Return to the List of 1997 Crop Weather Reports

Released: July 28, 1997 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending July 27, 1997 Volume 46 Issue 21

GENERAL
Wet and humid conditions slowed the small grain harvest, but was a positive benefit for row crops according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major activities by South Dakota farmers and ranchers during the week were haying CRP acres, spraying, and harvesting of small grains. Statewide there were 4.5 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      2     5    4     0     1     2
Short      18    30   34    13    14    18
Adeq.      67    61   59    74    77    72
Surplus    13     4    3    13     8     8


CROPS
Small grains were turning color and ripened quickly with the warm weather, but wet conditions hampered harvest. Winter wheat jumped to 76 percent ripe and 22 percent harvested, compared to the five-year average of 77 percent ripe and 33 percent harvested. Twenty percent of the barley, 31 percent of the oats, and 11 percent of the spring wheat were ripe, which is behind their respective five-year averages of 27, 40, and 19 percent. Statewide, barley was 2 percent harvested, oats was 14 percent harvested, and spring wheat was 2 percent harvested. Corn tasseling increased to 62 percent, 32 points above last year, and 25 points ahead of the five-year average. Corn began silking and rated 22 percent complete. Soybeans were 62 percent bloomed, 11 points ahead of the normal rate of 51 percent. Twenty-five percent of the soybeans were setting pods, 10 points ahead of the normal rate of 15 percent. Sunflowers were 11 percent bloomed, compared to the five-year average of 10 percent. Grasshoppers continue to be a problem in many areas of the state. 

CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
ITEM         V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                          Percent
Winter Wht      3       8     31      50      8
Winter Rye      1      15     25      43     16
Spring Wht      1       6     29      55      9
Flaxseed        1       7     37      37     18
Sorghum         0       3     13      70     14
Oats            2       5     27      55     11
Barley          2       9     27      53      9
Soybeans        3       6     18      57     16
Sunflowers      1       5     15      57     22
Corn            3       3     14      57     23
Alfalfa         3       5     28      51     13
Livestock       0       1      8      66     25
Range &
   Pasture      2       4     20      59     15


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
The second cutting of alfalfa was 50 percent complete, compared to the five-year average of 44 percent. Other hay harvested increased to 71 percent, compared to the five-year average of 58 percent. Many acres of CRP were harvested during the week. Range and pasture remain in good condition. Stock water supplies rated 3 percent short, 85 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus.

WEATHER
Average temperatures for the week ranged from 3 degrees below normal to 6 degrees above normal. The highest temperature was 99 degrees at Oelrichs, Pickstown, and Yankton. The lowest overnight temperature was 42 degrees at Martin. The most precipitation reported was 3.23 inches at Cottonwood, while Dupree received .12 inch. 

CROP PROGRESS AS OF SUNDAY, July 27, 1997
ITEM           Week   Week   Year    Ave
                        Percent
Spring Wheat
 headed          98     93     99    100
 turning color   65     50     73     70
 ripe            11      1     11     19
 harvested        2      0     NA     NA
Oats
 headed          97     90     99    100
 turning color   71     45     73     74
 ripe            31     12     34     40
 harvested       14      1      9     14
Barley
 headed          99     92     97     99
 turning color   74     58     74     74
 ripe            20      1     11     27
 harvested        2      0     NA     NA
Corn    
 2nd cult.       94     79     95     81
 tassel          62      8     30     37
 silk            22      1     14     21      
Flaxseed     
 blooming        86     82     67     66
Soybeans    
 blooming        62     33     55     51
 set pods        25      7     20     15
Sunflowers  
 blooming        11      4      5     10
Sorghum    
 headed          16      0     12     10
Winter Wheat 
 turning color   98     93     94     98
 ripe            76     43     64     77
 harvested       22      8     20     33   
Winter Rye   
 turning color   99     85     99     98
 ripe            82     42     52     73
 harvested       12      4      7     17      
Alfalfa      
 cut twice       50     26     52     44
Other Hay 
 harvested       71     62     73     58

NOTE: Crop progress is based on current intended acres.

