pasture      1       2     13     58     26


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Harvest of the first cutting of alfalfa was in full swing. Statewide, the first cutting of alfalfa progressed to 51 percent complete compared to last year's average of 42 percent. Weevils were still causing serious damage to alfalfa in many counties. Spraying was being done to prevent losses; however, many areas still reported production losses. Stock water supplies rated 73 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus.

WEATHER
Temperatures for the week averaged above normal. Several locations across the state reported a high of 95 degrees. The lowest overnight temperature of 33 degrees was reported at Deerfield. Precipitation varied across the state with all stations reporting some precipitation. Brookings received the most rainfall with 1.27 inches followed by Oelrichs with 1.25 inches. Pierre received the least with .08 inch. 

CROP PROGRESS
AS OF SUNDAY, June 22, 1997
               This   Last   Last   5-Yr                                                                                     This   Last   Last 5-Yr.
ITEM           Week   Week   Year   Ave
                         Percent
Spring Wheat
 boot            56     17     45    63
 headed          18      1      7    33
Oats
 emerged         99     97    100   100
 boot            48     28     42    60
 headed          12     3      4     35
Barley
 boot            51     23     41    60
 headed           9      5      5    33
Corn    
 1st cult.       29      7     NA    NA
 ave.height(in.) 10      4      9    11      
Flaxseed:   
 seeded         100     96     97    95
 emerged         95     77     86    87
Soybeans:   
 seeded          98     89     93    88
Sunflowers: 
 seeded          89     67     83    88
Sorghum:   
 seeded          86     65     86    83
Winter Wheat:
 boot            94     74     89    97
 headed          79     56     58    83                                  
 turning color    1      0      0    12   
Winter Rye:  
 headed          73     71     72    91
 turning color   13      0      0    10   
Alfalfa:     
 cut once        51     20     42    51
Other Hay:
 harvested        9     NA      3    10

NOTE: Crop progress is based on current intended acres.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Growing Degree Days |    Temperature past week
               -----------------------------------------------------------
                 GDD       Departure|          Departure
                 Since     from     |  Ave     from        High   Low 
Dist  Station    April 7   normal   |          normal 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      - - - - - - Degrees - - - - - - 
NW  Camp Crook         664      -138        66        2       89       41
    Newell             679       -99        67        2       83       50
    Lemmon             716       -35        66        2       87       47
    Dupree             716      -172        67        0       93       48

NC  Mobridge           729      -117        68        1       87       48
    Faulkton           722      -192        67        0       83       49
    Aberdeen           693      -173        67       -1       83       52

NE  Waubay             651      -192        67        1       82       52
    Watertown          651      -169        68        0       83       47
    Milbank            748      -150        69        2       87       53

WC  Spearfish          648      -100        67        3       82       54
    Rapid City         674      -158        67        1       92       51
    Cottonwood         730      -186        68        1       84       49
    Milesville         756      -162        69        1       95       52
    Deerfield           NA        NA        58        2       83       33
    Lead                NA        NA        60        0       89       41

C   Pierre             798      -127        71        1       95       52
    Highmore           714      -224        68        0       89       48
    Huron              762      -148        72        3       92       52

EC  Mitchell           751      -261        72        2       85       54
    Brookings          649      -158        67        2       82       49
    Sioux Falls        696      -253        71        2       89       51

SW  Oelrichs           720      -186        67        0       87       47
    Martin             578      -381        66       -2       87       47
    Custer              NA        NA        62        4       85       45
    Hot Springs         NA        NA        68        2       95       45

SC  Murdo              725      -221        69        1       85       54
    Kennebec           862      -161        71        1       95       52
    Winner             754      -303        72        1       95       54

SE  Pickstown          819      -199        73        2       92       53
    Yankton            804      -197        74        4       93       57
    Sx City, IA        843      -270        75        3       95       55
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1/ Growing degree days are calculated by subtracting 50 degrees (F) 
     base temperature from the average of the maximum and minimum
     temperatures for the day. The daily maximum is limited to 86
     degrees (F) and daily minimum of 50 degrees (F). NA=Not Available.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Precipitation
               -----------------------------------------------------------
                            Totals             |  Departure from normal
               -----------------------------------------------------------
Dist  Station     Weekly     Yearly  Since 4/7 | Weekly  Yearly  Since 4/7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 - - - - - - - - - - - - Inches - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NW  Camp Crook        0.26      6.02      3.97    -0.43    -0.46    -1.36
    Newell            0.77      8.16      5.68     0.08     1.03    -0.24
    Lemmon            1.11      7.57      4.66     0.27    -1.08    -2.07
    Dupree            0.25      7.65      4.60    -0.56    -0.37    -1.69

NC  Mobridge          1.10      6.39      2.90     0.35    -1.58    -3.58
    Faulkton          0.28     13.43      5.29    -0.54     4.62    -1.78
    Aberdeen          0.49      8.60      3.79    -0.28     0.46    -2.52

NE  Waubay            0.37      8.00      3.01    -0.47    -0.61    -3.93
    Watertown         0.36      7.42      3.24    -0.48    -2.21    -4.21
    Milbank           0.16      8.71      2.27    -0.81    -1.09    -5.35

WC  Spearfish         0.51      9.97      6.31    -0.42    -0.82    -2.06
    Rapid City        0.45     11.03      8.90    -0.26     2.76     2.32
    Cottonwood        0.70     13.36      9.67     0.00     5.58     3.20
    Milesville        0.41     12.84      8.31    -0.30     4.28     1.37
    Deerfield         0.56     11.46      8.77    -0.07     3.14     2.09
    Lead              0.59     16.08      7.51    -0.32     1.66    -2.69

C   Pierre            0.08     16.12      9.78    -0.76     7.17     2.57
    Highmore          0.18     13.42      8.42    -0.59     5.25     1.81
    Huron             0.87      9.41      5.95     0.09     0.15    -1.13

EC  Mitchell          0.96     11.25      7.80     0.05     1.17    -0.14
    Brookings         1.27      6.93      3.12     0.29    -2.04    -4.34
    Sioux Falls       0.52      8.78      5.47    -0.28    -1.25    -2.17

SW  Oelrichs          1.25     12.19      9.18     0.54     3.24     2.22
    Martin            0.67     17.96     14.17     0.04     9.73     7.26
    Custer            0.26      8.62      6.71    -0.51     0.00    -0.42
    Hot Springs       0.45     13.07      9.84    -0.25     4.74     3.25

SC  Murdo             0.74     15.62     11.32    -0.04     6.96     4.37
    Kennebec          0.58     14.85     10.67    -0.12     6.78     4.15
    Winner            0.20      9.22      6.56    -0.65    -1.33    -1.66

SE  Pickstown         0.31     12.15      6.77    -0.57     2.27    -1.05
    Yankton           0.34     10.07      7.25    -0.59    -0.29    -1.18
    Sx City, IA       0.34     10.13      7.06    -0.50    -0.75    -1.28
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EDAIEND

bar chart showing crop progress compared to the last 10 years
South Dakota county map showing topsoil moisture South Dakota county map showing subsoil moisture

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