Return to the List of 1997 Crop Weather Reports

Released: June 30, 1997 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending June 29, 1997 Volume 46 Issue 17

GENERAL
Severe thunderstorms brought needed moisture in many areas across the state, according to the USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Hail damage and severe winds caused losses in some areas. However, the high temperatures and wind have left other areas of the state in need of a good shower. With 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork, producers continued cultivating, haying, and spraying.

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      3     4    0     1     0     0
Short      24    16    9     4     6     3
Adeq.      65    69   74    75    72    67
Surplus     8    11   17    20    22    30


CROPS
Hot and humid temperatures spurred corn growth to an average height of 16 inches. The hot weather also pushed the development of small grains. Spring wheat jumped to 38 percent headed, oats to 43 percent, barley to 44 percent, winter wheat to 94 percent, and winter rye to 93 percent. The first cultivating of corn advanced to 70 percent complete. Sorghum, soybeans, and sunflowers planting neared completion. Areas hit hardest by hail storms reported soybeans being replanted. Grasshoppers are also becoming a major concern in many areas of the state. 

CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS        
ITEM         V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                            Percent
Winter Wht      8      11     31     45      5
Winter Rye      8       4     38     40     10
Spring Wht      2       7     34     48      9
Flaxseed        1       0     42     52      5
Sorghum         0       7     37     44     12
Oats            3       3     26     56     12
Barley          3       4     37     51      5
Soybeans        3       6     20     53     18
Sunflowers      2       6     24     48     20
Corn            3       3     16     54     24
Alfalfa         2       6     27     47     18
Livestock       0       1      7     70     22
Range &
   Pasture      1       1     15     58     25


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Hay cutting made good progress statewide, with the first cutting of alfalfa progressing to 74 percent complete, compared to the five-year average of 70 percent. Other hay progressed to 20 percent complete, compared to the five-year average of 23 percent. Besides the alfalfa weevil infestation, a growing population of grasshoppers is a concern in many counties. Pastures are in mostly good to excellent condition, but rain is needed for additional growth in many areas. Stock water supplies were rated 1 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 28 percent surplus.

WEATHER
Average temperatures during the week were generally above normal. The highest daytime temperature was 99 degrees at Mitchell. The lowest overnight temperature was 33 degrees at Deerfield. Precipitation was varied across the state, with some areas receiving none. Sioux Falls received the most rainfall with 3.01 inches. Growing-degree-days were above normal for the week. 

CROP PROGRESS 
AS OF SUNDAY, June 29, 1997
               This   Last   Last    5-Yr
ITEM           Week   Week   Year    Ave
                         Percent
Spring Wheat
 boot            75     56     68     81
 headed          38     18     39     58
Oats
 boot            71     48     68     80
 headed          43     12     33     56
Barley
 boot            82     51     60     76
 headed          44      9     21     51
Corn    
 1st cult.       70     29     57     62
 2nd cult.       16     NA     NA     NA
 ave.height(in.) 16     10     14     17      
Flaxseed:   
 emerged        100     95     97     95
Soybeans:   
 seeded          98     98     97     93
Sunflowers: 
 seeded          94     89     95     95
Sorghum:   
 seeded          93     86     92     91
Winter Wheat:
 boot            96     94     99    100
 headed          94     79     88     96
 turning color   10      1     13     33   
Winter Rye:  
 headed          93     73     95     98
 turning color   20     13      4     23   
Alfalfa:     
 cut once        74     51     66     70
Other Hay:
 harvested       20      9     19     23

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         784      -148        66       -1       89       42
    Newell             810      -103        70        2       92       49
    Lemmon             854       -21        71        4       92       49
    Dupree             862      -166        72        2       98       45

NC  Mobridge           879      -107        72        2       92       52
    Faulkton           883      -173        74        4       91       54
    Aberdeen           841      -165        72        2       90       49

