Return to the List of 1997 Crop Weather Reports

Released: September 8, 1997 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending September 7, 1997 Volume 46 Issue 27

GENERAL
Development of row crops made good progress during the week, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major activities by South Dakota farmers and ranchers during the week were wrapping up harvesting of small grains, working stubble fields, and spraying. Topsoil and subsoil conditions rated mostly adequate, with scattered dry pockets across the state. 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     1   24     2     0    12
Short      12    18   40     9    12    46
Adeq.      76    76   35    79    78    38
Surplus     9     5    1    10    10     4


CROPS
Warm, sunny weather helped the maturity of row crops during the week. The amount of corn reaching dough stage increased to 88 percent, 6 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Corn dented advanced to 56 percent, while corn mature increased to 8 percent. Soybeans dropping leaves increased to 27 percent, slightly behind last year but ahead of the five-year average. The amount mature, at 6 percent, is slightly ahead of normal. Sunflower development was behind normal at 72 percent flowers dry, 46 bracts yellow, and 4 mature. Winter wheat seeding was in full swing as it increased 8 points from last week, to 15 percent. This is ahead of the normal 11 percent. The amount of winter wheat emerged increased to 5 percent. 

CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD  EXCEL
                          Percent
Flaxseed       0       1     29     65      5
Sorghum        0       2     14     62     22
Soybeans       1       5     18     47     29
Sunflower      1       3     12     53     31
Corn           1       4     13     51     31
Livestock      0       1      8     62     29
Range &
  Pasture      1       4     19     46     30


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Livestock conditions rated mostly good to excellent. Producers were moving cattle to alternative pastures due to declining conditions. Silage harvesting was ahead of the five-year average, with corn at 5 percent and sorghum at 4 percent. Stock water supplies were 4 percent short, 88 adequate, and 8 surplus.

WEATHER
Average temperatures generally ranged from 3 degrees below normal to 6 degrees above normal. The highest temperature was 97 degrees at Spearfish and Newell. The lowest temperature was 38 degrees at Deerfield, followed by Faulkton and Brookings at 39 degrees. Pickstown received the heaviest precipitation with 1.61 inches, followed by Yankton with 1.07 inches. 

CROP PROGRESS
AS OF SUNDAY, September 7, 1997   1/
               This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM           Week   Week   Year   Ave
                      Percent
Spring Wheat
 harvested       99     94    100   95
Oats
 harvested       99     96    100   99
Barley
 harvested       97     91    100   99
Corn    
 dough           88     77     83   82
 dent            56     34     42   43
 mature           8      6      5    7
 silage harv      5      2      4    3   
Flaxseed     
 ripe           100     91    100   86
 harvested       73     63     85   56      
Soybeans    
 drop leaves     27      9     32   21
 mature           6      3      9    5
Sunflower  
 ray flowers dry 72     43     80   77 
 bracts yellow   46     33     50   49
 mature           4      1      5    7    
Sorghum    
 headed          99     96    100   94
 coloring        65     33     67   42
 mature          14      3     21   10
 silage harv      4      2      4    2 
Winter Wheat 
 seeded          15      7      7   11 
 emerged          5      2     NA   NA
Winter Rye   
 seeded          18      5      5   10
 emerged          3      1     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        2066      -167        68        3       88       44
    Newell            2176       -86        70        4       97       49
    Lemmon            2167        10        65        1       86       45
    Dupree            2213      -238        67       -1       86       44

NC  Mobridge          2288      -123        68        1       88       47
    Faulkton          2297      -177        68        0       91       39
    Aberdeen          2175      -216        65        1       82       44

NE  Waubay            2170      -167        68        2       85       49
    Watertown         2064      -232        65        1       89       42
    Milbank           2269      -147        66        0       89       43

WC  Spearfish         2142       -64        71        6       97       48
    Rapid City        2133      -249        69        5       86       51
    Cottonwood        2251      -232        71        3       93       52
    Milesville        2342      -192        70        1       94       49
    Deerfield           NA        NA        60        4       80       38
    Lead                NA        NA        66        4       85       46

C   Pierre            2493       -98        71        4       92       49
    Highmore          2274      -260        69        1       89       47
    Huron             2408       -97        68        3       92       46

EC  Mitchell          2438      -256        68       -1       91       46
    Brookings         2098      -123        65        1       88       39
    Sioux Falls       2262      -303        67        2       88       43

SW  Oelrichs          2226      -250        72        4       92       51
    Martin            1823      -721        66       -3       87       44
    Custer              NA        NA        64        5       84       46
    Hot Springs         NA        NA        70        3       88       51

SC  Murdo             2355      -234        71        1       91       50
    Kennebec          2560      -157        72        1       94       50
    Winner            2461      -335        72        1       90       51

SE  Pickstown         2543      -209        70        2       92       48
    Yankton           2541      -109        71        2       92       48
    Sx City, IA       2519      -238        69        1       93       45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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        0.44     11.81      9.76     0.16     1.12     0.22
    Newell            0.00     11.68      9.20    -0.28     0.32    -0.95
    Lemmon            0.26     14.95     12.04    -0.10     0.89    -0.10
    Dupree            0.06     13.90     10.85    -0.23     1.25    -0.07

NC  Mobridge          0.79     15.08     11.59     0.44     2.03     0.03
    Faulkton          0.22     17.23      9.09    -0.21     2.50    -3.90
    Aberdeen          0.26     14.81     10.00    -0.23     0.46    -2.52

NE  Waubay            0.14     16.24     11.25    -0.37     0.45    -2.87
    Watertown         0.61     14.29     10.11     0.10    -2.54    -4.54
    Milbank           0.50     18.71     12.27    -0.04     1.88    -2.38

WC  Spearfish         0.00     15.15     11.49    -0.37    -0.73    -1.97
    Rapid City        0.13     19.62     17.49    -0.18     6.57     6.13
    Cottonwood        0.06     23.31     19.62    -0.22    10.96     8.58
    Milesville        0.00     20.76     16.23    -0.37     6.89     3.98
    Deerfield         0.33     21.64     18.95    -0.16     7.25     6.20
    Lead              0.01     26.85     18.28    -0.47     6.39     2.04

C   Pierre            0.00     26.32     19.98    -0.35    11.80     7.20
    Highmore          0.12     20.40     15.40    -0.30     6.17     2.73
    Huron             0.20     18.08     14.62    -0.22     2.89     1.61

EC  Mitchell          0.82     15.10     11.65     0.26    -1.78    -3.09
    Brookings         0.18     12.41      8.60    -0.40    -3.66    -5.96
    Sioux Falls       0.20     16.51     13.20    -0.54    -0.65    -1.57

SW  Oelrichs          0.00     19.29     16.28    -0.28     5.62     4.60
    Martin            0.66     24.13     20.34     0.34    10.41     7.94
    Custer            0.76     17.29     15.38     0.38     2.45     2.03
    Hot Springs       0.15     23.27     20.04    -0.20     9.66     8.17

SC  Murdo             0.04     23.95     19.65    -0.28    10.12     7.53
    Kennebec          0.19     21.83     17.65    -0.21     8.16     5.53
    Winner            0.66     16.59     13.93     0.15    -1.10    -1.43

SE  Pickstown         1.61     19.30     13.92     1.06     2.71    -0.61
    Yankton           1.07     16.65     13.83     0.44    -1.21    -2.10
    Sx City, IA       0.41     14.67     11.60    -0.29    -4.11    -4.64
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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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