Return to the List of 1997 Crop Weather Reports

Released: September 22, 1997 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending September 21, 1997 Volume 46 Issue 29

GENERAL
Warm, dry weather most of last week benefited row crop maturation and winter wheat seeding, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major activities by South Dakota farmers and ranchers during the week were harvesting corn and sorghum for silage, planting winter wheat, fall tilling, spraying, and moving hay. Also, harvesting of soybeans began last week. 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      4     2    3     2     1     1
Short      12    16   13     9     8    30
Adeq.      75    75   76    78    82    65
Surplus     9     7    8    11     9     4


CROPS
Continued warm, sunny weather advanced the maturity of row crops during the week, and seeding of winter crops made excellent progress. Winter wheat seeding was 71 percent complete, an increase of 24 points over the previous week. Winter wheat emerged was 26 percent, well ahead of last year's 13 percent. Corn dented increased to 86 percent, well above the five-year average of 77 percent. Corn reaching mature stage was 37 percent, up 18 points from last week. Soybeans dropping leaves increased to 77 percent, a jump of 30 points over last week. Soybeans mature increased 15 points to 36 percent mature, well above the five-year average of 23 percent. Soybean harvesting was getting underway, with 2 percent harvested. Sunflower were 96 percent ray flowers dry, 75 percent bracts yellow, and 25 percent mature. Mature sunflower were below the five-year average of 32 percent. 

CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
ITEM      V POOR    POOR   FAIR   GOOD  EXCEL
                          Percent
Flaxseed       0       1     38     60      1
Sorghum        0       1     10     63     26
Soybeans       0       4     14     51     31
Sunflower      0       3     11     49     37
Corn           0       3     11     52     34
Livestock      0       0      8     65     27
Range &
  Pasture      1       3     18     57     21


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Pasture and livestock conditions rated mostly good to excellent. Corn harvested for silage was at 44 percent, well ahead of the five-year average of 26 percent. Sorghum harvested for silage was at 30 percent, up 14 points from last week. Stock water supplies were 1 percent short, 87 adequate, and 12 surplus. Livestock herds were being moved to fall pastures.

WEATHER
Average temperatures generally ranged from 4 degrees below to 4 degrees above normal. The highest temperature was 94 degrees at Newell. The lowest temperature was 23 degrees at Camp Crook, followed by Deerfield at 25 degrees. Faulkton received the most rainfall with 3.59 inches, followed by Huron with 1.60 inches. 

CROP PROGRESS
AS OF SUNDAY, September 21, 1997   1/
               This   Last   Last  5-Yr.
ITEM           Week   Week   Year  Ave
                      Percent
Barley
 harvested      100     99    100   100
Corn    
 dough           98     96     99    95
 dent            86     78     81    77
 mature          37     19     24    32
 grain harv       0      0      2     1   
 silage harv     44     15     29    26   
Flaxseed     
 harvested       96     89    100    82      
Soybeans    
 drop leaves     77     47     72    54
 mature          36     21     27    23
 harvested        2      0      2     2   
Sunflower  
 ray flowers dry 96     92     99    94 
 bracts yellow   75     73     78    76
 mature          25     23     26    32
 harvested        0      0      1     1       
Sorghum    
 coloring        91     81     95    72
 mature          36     21     40    28
 grain harv       1      0      2     1   
 silage harv     30     16     24    23 
Winter Wheat 
 seeded          71     47     49    64 
 emerged         26     10     13    23
Winter Rye   
 seeded          68     39     38    62
 emerged         45     18     11    28      

1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.  

