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Released: July 13, 1998 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending July 12, 1998 Volume 47 Issue 18

GENERAL
Warm weather and timely rains improved crop development across much of the state, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major activities by producers during the week were spraying, cultivating, haying, and small grain harvesting. Statewide, there were 4.6 days suitable for fieldwork.

Based on information from county agents, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters.

SOIL MOISTURE
Soil conditions are good across the state, with most areas reporting adequate topsoil and subsoil conditions. Part of the northeast corner of the state is still reporting surplus conditions, along with a small section of the southeast corner of the state. 



    SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON - JULY 10

               TOPSOIL         SUBSOIL
          This  Last Last  This  Last  Last
RATING    Week  Week Year  Week  Week  Year

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      0     0    6     0     0     0
Short       4     5   27     3     3    10
Adeq.      79    77   62    74    73    79
Surplus    17    18    5    23    24    11


CROPS
Small grain harvest is underway, with 5 percent of winter wheat harvested. In addition, winter wheat and winter rye are 52 and 50 percent ripe, respectively, compared to 5 and 11 percent last year. Harvest of spring wheat is 2 percent complete, while 46 percent is turning color and 19 percent is ripe. Oats and barley are 23 and 15 percent ripe, respectively, ahead of the 7 and 2 percent averages. Warm, humid weather spurred row crop development, with corn an average height of 48 inches and 9 percent tasseling. Producers continue controlling weeds, with 75 percent of corn cultivated twice. Soybeans are 37 percent blooming, well ahead of the five-year average of 17 percent. Flaxseed is 69 percent blooming, compared to 42 percent last year, while sunflower is at 27 percent, compared to 1 percent last year. The second cutting of alfalfa looks better than the first, with 25 percent completed. Grasshoppers are still showing up statewide. 



 CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - JULY 12

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat  0       2     10      59     29
Winter Rye    0       1     12      56     31
Alfalfa       2       5     24      54     15
Spring Wheat  0       1     15      58     26
Barley        0       2     16      61     21
Oats          0       2     11      64     23
Corn          1       2      8      51     38
Sorghum       0       1      8      79     12
Soybeans      1       3     12      54     30
Flaxseed      0       2     13      80      5
Sunflower     0       1     13      65     21
Livestock     0       0      4      64     32
Range &  
    Pasture   1       2     10      57     30


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Range and pasture remain in good condition, with 87 percent reported good to excellent. Stock water supplies are 2 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 16 percent surplus. Livestock remain healthy, with 96 percent in good to excellent condition and only 4 percent reported fair. Hot, humid weather caused heat stress for cattle in some areas, and flies and mosquitoes still remain a problem.

WEATHER
Temperatures averaged above normal last week. Statewide, these averages ranged from 1 degree below to 5 degrees above normal, at Sioux Falls and Highmore, respectively. The highest temperature was 96 degrees at Pierre, and the lowest temperature was 51 degrees at Custer. Yankton received the most precipitation with 2.69 inches, while little to no precipitation was received in many locations across the state. 


             

 CROP PROGRESS 1/ - JULY 12
                                                                                    
                 This   Last   Last    5-Yr.
ITEM             Week   Week   Year     Ave
  
  
                            Percent
Barley  
 boot             99     96      94     95
 headed           95     80      79     82
 turning color    60     40      27     25
 ripe             15      1       0      2 
 harvested         1      0       0      0   
Spring wheat
 boot            100     97      95     96
 headed           98     86      83     85
 turning color    46     35      16     20
 ripe             19      2       0      1
 harvested         2      0       0      0   
Oats       
 boot             98     97      93     95
 headed           94     84      81     84
 turning color    52     27      17     24
 ripe             23      4       3      7
 harvested         3      0       0      0
Corn
 ave.height(in.)  48     31      33     32
 1st cult.        97     89      94     85
 2nd cult.        75     48      53     51
 tasseling         9      5       1      3
Flaxseed
 blooming         69     53      42     38
 ripe             30     NA       0      0 
Soybeans
 blooming         37     18      19     17
 setting pods     11      3       1      0  
Sunflower
 blooming         27     25       1      1
Winter Wheat
 turning color    96     80      69     78
 ripe             52     26       5     17
 harvested         5      2       0      3    
Winter Rye  
 turning color    83     56      38     63
 ripe             50     44      11     13
 harvested         1      1       0      1    
Alfalfa    
 cut once         94     82      94     91
 cut twice        25     17       8     10
Other Hay  
 cut              50     38      54     43  

