Return to the List of 1997 Crop Weather Reports

Released: July 21, 1997 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending July 20, 1997 Volume 46 Issue 20

GENERAL
Hot, dry conditions enabled producers to begin the small grain harvest during the week, while row crops and pastures were stressed from the heat and lack of moisture, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major activities by South Dakota farmers and ranchers during the week were harvesting small grains, haying, and spraying. Statewide, there were 5.5 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      5     6     3     1     0     1
Short      30    27    35    14    10    19
Adeq.      61    62    57    77    79    66
Surplus     4     5     5     8    11    14


CROPS
Small grain harvest is underway with 8 percent of the winter wheat and 4 percent of the winter rye harvested. Winter wheat was 93 percent turning color and 43 percent ripe. Spring wheat was 93 percent headed, 50 percent turning color, and 1 percent ripe. Barley and oats were also nearly all headed at 92 and 90 percent, respectively. The percent of barley and oats turning color progressed to 58 and 45, while only 1 percent of the barley and 12 percent of the oats ripened. Corn conditions advanced to 8 percent tasseled and 1 percent silked. Soybeans blooming increased to 33 percent and the amount setting pods progressed to 7 percent, compared to the five-year averages of 35 and 3 percent, respectively. Grasshoppers and sunflower beetles remained a concern in many counties across the state. 

CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
ITEM         V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                            Percent
Winter Wht      1       7     34      50      8
Winter Rye      1      14     35      44      6
Spring Wht      1       6     23      51     19
Flaxseed        0       5     40      41     14
Sorghum         0       2     23      65     10
Oats            3       9     23      56      9
Barley          6      10     24      51      9
Soybeans        1       7     23      53     16
Sunflowers      1       7     23      50     19
Corn            1       5     18      53     23
Alfalfa         4       8     31      44     13
Livestock       0       1     11      63     25
Range &
   Pasture      4       4     20      56     16


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
The second cutting of alfalfa was 26 percent complete, compared to the five-year average of 28 percent. Other hay harvested progressed to 62 percent, 12 points ahead of normal. Pastures continue to remain in good condition, despite the lack of rain. Stock water supplies rated 2 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 16 percent surplus.

WEATHER
Average temperatures during the week ranged from 1 degree below normal to 6 degrees above normal. The highest temperature was 102 degrees at Mitchell. The lowest overnight temperature was 36 degrees at Deerfield. The most precipitation reported was 3.01 inches at Hot Springs, while Winner and Yankton received none. 

CROP PROGRESS
AS OF SUNDAY, July 20, 1997
                This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM            Week   Week   Year    Ave
                        Percent
Spring Wheat
 boot            99     97    100    100
 headed          93     85     92     96
 turning color   50     18     33     46
 ripe             1      0      2      7
 harvested        0      0     NA     NA
Oats
 boot            97     93    100     99
 headed          90     82     94     96
 turning color   45     19     45     53
 ripe            12      3     18     23
 harvested        1      0      1      5
Barley
 headed          92     81     93     96
 turning color   58     31     50     54
 ripe             1      0     NA     NA
 harvested        0      0     NA     NA
Corn    
 1st cult.       97     95     99     93
 2nd cult.       79     56     88     72
 ave.height(in.) 47     35     48     45
 tassel           8      1      3     15
 silk             1      0      0      8      
Flaxseed:   
 blooming        82     42     57     49
Soybeans:   
 blooming        33     21     35     35
 set pods         7      1      4      3
Sunflowers: 
 blooming         4      1      1      4
Winter Wheat:
 turning color   93     74     89     95
 ripe            43      6     21     48
 harvested        8     NA      2     15   
Winter Rye:  
 turning color   85     39     93     91
 ripe            42     12     13     44
 harvested        4     NA      0      6      
Alfalfa:     
 cut twice       26      9     34     28
Other Hay:
 harvested       62     56     63     50

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        1153      -196        73        2       93       49
    Newell            1233      -118        76        3       98       53
    Lemmon            1260       -37        74        3       94       56
    Dupree            1280      -206        74        0       98       53

