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Released: August 11, 1997 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending August 10, 1997 Volume 46 Issue 23

GENERAL
Producers made good progress with the small grain harvest, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Other major activities by farmers and ranchers during the week were haying CRP acres and tending to livestock. 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      3     4    6     2     2     3
Short      18    11   24     9     9    20
Adeq.      70    72   66    77    78    69
Surplus     9    13    4    12    11     8


CROPS
Producers made excellent gains last week in harvesting small grains. Winter wheat and winter rye harvested progressed to 76 and 72 percent complete. Barley, oats, and spring wheat harvested progressed to 50, 58, and 38 percent, compared to their respective five-year averages of 43, 54, and 33 percent. Corn tasseling is 97 percent complete, compared to the five-year average of 84. Corn silked, at 88 percent, is 20 points ahead of the normal rate of 68. Corn in dough stage advanced to 16 percent complete. Soybeans blooming increased to 93 percent and those setting pods increased to 72, compared to their respective five-year averages of 77 and 48 percent. 

CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                          Percent
Winter Wht     0      10     39     47      4
Winter Rye     0      14     42     40      4
Spring Wht     0       6     37     47     10
Flaxseed       0       0     59     37      4
Sorghum        0       1     14     70     15
Oats           0       5     21     62     12
Barley         0       2     21     69      8
Soybeans       0       3     19     57     21
Sunflower      0       2     17     60     21
Corn           0       2     13     55     30
Alfalfa        1       5     19     61     14
Livestock      0       1      7     69     23
Range &
  Pasture      0       4     18     59     19


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Second cutting of alfalfa was 74 percent complete, which is 7 points ahead of the five-year average of 67. Other hay harvested increased to 86 percent complete, compared to the five-year average of 68. Range and pasture were rated at fair to excellent condition. Stock water supplies were 1 percent short, 91 adequate, and 8 surplus.

WEATHER
Average temperatures for the week generally were 1 to 9 degrees below normal. The highest temperature was 94 degrees at Dupree and Oelrichs. The lowest overnight temperature was 36 degrees at Deerfield. Martin received the most rain with 1.15 inches. 

CROP PROGRESS
AS OF SUNDAY, August 10, 1997   1/
             This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM         Week   Week   Year   Ave
                      Percent
Spring Wheat
 turning color   99     85     92   96
 ripe            84     50     66   72
 harvested       38      4     25   33
Oats
 turning color   98     87     95   97
 ripe            88     54     79   83
 harvested       58     20     52   54
Barley
 turning color   98     84     97   97
 ripe            89     50     73   80
 harvested       50      5     37   43
Corn    
 tassel          97     88     90   84
 silk            88     71     68   68      
 dough           16      6     16   13
 dent             0      0      3    2     
Flaxseed     
 ripe            26     10     34   15
 harvested        0      0      5    1      
Soybeans    
 blooming        93     80     86   77
 set pods        72     50     52   48
Sunflower  
 blooming        60     47     63   54
 ray flowers dry  3      2      9    3      
Sorghum    
 headed          57     39     48   36
 coloring         6      6      8    3      
Winter Wheat 
 ripe            98     89     98   98
 harvested       76     46     85   80   
Winter Rye   
 harvested       72     35     65   64      
Alfalfa      
 cut twice       74     62     79   67
Other Hay 
 harvested       86     81     82   68

1/ Crop development percents represent all acreage in or
beyond each stage.  