1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.
NA = Not available

                                    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Growing Degree Days |    Temperature past week            
               -----------------------------------------------------------
                 GDD       Departure|          Departure                  
                 Since     from     |  Ave     from        High   Low     
Dist  Station    April 6   normal   |          normal                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      - - - - - - Degrees - - - - - -     
NW  Lemmon            1041        51        74        4       90       57       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          1257       108        75        3       89       61       
    Mobridge          1245       102        76        3       88       61       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         1166       100        74        2       86       61       
    Webster           1237       200        75        4       89       61       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            1771       512        76        1       90       62       
    Rapid City        1070         0        74        2       91       56       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       1299        10        76        1       91       62       
    Highmore          1373       207        78        5       92       63       
    Huron             1381       149        77        3       90       64       
    Pierre            1430       155        79        4       96       63       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         1234       188        72        2       87       58       
    Flandreau         1243       112        74        2       86       60       
    Forestburg        1390       124        77        3       90       63       
    Madison           1280       159        74        2       87       59       
    Mitchell          1412        81        78        3       90       64       
    Sioux Falls       1257         1        73       -1       87       59       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap         NA        NA        NA       NA       NA       NA                   
    Custer             697       -11        67        2       84       51       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         1284         2        76        1       87       63       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            1448       121        77        2       89       64       
    Centerville       1428       124        75        2       88       65       
    Marion            1357        76        75        1       87       63       
    Menno             1465       116        76        2       88       65       
    Pickstown         1323       -56        75       -1       88       62       
    Sioux City        1490        43        76        0       88       64       
    Yankton           1503       144        78        3       90       67       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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 4/1 | Weekly  Yearly  Since 4/1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 - - - - - - - - - - - - Inches - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
NW  Lemmon            0.00      4.02      2.00    -0.56    -7.44    -7.39       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          0.40      9.56      6.64    -0.23    -1.12    -1.91       
    Mobridge          0.20      5.38      4.22    -0.29    -5.03    -4.33       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         0.30     10.47      8.70    -0.40    -1.90    -1.19       
    Webster           0.25     17.46     13.69    -0.51     5.95     4.43       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            1.31     14.05     10.75     0.75     4.04     2.34       
    Rapid City        0.10     11.16      8.45    -0.39     0.82     0.01       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       0.89     13.46     11.21     0.26     1.48     1.46       
    Highmore          0.06     12.92      9.96    -0.64     1.47     0.53       
    Huron             0.01     13.33      9.84    -0.62     1.28     0.48       
    Pierre            0.10     10.09      6.55    -0.53    -1.41    -2.95       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         0.40      6.43      4.86    -0.37    -6.10    -5.73       
    Flandreau         0.47     10.11      7.16    -0.25    -2.01    -2.89       
    Forestburg        0.00     14.83     12.39    -0.70     2.35     2.54       
    Madison           0.90     11.79      9.26     0.20    -1.38    -0.86       
    Mitchell          0.86     14.33     11.24     0.30     1.51     0.99       
    Sioux Falls       0.00     14.75      9.50    -0.63     2.02    -0.50       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap       0.00      9.04      4.84    -0.63    -1.80    -4.25       
    Custer            0.20      9.22      4.99    -0.57    -2.07    -4.46       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         0.26     13.43     10.78    -0.51    -1.38    -1.33       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            1.26     17.47     14.22     0.56     4.07     3.64       
    Centerville       2.61     17.91     13.60     1.84     3.99     2.41       
    Marion            1.02     12.74      9.59     0.35    -0.78    -1.00       
    Menno             2.20     16.82     13.71     1.43     3.53     3.00       
    Pickstown         0.01     16.06     13.40    -0.62     3.29     3.06       
    Sioux City        0.22     21.19     15.92    -0.55     7.04     4.92       
    Yankton           2.69     17.04     12.92     1.99     3.69     2.02       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
bar chart showing crop progress compared to the last 10 years

                                      Chart image in 'TIF' format for publishers
 
 
 
South Dakota county map showing topsoil moisture South Dakota county map showing subsoil moisture

Topsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
Black & White Crosshatched Topsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
Subsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
Black & White Crosshatched Subsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
 

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