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Released: September 2, 1997 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending August 31, 1997 Volume 46 Issue 26

GENERAL
Rain slowed the completion of the small grain harvest and field work during the week, but improved row crop development, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil and subsoil conditions rated mostly adequate across the state, with scattered pockets of either shortages or surplus moisture reported. Major activities by South Dakota farmers and ranchers during the week were harvesting small grains, working stubble fields, and spraying. 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      1     2   26     0     0    11
Short      18    14   45    12     8    36
Adeq.      76    76   29    78    80    52
Surplus     5     8    0    10    12     1


CROPS
The small grain harvest neared completion, but was still slowed by rain and excess moisture. Spring wheat and oats were 94 and 96 percent harvested, respectively. Thunderstorms provided adequate moisture last week which improved row crop conditions. Corn, soybeans, and sunflower rated in mostly good to excellent condition. Corn development rated 77 percent in dough stage, 34 dented, and 6 mature. Silage harvested is still early, with both corn and sorghum cut for silage at 2 percent complete. Soybeans setting pods advanced to 99 percent, with 9 percent of the acreage dropping leaves. Sunflower development was near normal at 98 percent blooming, 43 flowers dry, 33 bracts yellow, and 1 mature. Winter wheat seeding rated 7 percent complete, with 2 percent emerged. 

CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                          Percent
Flaxseed       0       2     53     41      4
Sorghum        0       1     12     72     15
Soybeans       1       6     18     47     28
Sunflower      0       4     13     47     36
Corn           0       5     18     46     31
Livestock      0       1      8     57     34
Range &
  Pasture      1       4     22     53     20


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Pasture and livestock conditions rated mostly fair to excellent. Yearlings were starting to be marketed in some areas. Stock water supplies were 1 percent short, 89 adequate, and 10 surplus.

WEATHER
Average temperatures last week generally ranged from 1 degree below to 8 degrees above normal. The highest temperature was 100 degrees at Pickstown. The lowest temperature was 40 degrees at Deerfield. Thunderstorms provided needed moisture in many areas across the state. Milbank received the heaviest precipitation with 2.58 inches, while Faulkton and Waubay received none. 

CROP PROGRESS
AS OF SUNDAY, August 31, 1997   1/
                This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM            Week   Week   Year   Ave
                          Percent
Spring Wheat
 harvested       94     78     96    90
Oats
 harvested       96     90     99    97
Barley
 harvested       91     79     98    96
Corn    
 silk            99     98    100   100
 dough           77     62     75    67
 dent            34     17     29    27
 mature           6      3      2     2
 silage harv      2      1      1     1   
Flaxseed     
 ripe            91     81     96    75
 harvested       63     14     58    35      
Soybeans    
 setting pods    99     97     97    91
 drop leaves      9      7     11    10
 mature           3      2      2     2
Sunflower  
 blooming        98     93    100    97
 ray flowers dry 43     34     67    59 
 bracts yellow   33     16     40    33
 mature           1      0      0     3    
Sorghum    
 headed          96     82     96    87
 coloring        33     16     35    25
 silage harv      2      1      1     0
 mature           3     NA      7     4 
Winter Wheat 
 harvested       99     94    100   100 
 planted          7      1      1     2
 emerged          2     NA     NA    NA   
Winter Rye   
 planted          5      1      2     3
 emerged          1     NA     NA    NA      

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        1936      -192        73        5       96       47
    Newell            2046      -112        75        6       97       55
    Lemmon            2057        -6        74        7       91       53
    Dupree            2086      -251        73        3       91       55

NC  Mobridge          2161      -145        75        6       91       60
    Faulkton          2167      -195        77        7       98       59
    Aberdeen          2064      -222        74        7       89       56

NE  Waubay            2044      -189        74        6       88       61
    Watertown         1957      -241        73        6       88       55
    Milbank           2156      -153        73        5       91       58

WC  Spearfish         2000      -101        75        7       98       59
    Rapid City        2003      -265        73        6       94       57
    Cottonwood        2111      -256        75        5       98       58
    Milesville        2206      -211        76        4       95       58
    Deerfield           NA        NA        62        5       82       40
    Lead                NA        NA        69        4       87       51

C   Pierre            2354      -119        77        7       93       61
    Highmore          2141      -276        73        2       88       52
    Huron             2281      -112        76        8       90       58

EC  Mitchell          2311      -260        77        6       94       56
    Brookings         1988      -136        73        7       88       51
    Sioux Falls       2140      -312        74        6       90       55

SW  Oelrichs          2084      -273        75        4       99       59
    Martin            1709      -720        69       -1       86       50
    Custer              NA        NA        68        6       86       51
    Hot Springs         NA        NA        73        3       93       56

SC  Murdo             2212      -257        76        4       98       62
    Kennebec          2418      -173        76        3       94       59
    Winner            2310      -355        76        3       93       63

SE  Pickstown         2406      -220        77        6      100       60
    Yankton           2400      -129        78        7       94       62
    Sx City, IA       2387      -262        77        7       90       60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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        0.05     11.37      9.32    -0.23     0.96     0.06
    Newell            0.09     11.68      9.20    -0.19     0.60    -0.67
    Lemmon            0.48     14.69     11.78     0.06     0.99     0.00
    Dupree            1.96     13.84     10.79     1.61     1.48     0.16

NC  Mobridge          0.28     14.29     10.80    -0.14     1.59    -0.41
    Faulkton          0.00     17.01      8.87    -0.49     2.71    -3.69
    Aberdeen          0.76     14.55      9.74     0.31     0.69    -2.29

NE  Waubay            0.00     16.10     11.11    -0.58     0.82    -2.50
    Watertown         0.32     13.68      9.50    -0.24    -2.64    -4.64
    Milbank           2.58     18.21     11.77     1.98     1.92    -2.34

WC  Spearfish         0.27     15.15     11.49    -0.15    -0.36    -1.60
    Rapid City        0.17     19.49     17.36    -0.18     6.75     6.31
    Cottonwood        0.79     23.25     19.56     0.45    11.18     8.80
    Milesville        0.51     20.76     16.23     0.09     7.26     4.35
    Deerfield         1.18     21.31     18.62     0.69     7.41     6.36
    Lead              0.93     26.84     18.27     0.44     6.86     2.51

C   Pierre            0.88     26.32     19.98     0.53    12.15     7.55
    Highmore          0.70     20.28     15.28     0.23     6.47     3.03
    Huron             0.02     17.88     14.42    -0.40     3.11     1.83

EC  Mitchell          0.45     14.28     10.83    -0.11    -2.04    -3.35
    Brookings         0.11     12.23      8.42    -0.52    -3.26    -5.56
    Sioux Falls       0.88     16.31     13.00     0.18    -0.11    -1.03

SW  Oelrichs          0.30     19.29     16.28     0.02     5.90     4.88
    Martin            0.05     23.47     19.68    -0.23    10.07     7.60
    Custer            0.25     16.53     14.62    -0.18     2.07     1.65
    Hot Springs       0.13     23.12     19.89    -0.22     9.86     8.37

SC  Murdo             0.44     23.91     19.61     0.06    10.40     7.81
    Kennebec          0.82     21.64     17.46     0.37     8.37     5.74
    Winner            1.70     15.93     13.27     1.14    -1.25    -1.58

SE  Pickstown         2.18     17.69     12.31     1.65     1.65    -1.67
    Yankton           0.72     15.58     12.76     0.09    -1.65    -2.54
    Sx City, IA       0.01     14.26     11.19    -0.69    -3.82    -4.35
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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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