>State Statisticsl Report R:rf

Return to the List of 1997 Crop Weather Reports

Released: August 18, 1997 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending August 17, 1997 Volume 46 Issue 24

GENERAL Wet and humid conditions hampered 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 harvesting of small grains, haying, and fencing. Statewide there were 4.6 days suitable for field work. This report is based on information from county agents and other reporters around the state.

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      1     3    8     0     2     3
Short      14    18   34     8     9    23
Adeq.      77    70   56    80    77    70
Surplus     8     9    2    12    12     4

CROPS Winter wheat harvest is lagging behind normal at 85 percent, compared to the five-year average of 92. Winter rye remained ahead of the five-year average of 87 percent, with 92 percent harvested. Barley, oats, and spring wheat harvest progressed but were still 10, 3, and 5 percentage points behind their five-year averages. Corn silked, at 89 percent, remained slightly ahead of the normal of 85. The percent in dough stage advanced to 26 percent, compared to the five-year average of 27. The 3 percent dented fell behind the five-year average of 6. Soybeans blooming increased to 97 percent and those setting pods increased to 80, both ahead of normal.


CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                          Percent
Winter Wht     2      11     46     37      4
Winter Rye     0      21     41     28     10
Spring Wht     0      12     32     48      8
Flaxseed       0       7     43     47      3
Sorghum        0       2     18     69     11
Oats           1      10     28     54      7
Barley         0      16     33     45      6
Soybeans       1       6     19     48     26
Sunflower      0       3     18     55     24
Corn           0       6     14     50     30
Alfalfa        2       5     25     54     14
Livestock      0       1      8     71     20
Range &
  Pasture      1       3     17     60     19

LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE Second cutting of alfalfa was 78 percent complete and other hay rated 90 percent complete, compared to their five-year averages of 76 and 74. Livestock conditions rated in mostly good to excellent condition, as pastures received much needed moisture. Stock water supplies were 3 percent short, 86 adequate, and 11 surplus.

WEATHER Average temperatures for the week were generally 4 to 13 degrees below normal. The highest temperature was 90 degrees at Yankton. The lowest overnight temperature was 35 degrees at Deerfield. Rapid City received the most rain with 2.08 inches.


CROP PROGRESS
AS OF SUNDAY, August 17, 1997   1/
                This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM            Week   Week   Year   Ave
                         Percent
Spring Wheat
 ripe            88     84     88    90
 harvested       54     38     67    59
Oats
 ripe            92     88     95    95
 harvested       73     58     81    76
Barley
 ripe            90     89     94    95
 harvested       60     50     76    70
Corn    
 tassel          99     97     97    94
 silk            89     88     87    85
 dough           26     16     30    27
 dent             3      0      6     6     
Flaxseed     
 ripe            73     26     63    28
 harvested        6      0      9     3      
Soybeans    
 blooming        97     93     96    88
 set pods        80     72     74    67
 drop leaves      1      0      5     2
Sunflower  
 blooming        78     60     87    79
 ray flowers dry  7      3     21    13 
 bracts yellow    2      0     10     7    
Sorghum    
 headed          77     57     74    56
 coloring        12      6     17     8      
Winter Wheat 
 harvested       85     76     96    92   
Winter Rye   
 harvested       92     72     91    87      
Alfalfa      
 cut twice       78     74     86    76
Other Hay 
 harvested       90     86     87    74

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        1667      -220        62       -8       78       46
    Newell            1752      -163        62       -9       81       51
    Lemmon            1770       -66        64       -6       80       48
    Dupree            1803      -274        63      -10       81       51

NC  Mobridge          1857      -195        65       -7       82       50
    Faulkton          1869      -228        65       -7       79       48
    Aberdeen          1784      -248        62      -10       80       46

NE  Waubay            1754      -234        63       -7       75       50
    Watertown         1686      -271        62       -9       76       42
    Milbank           1888      -174        63       -7       79       44

