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Released: August 4, 1997 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending August 3, 1997 Volume 46 Issue 22

GENERAL
Damp conditions continued to slow the small grain harvest according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major activities by South Dakota farmers and ranchers during the week were haying CRP acres, swathing, and harvesting of small grains. Statewide there were 4.0 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      4     2    8     2     0     2
Short      11    18   39     9    13    27
Adeq.      72    67   50    78    74    65
Surplus    13    13    3    11    13     6


CROPS
Winter wheat and winter rye harvested progressed to 46 and 35 percent complete, but were slowed due to the wet conditions. Barley, oats, and spring wheat harvested progressed to 5, 20, and 4 percent compared to their respective five-year averages of 21, 30, and 15. While harvest progress of small grains is behind the five-year average, row crop development is ahead of average. Corn tasseling is 88 percent complete compared to the five-year average of 64. Corn silked, at 71 percent, is 26 points ahead of the normal rate of 45. Corn in dough stage advanced to 6 percent. Soybeans blooming increased to 80 percent and those setting pods increased to 50, compared to their respective five-year averages of 63 and 27 percent. 

CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                          Percent
Winter Wht     1      10     37     46      6
Winter Rye     0      17     42     37      4
Spring Wht     0       7     25     53     15
Flaxseed       0       2     62     25     11
Sorghum        0       1     15     71     13
Oats           2       4     25     61      8
Barley         0       7     28     59      6
Soybeans       1       4     19     49     27
Sunflower      0       3     16     53     28
Corn           1       3     15     52     29
Alfalfa        1       4     24     57     14
Livestock      0       0      8     68     24
Range &
  Pasture      0       3     17     57     23


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Second cutting of alfalfa advanced to 62 percent complete, which is 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 56. Other hay harvested increased to 81 percent complete, compared to the five-year average of 63. Range and pasture remain in fair to excellent condition. Stock water supplies rated 3 percent short, 83 adequate, and 14 surplus.

WEATHER
Average temperatures for the week generally were 1 to 10 degrees below normal. The highest temperature was 96 degress at Pierre. The lowest overnight temperature was 43 degrees at Deerfield. Hot Springs received the most rain with 3.16 inches. 

CROP PROGRESS
AS OF SUNDAY, August 3, 1997   1/
               This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM           Week   Week   Year   Ave
                         Percent
Spring Wheat
 turning color   85     65     87    88
 ripe            50     11     35    42
 harvested        4      2      4    15
Oats
 turning color   87     71     90    91
 ripe            54     31     61    62
 harvested       20     14     25    30
Barley
 turning color   84     74     91    92
 ripe            50     20     47    54
 harvested        5      2     14    21
Corn    
 tassel          88     62     68    64
 silk            71     22     43    45      
 dough            6      1      9     6      
Flaxseed     
 blooming        99     86     77    79
 ripe            10      0      7     5      
Soybeans    
 blooming        80     62     64    63
 set pods        50     25     23    27
Sunflower  
 blooming        47     11     16    25
 ray flowers dry  2      1     NA    NA      
Sorghum    
 headed          39     16     16    18
 coloring         6      1      4     1      
Winter Wheat 
 turning color  100     98     99   100
 ripe            89     76     92    94
 harvested       46     22     53    59   
Winter Rye   
 turning color  100     99    100   100      
 ripe           100     82     90    91
 harvested       35     12     30    37      
Alfalfa      
 cut twice       62     50     63    56
Other Hay 
 harvested       81     71     77    63

1/ Crop development percents represent all acreage in or
beyond each stage.  NA = Not available



--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                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        1452      -172        72        1       94       55
    Newell            1528      -114        69       -4       91       56
    Lemmon            1540       -35        70       -1       92       55
    Dupree            1577      -212        71       -3       93       54

NC  Mobridge          1618      -148        72       -1       94       56
    Faulkton          1627      -186        71       -2       95       54
    Aberdeen          1574      -180        71       -3       93       54