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                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        2276      -117        58        1       86       23
    Newell            2392       -20        60        2       94       31
    Lemmon            2368        79        57        1       78       29
    Dupree            2419      -198        58       -1       81       27

NC  Mobridge          2499       -55        59        0       84       32
    Faulkton          2516      -121        61        2       86       33
    Aberdeen          2368      -171        57       -1       83       31

NE  Waubay            2381       -98        62        4       93       34
    Watertown         2250      -178        60        2       86       35
    Milbank           2475       -95        62        3       88       34

WC  Spearfish         2343       -11        59        2       91       36
    Rapid City        2327      -217        58       -1       92       34
    Cottonwood        2472      -188        61        1       93       29
    Milesville        2569      -136        60        0       90       29
    Deerfield           NA        NA        48        0       77       25
    Lead                NA        NA        55        1       83       31

C   Pierre            2725       -34        61        0       86       35
    Highmore          2489      -215        61        1       86       32
    Huron             2618       -44        61        1       88       37

EC  Mitchell          2660      -206        64        3       91       36
    Brookings         2293       -61        61        4       86       31
    Sioux Falls       2457      -261        61        1       85       32

SW  Oelrichs          2441      -218        60        0       93       37
    Martin            1898      -822        56       -4       90       31
    Custer              NA        NA        55        3       81       31
    Hot Springs         NA        NA        61        2       91       35

SC  Murdo             2596      -166        64        3       89       40
    Kennebec          2818       -88        65        3       90       32
    Winner            2710      -276        65        2       92       37

SE  Pickstown         2780      -147        64        1       93       38
    Yankton           2783       -35        65        4       90       40
    Sx City, IA       2744      -176        62        0       89       32
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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 9/1 | Weekly  Yearly  Since 9/1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 - - - - - - - - - - - - Inches - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NW  Camp Crook        0.16     12.02      0.65    -0.12     0.77    -0.19
    Newell            0.03     11.71      0.03    -0.25    -0.21    -0.81
    Lemmon            0.13     15.08      0.39    -0.17     0.37    -0.62
    Dupree            0.00     13.90      0.06    -0.24     0.73    -0.75

NC  Mobridge          0.05     15.16      0.87    -0.23     1.51    -0.08
    Faulkton          3.59     20.82      3.81     3.24     5.38     2.67
    Aberdeen          0.12     15.30      0.75    -0.30     0.08    -0.61

NE  Waubay            0.08     16.70      0.60    -0.30     0.10    -0.72
    Watertown         0.12     14.46      0.78    -0.30    -3.28    -0.64
    Milbank           0.58     19.58      1.37     0.15     1.83    -0.09

WC  Spearfish         0.28     15.46      0.31    -0.07    -1.12    -0.76
    Rapid City        0.11     19.73      0.24    -0.17     6.12    -0.63
    Cottonwood        0.17     23.48      0.23    -0.08    10.60    -0.58
    Milesville        0.13     20.89      0.13    -0.16     6.38    -0.88
    Deerfield         0.53     22.24      0.93     0.07     6.90    -0.51
    Lead              0.25     27.11      0.27    -0.17     5.81    -1.05

C   Pierre            0.01     26.35      0.03    -0.34    11.07    -1.08
    Highmore          0.18     20.58      0.30    -0.17     5.65    -0.82
    Huron             1.60     21.15      3.27     1.18     5.12     2.01

EC  Mitchell          0.36     15.64      1.36    -0.14    -2.30    -0.26
    Brookings         0.80     13.28      1.05     0.31    -3.83    -0.57
    Sioux Falls       0.14     17.01      0.70    -0.56    -1.61    -1.50

SW  Oelrichs          0.23     19.52      0.23    -0.05     5.29    -0.61
    Martin            0.00     24.23      0.76    -0.35     9.81    -0.26
    Custer            0.17     17.86      1.33    -0.11     2.40     0.33
    Hot Springs       0.15     23.54      0.42    -0.15     9.28    -0.58

SC  Murdo             0.13     24.08      0.17    -0.15     9.69    -0.71
    Kennebec          0.35     22.20      0.56     0.04     7.87    -0.50
    Winner            0.10     16.88      0.95    -0.34    -1.74    -0.49

SE  Pickstown         0.00     19.71      2.02    -0.43     2.22     0.57
    Yankton           1.00     18.25      2.67     0.46    -0.71     0.94
    Sx City, IA       0.34     15.48      1.22    -0.35    -4.69    -0.87
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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

Return to the List of 1997 Crop Weather Reports