Return to the List of 1997 Crop Weather Reports

Released: July 7, 1997 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending July 6, 1997 Volume 46 Issue 18

GENERAL
Cooler, wet weather prevailed last week, which benefited small grain crops, but slowed development of row crops and caused some difficulty in haymaking, according to the USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 4.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Producers were busy with cultivating and spraying, as weed control was priority in many areas.

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      5     3    0     0     1     0
     
Short      14    24   18     7     4     6
Adeq.      74    65   77    84    75    79
Surplus     7     8    5     9    20    15


CROPS
The below normal temperatures were beneficial to the spring small grain crops which are still behind the five-year average in development. Row crops, on the other hand, needed hot weather to spur development. The average height of corn without extending the top leaf was 23 inches. Spring wheat jumped to 68 percent headed, oats 74 percent, barley 66 percent, winter wheat 95 percent, and winter rye to 97 percent headed. The first cultivation of corn was 90 percent complete and the second cultivation was 34 percent complete. A growing population of grasshoppers is a concern in many counties. Field crickets have been affecting sorghum fields in several counties in the central area of the state. 

CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
ITEM         V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                           Percent
Winter Wht      1      12     33     47      7
Winter Rye      5       7     36     46      6
Spring Wht      3       4     23     55     15
Flaxseed        2       9     31     51      7
Sorghum         1       2     27     58     12
Oats            1       5     25     56     13
Barley          3       3     24     56     14
Soybeans        2       5     20     51     22
Sunflowers      1       5     24     52     18
Corn            1       3     19     50     27
Alfalfa         4       6     29     47     14
Livestock       0       1      9     64     26
Range &
   Pasture      1       2     13     60     24


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
The first cutting of alfalfa progressed to 85 percent complete, compared to the five-year average of 82 percent. Other hay progressed to 39 percent harvested, compared to the five-year average of 32 percent. Producers in some areas are having trouble putting up hay because rain and high humidity are preventing the cut hay from drying and causing a decrease in quality. The alfalfa weevil infestation continues to be a problem in many areas of the state, with producers fighting the pest by taking the first cutting early or spraying. Pastures are in mostly good to excellent condition. Stock water supplies rated 1 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus.

WEATHER
Average temperatures during the week were below normal. The highest daytime temperature was 93 degrees at Pickstown. The lowest overnight temperature was 28 degrees at Deerfield. Precipitation varied from light to moderate. Huron received the most rainfall with 2.31 inches, while Sioux City received the least with 0.04 inch. The growing degree days were below normal for the week. 

CROP PROGRESS
AS OF SUNDAY, July 6, 1997
               This   Last   Last   5-Yr                                                                                     This   Last   Last  5-Yr.
ITEM           Week   Week   Year   Ave
                         Percent
Spring Wheat
 boot            84     75     92    92
 headed          68     38     73    78
 turning color    3      0      2    13
Oats
 boot            91     71     92    92
 headed          74     43     65    75
 turning color    5      0      5    17
Barley
 boot            92     82     83    90
 headed          66     44     57    72
 turning color    6      1     NA    NA
Corn    
 1st cult.       90     70     87    77
 2nd cult.       34     16     31    38
 ave.height(in.) 23     16     24    24      
Flaxseed:   
 blooming        39      0      9    22
Soybeans:   
 blooming         5      1      3     9
Sunflowers: 
 seeded          97     94    100    98
 blooming         1     NA     NA    NA
Sorghum:   
 seeded          96     93     96    96
Winter Wheat:
 headed          95     94     95    99
 turning color   42     10     34    60
 ripe             1      0     NA    NA   
Winter Rye:  
 headed          97     93     99   100
 turning color   31     20     28    49
 ripe             2      0     NA    NA      
Alfalfa:     
 cut once        85     74     85    82
 cut twice        2      0     NA    NA
Other Hay:
 harvested       39     20     32    32

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         863      -208        59      -11       80       39
    Newell             919      -141        65       -6       84       44
    Lemmon             948       -68        63       -6       82       43
    Dupree             964      -217        64       -8       83       42

NC  Mobridge           980      -163        64       -7       81       49
    Faulkton           987      -222        64       -8       85       43
    Aberdeen           933      -223        63       -8       83       44

