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Released: August 25, 1997 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending August 24, 1997 Volume 46 Issue 25

GENERAL
Row crop maturity and the small grain harvest were hindered due to cool, damp conditions in the beginning of the week, but made gains by week's end, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Bennett county reported crop losses due to hail damage caused by thunderstorms early in the week. Major activities by South Dakota farmers and ranchers during the week were harvesting small grains, haying, and fencing. Statewide there were 5.1 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     1   15     0     0     3
Short      14    14   41     8     8    32
Adeq.      76    77   43    80    80    57
Surplus     8     8    1    12    12     8


CROPS
Corn development rated 62 percent in dough stage, 17 dented, and 3 mature. Soybean development increased to 97 percent setting pods, 7 dropping leaves, and 2 mature. Sunflower advanced to 34 percent flowers dry and 16 bracts yellow. Sunflower beetles are a concern in some counties, forcing producers to spray fields several times to control the insects. With winter wheat and winter rye at 94 and 92 percent harvested, producers are beginning to work fields for next year's crop. Spring wheat was nearly ripe at 98 percent, and harvesting advanced to 78 percent complete. Barley and oats were also nearly ripe as harvest progress increased to 79 and 90 percent complete, respectively. 

CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                          Percent
Spring Wht     4       7     33     41     15
Flaxseed       0       0     51     38     11
Sorghum        0       1     11     68     20
Soybeans       1       5     15     51     28
Sunflower      0       1     14     55     30
Corn           0       3     12     56     29
Livestock      0       0      6     71     23
Range &
  Pasture      0       3     18     57     22


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Second cutting of alfalfa is 84 percent complete, while other hay rated 95 percent complete. Livestock conditions rated in mostly good to excellent condition. Pastures are getting short, forcing some producers to supplement with feed or hay. Stock water supplies were 4 percent short, 84 adequate, and 12 surplus.

WEATHER
Average temperatures for the week were generally below normal. The highest temperature was 100 degrees at Milesville and Pierre. The lowest overnight temperature was 38 degrees at Deerfield. Precipitation was near normal at most stations during the week. Aberdeen received the most rain with 2.71 inches. 

CROP PROGRESS
AS OF SUNDAY, August 24, 1997   1/
             This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM         Week   Week   Year   Ave
                      Percent
Spring Wheat
 ripe            98     88     97    98
 harvested       78     54     89    79
Oats
 ripe            98     92     99    99
 harvested       90     73     95    91
Barley
 ripe            97     90     99    99
 harvested       79     60     93    90
Corn    
 silk            98     89     97    95
 dough           62     26     42    44
 dent            17      3     10    13
 mature           3      0      1     0
 silage harv      1      0     NA    NA   
Flaxseed     
 ripe            81     73     75    50
 harvested       14      6     20    12      
Soybeans    
 set pods        97     80     91    82
 drop leaves      7      1      6     5
 mature           2      0     NA    NA
Sunflower  
 blooming        93     78     96    92
 ray flowers dry 34      7     43    35 
 bracts yellow   16      2     18    16    
Sorghum    
 headed          82     77     89    73
 coloring        16     12     24    16
 silage harv      1      0     NA    NA      
Winter Wheat 
 harvested       94     85     99    97   
Winter Rye   
 harvested       92     92     98    95      
Alfalfa      
 cut twice       84     78     90    83
Other Hay 
 harvested       95     90     91    80

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        1786      -226        68       -2       96       48
    Newell            1880      -161        70        0       96       50
    Lemmon            1897       -59        70        1       98       51
    Dupree            1928      -284        70       -2       97       50

NC  Mobridge          1991      -194        71        0       97       52
    Faulkton          1995      -238        69       -2       98       51
    Aberdeen          1901      -263        67       -3       96       47

NE  Waubay            1878      -235        68       -1       89       53
    Watertown         1795      -286        65       -4       88       47
    Milbank           1996      -194        65       -5       86       48

