Return to the List of 1997 Crop Weather Reports

Released: July 14, 1997 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending July 13, 1997 Volume 46 Issue 19

GENERAL
Warm weather enabled crops to make good progress during the week, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major activities by South Dakota farmers and ranchers during the week were cultivating, haying, and spraying. Statewide there were 5.8 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      6     5    1     0     0     0
     
Short      27    14   25    10     7     8
Adeq.      62    74   66    79    84    75
Surplus     5     7    8    11     9    17


CROPS
Winter wheat was nearly all headed at 99 percent. The percent turning color increased to 74, up 32 points from the previous week but behind the five-year average of 83 percent. Spring small grains also made good progress during the week. Spring wheat, oats, and barley increased to 85, 82, and 81 percent headed, compared to the five-year average of 90, 89, and 87 percent, respectively. Row crops continued to make good progress, with corn jumping to an average height of 35 inches, compared to the five-year average of 34 inches. The first cultivation of corn was 95 percent complete, and the second cultivation was 56 percent complete. Soybeans were 21 percent bloomed, which was 5 percentage points ahead of last year. Weed control was a major concern, with much spraying taking place. Grasshoppers and sunflower beetles were becoming problems in some areas of the state. 

CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
ITEM         V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                            Percent
Winter Wht      1      11     28     52      8
Winter Rye      1      14     28     50      7
Spring Wht      3       5     31     55      6
Flaxseed        2       3     32     51     12
Sorghum         0       8     21     61     10
Oats            3       4     27     58      8
Barley          2       4     30     60      4
Soybeans        3       5     24     56     12
Sunflowers      1       7     20     57     15
Corn            3       4     18     57     18
Alfalfa         2       7     30     51     10
Livestock       0       1      9     71     19
Range &
   Pasture      2       4     17     62     15


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
The first cutting of alfalfa was 96 percent complete, compared to the five-year average of 90 percent, while the second cutting was only 9 percent complete. Other hay harvested increased to 56 percent complete, which is ahead of the five-year average of 40 percent. Range and pastures are in mostly fair to excellent condition. Stock water supplies rated 3 percent short, 89 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus.

WEATHER
Average temperatures during the week were generally near normal. The highest temperature was 100 degrees at Newell. The lowest temperature was 40 degrees at Deerfield. Most stations reported some precipitation during the week. The heaviest precipitation reported was 3.91 inches at Mobridge, while Watertown received the least with .04 inch. Severe hail damage was reported in southeast Walworth county, severely damaging small grains and stripping corn. 

CROP PROGRESS
AS OF SUNDAY, July 13, 1997
               This   Last   Last   5-Yr                                                                                     This   Last   Last  5-Yr.
ITEM           Week   Week   Year   Ave
                         Percent
Spring Wheat
 boot            97     84     98    97
 headed          85     68     86    90
 turning color   18      3      5    27
Oats
 boot            93     91     98    97
 headed          82     74     85    89
 turning color   19      5     15    32
 ripe             3     NA     NA    NA
Barley
 boot            94     92     94    96
 headed          81     66     78    87
 turning color   31      6      7    31
Corn    
 1st cult.       95     90     95    87
 2nd cult.       56     34     62    55
 ave.height(in.) 35     23     35    34
 tassel           1     NA     NA    NA
 silk            NA     NA     NA     2      
Flaxseed:   
 blooming        42     39     43    36
Soybeans:   
 blooming        21      5     16    20
 set pods         1     NA     NA    NA
Sunflowers: 
 blooming         1      1     NA    NA
Winter Wheat:
 headed          99     95     99   100
 turning color   74     42     68    83
 ripe             6      1     NA    NA   
Winter Rye:  
 headed          99     97    100   100
 turning color   39     31     65    75
 ripe            12      2     NA    NA      
Alfalfa:     
 cut once        96     85     92    90
 cut twice        9      2     NA    NA
Other Hay:
 harvested       56     39     48    40

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        1007      -202        71       -1       95       41
    Newell            1070      -135        74        1      100       54
    Lemmon            1098       -57        73        2       92       53
    Dupree            1123      -209        74        0       96       55