NE  Waubay            1532      -185        74        3       95       55
    Watertown         1486      -204        67       -6       88       52
    Milbank           1657      -132        70       -2       89       54

WC  Spearfish         1474      -119        70       -2       88       53
    Rapid City        1509      -222        71       -2       90       55
    Cottonwood        1591      -230        71       -3       92       56
    Milesville        1662      -190        72       -3       92       57
    Deerfield           NA        NA        61       -1       80       43
    Lead                NA        NA        65       -3       82       50

C   Pierre            1759      -130        74       -3       96       58
    Highmore          1617      -238        71       -3       91       57
    Huron             1722      -119        72       -3       91       58

EC  Mitchell          1736      -256        72       -3       93       60
    Brookings         1508      -132        69       -1       89       53
    Sioux Falls       1630      -268        72       -3       90       53

SW  Oelrichs          1563      -242        70       -4       94       54
    Martin            1300      -562        65      -10       88       46
    Custer              NA        NA        65        0       83       48
    Hot Springs         NA        NA        69       -4       90       53

SC  Murdo             1647      -245        71       -4       93       59
    Kennebec          1834      -157        73       -3       94       58
    Winner            1729      -326        71       -5       93       56

SE  Pickstown         1831      -188        74       -1       94       57
    Yankton           1814      -147        73       -1       92       60
    Sx City, IA       1842      -246        74       -2       93       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        0.00      9.97      7.92    -0.35     0.72    -0.18
    Newell            0.22     11.37      8.89    -0.13     1.48     0.21
    Lemmon            0.78     12.99     10.08     0.36     0.97    -0.02
    Dupree            0.17     11.28      8.23    -0.18     0.32    -1.00

NC  Mobridge          0.00     13.59     10.10    -0.42     2.57     0.57
    Faulkton          0.08     15.87      7.73    -0.41     3.68    -2.72
    Aberdeen          0.09     10.89      6.08    -0.44    -1.05    -4.03

NE  Waubay            0.47     14.32      9.33    -0.16     1.58    -1.74
    Watertown         0.00     10.64      6.46    -0.63    -3.23    -5.23
    Milbank           0.14     12.73      6.29    -0.43    -1.07    -5.33

WC  Spearfish         0.69     13.47      9.81     0.34    -0.39    -1.63
    Rapid City        1.24     16.04     13.91     0.82     4.79     4.35
    Cottonwood        1.79     21.82     18.13     1.43    11.14     8.76
    Milesville        0.85     18.63     14.10     0.41     6.96     4.05
    Deerfield         1.82     18.78     16.09     1.26     6.87     5.82
    Lead              1.24     24.82     16.25     0.75     6.80     2.45

C   Pierre            1.27     23.10     16.76     0.81    10.43     5.83
    Highmore          0.55     18.78     13.78     0.05     7.02     3.58
    Huron             1.45     17.15     13.69     0.96     4.14     2.86

EC  Mitchell          0.80     13.08      9.63     0.24    -1.00    -2.31
    Brookings         0.56     11.11      7.30     0.00    -1.87    -4.17
    Sioux Falls       0.13     14.73     11.42    -0.43     0.92     0.00

SW  Oelrichs          2.04     18.38     15.37     1.64     6.23     5.21
    Martin            1.41     21.94     18.15     0.89     9.90     7.43
    Custer            2.79     14.71     12.80     2.23     2.25     1.83
    Hot Springs       3.16     21.86     18.63     2.70    10.08     8.59

SC  Murdo             1.00     22.39     18.09     0.58    10.52     7.93
    Kennebec          2.56     20.29     16.11     2.07     8.94     6.31
    Winner            1.30     13.68     11.02     0.67    -1.14    -1.47

SE  Pickstown         1.73     15.09      9.71     1.14     1.30    -2.02
    Yankton           0.50     13.36     10.54    -0.13    -1.35    -2.24
    Sx City, IA       0.05     13.68     10.61    -0.65    -1.73    -2.26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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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