WC  Spearfish         1837      -150        70        0       94       52
    Rapid City        1847      -301        70        0       94       52
    Cottonwood        1951      -290        69       -4       95       49
    Milesville        2034      -254        71       -2      100       52
    Deerfield           NA        NA        60        1       83       38
    Lead                NA        NA        66        0       89       47

C   Pierre            2179      -160        73        0      100       55
    Highmore          1981      -305        70       -3       94       50
    Huron             2103      -162        70       -1       94       53

EC  Mitchell          2135      -300        69       -4       97       52
    Brookings         1830      -182        63       -5       89       43
    Sioux Falls       1977      -346        67       -3       88       48

SW  Oelrichs          1923      -307        69       -4       94       49
    Martin            1578      -712        66       -6       90       45
    Custer              NA        NA        64        1       85       44
    Hot Springs         NA        NA        69       -2       94       49

SC  Murdo             2038      -297        71       -2       96       54
    Kennebec          2245      -204        72       -3       98       51
    Winner            2135      -388        73       -2       99       55

SE  Pickstown         2232      -252        72       -1       97       55
    Yankton           2219      -175        69       -3       96       54
    Sx City, IA       2206      -319        68       -4       91       47
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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        0.42     11.32      9.27     0.14     1.19     0.29
    Newell            0.03     11.59      9.11    -0.25     0.79    -0.48
    Lemmon            0.04     14.21     11.30    -0.38     0.93    -0.06
    Dupree            0.30     11.88      8.83    -0.05    -0.13    -1.45

NC  Mobridge          0.20     14.01     10.52    -0.22     1.73    -0.27
    Faulkton          0.20     17.01      8.87    -0.34     3.20    -3.20
    Aberdeen          2.71     13.79      8.98     2.22     0.38    -2.60

NE  Waubay            0.80     16.10     11.11     0.17     1.40    -1.92
    Watertown         0.26     13.36      9.18    -0.37    -2.40    -4.40
    Milbank           0.20     15.63      9.19    -0.43    -0.06    -4.32

WC  Spearfish         0.18     14.88     11.22    -0.24    -0.21    -1.45
    Rapid City        0.37     19.32     17.19     0.02     6.93     6.49
    Cottonwood        0.16     22.46     18.77    -0.19    10.73     8.35
    Milesville        0.19     20.25     15.72    -0.24     7.17     4.26
    Deerfield         0.36     20.13     17.44    -0.13     6.72     5.67
    Lead              0.12     25.91     17.34    -0.37     6.42     2.07

C   Pierre            0.50     25.44     19.10     0.15    11.62     7.02
    Highmore          0.00     19.58     14.58    -0.49     6.24     2.80
    Huron             0.38     17.86     14.40    -0.04     3.51     2.23

EC  Mitchell          0.17     13.83     10.38    -0.39    -1.93    -3.24
    Brookings         0.01     12.12      8.31    -0.62    -2.74    -5.04
    Sioux Falls       0.02     15.43     12.12    -0.65    -0.29    -1.21

SW  Oelrichs          0.21     18.99     15.98    -0.07     5.88     4.86
    Martin            0.21     23.42     19.63    -0.09    10.30     7.83
    Custer            0.30     16.28     14.37    -0.19     2.25     1.83
    Hot Springs       0.15     22.99     19.76    -0.20    10.08     8.59

SC  Murdo             0.00     23.47     19.17    -0.42    10.34     7.75
    Kennebec          0.00     20.82     16.64    -0.49     8.00     5.37
    Winner            0.00     14.23     11.57    -0.56    -2.39    -2.72

SE  Pickstown         0.16     15.51     10.13    -0.40     0.00    -3.32
    Yankton           0.08     14.86     12.04    -0.55    -1.74    -2.63
    Sx City, IA       0.06     14.25     11.18    -0.61    -3.13    -3.66
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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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