WC  Spearfish         1704      -158        63       -7       77       52
    Rapid City        1715      -299        63       -9       78       52
    Cottonwood        1826      -281        63      -10       83       50
    Milesville        1898      -251        64      -10       81       52
    Deerfield           NA        NA        53       -6       69       35
    Lead                NA        NA        57      -10       68       46

C   Pierre            2029      -166        68       -7       84       54
    Highmore          1848      -299        64       -9       77       49
    Huron             1969      -159        66       -7       80       53

EC  Mitchell          2007      -285        68       -5       83       54
    Brookings         1731      -161        64       -4       83       45
    Sioux Falls       1860      -328        65       -7       84       48

SW  Oelrichs          1794      -300        64       -9       86       52
    Martin            1465      -693        59      -13       78       47
    Custer              NA        NA        57       -7       72       44
    Hot Springs         NA        NA        63       -8       83       51

SC  Murdo             1896      -296        65       -9       80       54
    Kennebec          2106      -196        67       -8       83       56
    Winner            1985      -388        66       -9       80       54

SE  Pickstown         2092      -242        67       -7       85       54
    Yankton           2089      -165        67       -5       90       57
    Sx City, IA       2083      -306        67       -7       89       51
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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        0.33     10.90      8.85     0.05     1.05     0.15
    Newell            0.10     11.56      9.08    -0.18     1.04    -0.23
    Lemmon            0.58     14.17     11.26     0.16     1.31     0.32
    Dupree            0.25     11.58      8.53    -0.10    -0.08    -1.40

NC  Mobridge          0.05     13.81     10.32    -0.37     1.95    -0.05
    Faulkton          0.23     16.81      8.67    -0.33     3.54    -2.86
    Aberdeen          0.02     11.08      6.27    -0.47    -1.84    -4.82

NE  Waubay            0.61     15.30     10.31    -0.06     1.23    -2.09
    Watertown         1.16     13.10      8.92     0.53    -2.03    -4.03
    Milbank           1.59     15.43      8.99     0.96     0.37    -3.89

WC  Spearfish         1.21     14.70     11.04     0.79     0.03    -1.21
    Rapid City        2.08     18.95     16.82     1.71     6.91     6.47
    Cottonwood        0.48     22.30     18.61     0.13    10.92     8.54
    Milesville        1.35     20.06     15.53     0.86     7.41     4.50
    Deerfield         0.20     19.77     17.08    -0.29     6.85     5.80
    Lead              0.60     25.79     17.22     0.11     6.79     2.44

C   Pierre            1.84     24.94     18.60     1.46    11.47     6.87
    Highmore          0.50     19.58     14.58    -0.03     6.73     3.29
    Huron             0.20     17.48     14.02    -0.23     3.55     2.27

EC  Mitchell          0.58     13.66     10.21     0.02    -1.54    -2.85
    Brookings         0.18     12.11      8.30    -0.45    -2.12    -4.42
    Sioux Falls       0.59     15.41     12.10    -0.04     0.36    -0.56

SW  Oelrichs          0.40     18.78     15.77     0.07     5.95     4.93
    Martin            0.12     23.21     19.42    -0.23    10.39     7.92
    Custer            0.28     15.98     14.07    -0.24     2.44     2.02
    Hot Springs       0.28     22.84     19.61    -0.08    10.28     8.79

SC  Murdo             1.08     23.47     19.17     0.66    10.76     8.17
    Kennebec          0.53     20.82     16.64     0.04     8.49     5.86
    Winner            0.52     14.23     11.57    -0.09    -1.83    -2.16

SE  Pickstown         0.10     15.35      9.97    -0.48     0.40    -2.92
    Yankton           1.15     14.78     11.96     0.52    -1.19    -2.08
    Sx City, IA       0.47     14.19     11.12    -0.16    -2.52    -3.05
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

bar chart showing crop progress compared to the last 10 years
South Dakota county map showing topsoil moisture

Return to the List of 1997 Crop Weather Reports