WINTER WHEAT HARVESTED AS OF JULY 27, 1997                  



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                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        1309      -178        74        2       94       55
    Newell            1395      -102        74        1       91       57
    Lemmon            1409       -26        72        1       91       56
    Dupree            1441      -196        74        0       92       56

NC  Mobridge          1473      -139        73       -1       91       60
    Faulkton          1488      -176        74        0       90       58
    Aberdeen          1437      -170        74        0       88       60

NE  Waubay            1377      -196        74        2       85       59
    Watertown         1370      -176        72       -1       87       60
    Milbank           1518      -125        74        1       88       63

WC  Spearfish         1335      -117        73        1       91       55
    Rapid City        1369      -209        74        1       92       58
    Cottonwood        1453      -218        74       -1       93       59
    Milesville        1517      -178        75        0       92       60
    Deerfield           NA        NA        64        3       81       45
    Lead                NA        NA        68        0       86       53

C   Pierre            1607      -121        77        0       96       60
    Highmore          1477      -225        74       -1       89       59
    Huron             1576      -111        77        2       90       64
                         7         7
EC  Mitchell          1587      -244        79        3       95       64
    Brookings         1376      -129        74        3       89       61
    Sioux Falls       1484      -259        77        2       91       65

SW  Oelrichs          1426      -229        76        1       99       58
    Martin            1196      -511        70       -3       90       42
    Custer              NA        NA        69        4       85       52
    Hot Springs         NA        NA        74        1       93       58

SC  Murdo             1507      -229        75       -1       94       60
    Kennebec          1681      -150        78        2       98       63
    Winner            1586      -305        79        2       98       63

SE  Pickstown         1674      -180        81        5       99       65
    Yankton           1655      -151        81        6       99       65
    Sx City, IA       1682      -248        80        4       95       63
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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      9.97      7.92     0.05     1.07     0.17
    Newell            0.71     11.15      8.67     0.36     1.61     0.34
    Lemmon            1.09     12.21      9.30     0.64     0.61    -0.38
    Dupree            0.12     11.11      8.06    -0.23     0.50    -0.82

NC  Mobridge          0.22     13.59     10.10    -0.20     2.99     0.99
    Faulkton          0.17     15.79      7.65    -0.32     4.09    -2.31
    Aberdeen          0.65     10.80      5.99     0.09    -0.61    -3.59

NE  Waubay            0.32     13.85      8.86    -0.31     1.74    -1.58
    Watertown         1.27     10.64      6.46     0.64    -2.60    -4.60
    Milbank           0.49     12.59      6.15    -0.07    -0.64    -4.90

WC  Spearfish         1.38     12.78      9.12     1.03    -0.73    -1.97
    Rapid City        1.18     14.80     12.67     0.76     3.97     3.53
    Cottonwood        3.23     20.03     16.34     2.81     9.71     7.33
    Milesville        2.40     17.78     13.25     1.97     6.55     3.64
    Deerfield         1.23     16.96     14.27     0.67     5.61     4.56
    Lead              2.98     23.58     15.01     2.49     6.05     1.70

C   Pierre            2.41     21.83     15.49     1.90     9.62     5.02
    Highmore          1.30     18.23     13.23     0.79     6.97     3.53
    Huron             1.83     15.70     12.24     1.27     3.18     1.90

EC  Mitchell          0.69     12.28      8.83     0.13    -1.24    -2.55
    Brookings         1.10     10.55      6.74     0.54    -1.87    -4.17
    Sioux Falls       0.18     14.60     11.29    -0.38     1.35     0.43

SW  Oelrichs          1.03     16.34     13.33     0.59     4.59     3.57
    Martin            0.39     20.53     16.74    -0.22     9.01     6.54
    Custer            1.00     11.92     10.01     0.42     0.02    -0.40
    Hot Springs       0.30     18.70     15.47    -0.21     7.38     5.89

SC  Murdo             2.32     21.39     17.09     1.90     9.94     7.35
    Kennebec          0.30     17.73     13.55    -0.19     6.87     4.24
    Winner            0.81     12.38      9.72     0.18    -1.81    -2.14

SE  Pickstown         0.39     13.36      7.98    -0.18     0.16    -3.16
    Yankton           1.31     12.86     10.04     0.68    -1.22    -2.11
    Sx City, IA       0.14     13.63     10.56    -0.56    -1.08    -1.61
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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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