NE  Waubay             794      -187        70        1       86       57
    Watertown          805      -154        72        2       90       50
    Milbank            911      -130        74        4       93       51

WC  Spearfish          773      -107        68        1       90       50
    Rapid City         799      -173        68        0       92       48
    Cottonwood         865      -192        70        0       94       47
    Milesville         906      -158        72        1       95       49
    Deerfield           NA        NA        58        0       83       33
    Lead                NA        NA        62       -2       85       41

C   Pierre             956      -121        74        2       96       52
    Highmore           867      -216        72        1       89       54
    Huron              924      -133        74        3       94       54

EC  Mitchell           922      -247        77        4       99       54
    Brookings          806      -135        73        5       92       49
    Sioux Falls        855      -247        74        3       96       52

SW  Oelrichs           847      -201        69       -2       96       46
    Martin             691      -413        65       -5       90       41
    Custer              NA        NA        72       10       98       45
    Hot Springs         NA        NA        69       -1       95       46

SC  Murdo              876      -222        73        1       96       52
    Kennebec          1024      -154        75        2       96       50
    Winner             915      -303        75        1       97       52

SE  Pickstown          987      -193        76        4       98       53
    Yankton            976      -181        77        5       98       54
    Sx City, IA       1017      -255        76        3       94       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        1.20      7.22      5.17     0.57     0.11    -0.79
    Newell            0.57      8.73      6.25    -0.06     0.97    -0.30
    Lemmon            0.49      8.06      5.15    -0.28    -1.36    -2.35
    Dupree            0.25      7.90      4.85    -0.48    -0.85    -2.17

NC  Mobridge          1.14      7.53      4.04     0.46    -1.12    -3.12
    Faulkton          0.22     13.65      5.51    -0.52     4.10    -2.30
    Aberdeen          0.37      8.97      4.16    -0.37     0.09    -2.89

NE  Waubay            0.03      8.03      3.04    -0.79    -1.40    -4.72
    Watertown         0.00      7.42      3.24    -0.81    -3.02    -5.02
    Milbank           0.90      9.61      3.17     0.01    -1.08    -5.34

WC  Spearfish         0.55     10.52      6.86    -0.27    -1.09    -2.33
    Rapid City        0.86     11.88      9.75     0.20     2.95     2.51
    Cottonwood        1.46     14.82     11.13     0.82     6.40     4.02
    Milesville        0.00     12.84      8.31    -0.66     3.62     0.71
    Deerfield         0.30     11.76      9.07    -0.33     2.81     1.76
    Lead              0.45     16.53      7.96    -0.37     1.29    -3.06

C   Pierre            0.63     16.75     10.41    -0.17     7.00     2.40
    Highmore          0.27     13.69      8.69    -0.48     4.77     1.33
    Huron             0.14      9.55      6.09    -0.63    -0.48    -1.76

EC  Mitchell          0.00     11.25      7.80    -0.87     0.30    -1.01
    Brookings         0.66      7.59      3.78    -0.25    -2.29    -4.59
    Sioux Falls       3.01     11.79      8.48     2.25     1.00     0.08

SW  Oelrichs          1.08     13.27     10.26     0.39     3.63     2.61
    Martin            0.78     18.74     14.95     0.15     9.88     7.41
    Custer            0.25      8.87      6.96    -0.48    -0.48    -0.90
    Hot Springs       0.77     13.84     10.61     0.09     4.83     3.34

SC  Murdo             0.06     15.68     11.38    -0.67     6.29     3.70
    Kennebec          0.03     14.88     10.70    -0.62     6.16     3.53
    Winner            0.03      9.25      6.59    -0.81    -2.14    -2.47

SE  Pickstown         0.00     12.15      6.77    -0.79     1.48    -1.84
    Yankton           0.43     10.50      7.68    -0.45    -0.74    -1.63
    Sx City, IA       1.43     11.69      8.62     0.59    -0.03    -0.56
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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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