--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                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        1581      -174        69       -2       91       49
    Newell            1667      -111        71       -1       92       54
    Lemmon            1674       -31        69       -2       90       43
    Dupree            1710      -224        69       -5       94       49

NC  Mobridge          1755      -154        70       -3       91       49
    Faulkton          1766      -190        70       -3       92       49
    Aberdeen          1694      -199        67       -6       87       47

NE  Waubay            1661      -192        68       -3       83       50
    Watertown         1600      -223        66       -6       87       44
    Milbank           1793      -134        69       -2       85       47

WC  Spearfish         1616      -111        71        0       91       52
    Rapid City        1626      -245        67       -6       87       51
    Cottonwood        1732      -230        71       -3       91       53
    Milesville        1798      -201        70       -5       92       53
    Deerfield           NA        NA        57       -3       78       36
    Lead                NA        NA        60       -8       78       37

C   Pierre            1902      -138        71       -5       93       51
    Highmore          1751      -247        69       -5       87       49
    Huron             1854      -129        69       -5       86       51

EC  Mitchell          1884      -258        71       -3       89       55
    Brookings         1633      -133        68       -1       86       46
    Sioux Falls       1752      -290        67       -7       83       51

SW  Oelrichs          1696      -253        70       -4       94       48
    Martin            1398      -608        64       -9       85       47
    Custer              NA        NA        63       -2       82       45
    Hot Springs         NA        NA        68       -5       89       48

SC  Murdo             1793      -248        72       -3       90       54
    Kennebec          1985      -159        72       -3       93       55
    Winner            1873      -339        71       -5       89       54

SE  Pickstown         1970      -204        70       -5       88       56
    Yankton           1970      -136        73        0       93       57
    Sx City, IA       1969      -273        68       -7       90       52
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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        0.60     10.57      8.52     0.28     1.00     0.10
    Newell            0.09     11.46      8.98    -0.26     1.22    -0.05
    Lemmon            0.60     13.59     10.68     0.18     1.15     0.16
    Dupree            0.05     11.33      8.28    -0.30     0.02    -1.30

NC  Mobridge          0.17     13.76     10.27    -0.25     2.32     0.32
    Faulkton          0.71     16.58      8.44     0.19     3.87    -2.53
    Aberdeen          0.17     11.06      6.25    -0.32    -1.37    -4.35

NE  Waubay            0.37     14.69      9.70    -0.29     1.29    -2.03
    Watertown         0.28     11.94      7.76    -0.35    -2.56    -4.56
    Milbank           1.11     13.84      7.40     0.48    -0.59    -4.85

WC  Spearfish         0.02     13.49      9.83    -0.37    -0.76    -2.00
    Rapid City        0.83     16.87     14.74     0.41     5.20     4.76
    Cottonwood        0.00     21.82     18.13    -0.35    10.79     8.41
    Milesville        0.08     18.71     14.18    -0.41     6.55     3.64
    Deerfield         0.79     19.57     16.88     0.27     7.14     6.09
    Lead              0.37     25.19     16.62    -0.12     6.68     2.33

C   Pierre            0.00     23.10     16.76    -0.42    10.01     5.41
    Highmore          0.30     19.08     14.08    -0.26     6.76     3.32
    Huron             0.13     17.28     13.82    -0.36     3.78     2.50

EC  Mitchell          0.00     13.08      9.63    -0.56    -1.56    -2.87
    Brookings         0.82     11.93      8.12     0.20    -1.67    -3.97
    Sioux Falls       0.09     14.82     11.51    -0.52     0.40    -0.52

SW  Oelrichs          0.00     18.38     15.37    -0.35     5.88     4.86
    Martin            1.15     23.09     19.30     0.72    10.62     8.15
    Custer            0.99     15.70     13.79     0.43     2.68     2.26
    Hot Springs       0.70     22.56     19.33     0.28    10.36     8.87

SC  Murdo             0.00     22.39     18.09    -0.42    10.10     7.51
    Kennebec          0.00     20.29     16.11    -0.49     8.45     5.82
    Winner            0.03     13.71     11.05    -0.60    -1.74    -2.07

SE  Pickstown         0.16     15.25      9.87    -0.42     0.88    -2.44
    Yankton           0.27     13.63     10.81    -0.36    -1.71    -2.60
    Sx City, IA       0.04     13.72     10.65    -0.63    -2.36    -2.89
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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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