NC  Mobridge          1144      -155        74        0       89       59
    Faulkton          1150      -211        74        0       89       53
    Aberdeen          1094      -213        73        1       89       55

NE  Waubay            1036      -242        70       -2       83       51
    Watertown         1040      -215        72        0       87       54
    Milbank           1164      -179        70       -3       89       53

WC  Spearfish         1016      -150        72        0       99       53
    Rapid City        1052      -225        73        1       98       55
    Cottonwood        1135      -229        75        0       99       53
    Milesville        1184      -196        75        0       99       56
    Deerfield           NA        NA        61        0       83       40
    Lead                NA        NA        66       -2       90       49

C   Pierre            1250      -152        77        2       96       59
    Highmore          1140      -253        74       -1       88       55
    Huron             1204      -171        75        1       89       57

EC  Mitchell          1209      -292        75       -1       93       59
    Brookings         1040      -185        69       -2       86       52
    Sioux Falls       1118      -308        73       -1       86       57

SW  Oelrichs          1107      -246        74       -1       97       56
    Martin             915      -489        69       -5       91       51
    Custer              NA        NA        67        1       87       49
    Hot Springs         NA        NA        71       -3       95       49

SC  Murdo             1161      -256        76        0       96       61
    Kennebec          1325      -180        77        0       93       58
    Winner            1220      -336        76       -2       93       58

SE  Pickstown         1290      -229        77        1       93       59
    Yankton           1267      -217        75       -1       91       55
    Sx City, IA       1300      -303        74       -2       87       56
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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        0.40      9.30      7.25    -0.07     1.17     0.27
    Newell            0.71      9.61      7.13     0.24     0.84    -0.43
    Lemmon            1.05     11.00      8.09     0.48     0.34    -0.65
    Dupree            1.21      9.51      6.46     0.72    -0.34    -1.66

NC  Mobridge          3.91     12.74      9.25     3.41     3.00     1.00
    Faulkton          0.67     15.20      7.06     0.14     4.48    -1.92
    Aberdeen          0.34     10.04      5.23    -0.31    -0.19    -3.17

NE  Waubay            1.39     11.23      6.24     0.71     0.38    -2.94
    Watertown         0.04      8.11      3.93    -0.66    -3.80    -5.80
    Milbank           0.72     10.94      4.50     0.07    -1.17    -5.43

WC  Spearfish         0.59     11.21      7.55     0.09    -1.55    -2.79
    Rapid City        0.10     12.13     10.00    -0.39     2.14     1.70
    Cottonwood        0.59     15.59     11.90     0.10     6.11     3.73
    Milesville        0.39     14.13      9.60    -0.12     3.82     0.91
    Deerfield         1.25     13.07     10.38     0.62     2.86     1.81
    Lead              2.48     19.25     10.68     1.89     2.72    -1.63

C   Pierre            0.44     19.11     12.77    -0.21     7.98     3.38
    Highmore          0.58     16.01     11.01    -0.02     5.82     2.38
    Huron             0.47     12.33      8.87    -0.17     0.96    -0.32

EC  Mitchell          0.14     11.47      8.02    -0.52    -0.90    -2.21
    Brookings         0.40      8.40      4.59    -0.25    -2.90    -5.20
    Sioux Falls       1.20     13.04      9.73     0.57     0.93     0.01

SW  Oelrichs          0.45     13.97     10.96    -0.11     3.15     2.13
    Martin            0.71     19.54     15.75     0.01     9.30     6.83
    Custer            0.52      9.60      7.69    -0.12    -1.09    -1.51
    Hot Springs       1.08     15.39     12.16     0.47     5.14     3.65

SC  Murdo             1.08     16.88     12.58     0.55     6.33     3.74
    Kennebec          1.80     17.03     12.85     1.24     7.15     4.52
    Winner            2.25     11.57      8.91     1.54    -1.30    -1.63

SE  Pickstown         0.57     12.80      7.42    -0.04     0.78    -2.54
    Yankton           0.62     11.55      8.73    -0.10    -1.21    -2.10
    Sx City, IA       1.54     13.27     10.20     0.77    -0.01    -0.54
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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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