NC  Mobridge          1314      -144        76        2       92       59
    Faulkton          1323      -192        77        3       95       59
    Aberdeen          1269      -191        77        4       95       59

NE  Waubay            1211      -218        76        4       92       61
    Watertown         1214      -189        76        3       94       59
    Milbank           1349      -146        78        5       96       64

WC  Spearfish         1178      -131        75        4       95       58
    Rapid City        1210      -219        75        3       98       54
    Cottonwood        1292      -227        75        0       96       53
    Milesville        1348      -190        76        1       96       56
    Deerfield           NA        NA        62        2       86       36
    Lead                NA        NA        68        0       87       50

C   Pierre            1429      -138        79        2       97       59
    Highmore          1313      -238        76        1       93       54
    Huron             1392      -141        80        5       98       60

EC  Mitchell          1396      -273        81        5      102       61
    Brookings         1210      -158        75        4       93       57
    Sioux Falls       1301      -288        78        3       93       60

SW  Oelrichs          1260      -244        76        1      101       51
    Martin            1056      -495        72       -1       96       49
    Custer              NA        NA        70        4       91       44
    Hot Springs         NA        NA        73        0       97       47

SC  Murdo             1339      -238        78        2      101       59
    Kennebec          1502      -167        79        2      100       56
    Winner            1406      -319        80        2       99       58

SE  Pickstown         1484      -206        82        6      100       64
    Yankton           1457      -191        81        5       99       60
    Sx City, IA       1485      -283        78        2       91       59
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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        0.27      9.57      7.52    -0.15     1.02     0.12
    Newell            0.83     10.44      7.96     0.41     1.25    -0.02
    Lemmon            0.12     11.12      8.21    -0.37    -0.03    -1.02
    Dupree            1.48     10.99      7.94     1.07     0.73    -0.59

NC  Mobridge          0.63     13.37      9.88     0.19     3.19     1.19
    Faulkton          0.42     15.62      7.48    -0.07     4.41    -1.99
    Aberdeen          0.11     10.15      5.34    -0.51    -0.70    -3.68

NE  Waubay            2.30     13.53      8.54     1.67     2.05    -1.27
    Watertown         1.26      9.37      5.19     0.56    -3.24    -5.24
    Milbank           1.16     12.10      5.66     0.60    -0.57    -4.83

WC  Spearfish         0.19     11.40      7.74    -0.21    -1.76    -3.00
    Rapid City        1.49     13.62     11.49     1.07     3.21     2.77
    Cottonwood        1.21     16.80     13.11     0.79     6.90     4.52
    Milesville        1.25     15.38     10.85     0.76     4.58     1.67
    Deerfield         2.66     15.73     13.04     2.08     4.94     3.89
    Lead              1.35     20.60     12.03     0.84     3.56    -0.79

C   Pierre            0.31     19.42     13.08    -0.26     7.72     3.12
    Highmore          0.92     16.93     11.93     0.36     6.18     2.74
    Huron             1.57     13.90     10.44     0.98     1.94     0.66

EC  Mitchell          0.12     11.59      8.14    -0.47    -1.37    -2.68
    Brookings         1.09      9.49      5.68     0.53    -2.37    -4.67
    Sioux Falls       1.25     14.29     10.98     0.67     1.60     0.68

SW  Oelrichs          1.34     15.31     12.30     0.85     4.00     2.98
    Martin            0.60     20.14     16.35    -0.07     9.23     6.76
    Custer            1.32     10.92      9.01     0.69    -0.40    -0.82
    Hot Springs       3.01     18.40     15.17     2.45     7.59     6.10

SC  Murdo             2.19     19.07     14.77     1.71     8.04     5.45
    Kennebec          0.40     17.43     13.25    -0.09     7.06     4.43
    Winner            0.00     11.57      8.91    -0.69    -1.99    -2.32

SE  Pickstown         0.17     12.97      7.59    -0.44     0.34    -2.98
    Yankton           0.00     11.55      8.73    -0.69    -1.90    -2.79
    Sx City, IA       0.22     13.49     10.42    -0.51    -0.52    -1.05
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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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