NE  Waubay             896      -233        64       -7       83       48
    Watertown          888      -218        60      -11       83       43
    Milbank           1025      -166        66       -6       87       45

WC  Spearfish          872      -152        64       -6       82       47
    Rapid City         902      -223        64       -6       83       44
    Cottonwood         975      -236        65       -8       85       42
    Milesville        1017      -205        65       -8       85       44
    Deerfield           NA        NA        54       -7       76       28
    Lead                NA        NA        56      -11       74       38

C   Pierre            1075      -164        67       -7       88       46
    Highmore           976      -262        65       -8       86       43
    Huron             1032      -184        65       -7       86       44

EC  Mitchell          1038      -296        67       -7       90       46
    Brookings          904      -179        63       -7       85       42
    Sioux Falls        957      -307        64       -8       84       45

SW  Oelrichs           954      -247        64       -9       84       41
    Martin             784      -474        61      -12       82       35
    Custer              NA        NA        59       -6       79       37
    Hot Springs         NA        NA        63       -9       83       39

SC  Murdo              989      -268        67       -7       91       50
    Kennebec          1145      -197        67       -8       90       43
    Winner            1047      -340        69       -7       90       46

SE  Pickstown         1115      -234        69       -5       93       45
    Yankton           1097      -224        68       -6       92       48
    Sx City, IA       1135      -302        67       -8       89       48
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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.


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                                     Precipitation
               -----------------------------------------------------------
                            Totals             |  Departure from normal
               -----------------------------------------------------------
Dist  Station     Weekly     Yearly  Since 4/7 | Weekly  Yearly  Since 4/7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 - - - - - - - - - - - - Inches - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NW  Camp Crook        1.68      8.90      6.85     1.13     1.24     0.34
    Newell            0.17      8.90      6.42    -0.37     0.60    -0.67
    Lemmon            1.89      9.95      7.04     1.22    -0.14    -1.13
    Dupree            0.40      8.30      5.25    -0.21    -1.06    -2.38

NC  Mobridge          1.30      8.83      5.34     0.71    -0.41    -2.41
    Faulkton          0.88     14.53      6.39     0.24     4.34    -2.06
    Aberdeen          0.73      9.70      4.89     0.03     0.12    -2.86

NE  Waubay            1.81      9.84      4.85     1.07    -0.33    -3.65
    Watertown         0.65      8.07      3.89    -0.12    -3.14    -5.14
    Milbank           0.61     10.22      3.78    -0.16    -1.24    -5.50

WC  Spearfish         0.10     10.62      6.96    -0.55    -1.64    -2.88
    Rapid City        0.15     12.03      9.90    -0.42     2.53     2.09
    Cottonwood        0.18     15.00     11.31    -0.39     6.01     3.63
    Milesville        0.90     13.74      9.21     0.32     3.94     1.03
    Deerfield         0.06     11.82      9.13    -0.57     2.24     1.19
    Lead              0.24     16.77      8.20    -0.46     0.83    -3.52

C   Pierre            1.92     18.67     12.33     1.19     8.19     3.59
    Highmore          1.74     15.43     10.43     1.07     5.84     2.40
    Huron             2.31     11.86      8.40     1.61     1.13    -0.15

EC  Mitchell          0.08     11.33      7.88    -0.68    -0.38    -1.69
    Brookings         0.41      8.00      4.19    -0.36    -2.65    -4.95
    Sioux Falls       0.05     11.84      8.53    -0.64     0.36    -0.56

SW  Oelrichs          0.25     13.52     10.51    -0.37     3.26     2.24
    Martin            0.09     18.83     15.04    -0.59     9.29     6.82
    Custer            0.21      9.08      7.17    -0.49    -0.97    -1.39
    Hot Springs       0.47     14.31     11.08    -0.16     4.67     3.18

SC  Murdo             0.12     15.80     11.50    -0.51     5.78     3.19
    Kennebec          0.35     15.23     11.05    -0.25     5.91     3.28
    Winner            0.07      9.32      6.66    -0.70    -2.84    -3.17

SE  Pickstown         0.08     12.23      6.85    -0.66     0.82    -2.50
    Yankton           0.43     10.93      8.11    -0.37    -1.11    -2.00
    Sx City, IA       0.04     11.73      8.66    -0.75    -0.78    -1.31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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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