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Released: July 27, 1998 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending July 26, 1998 Volume 47 Issue 20

GENERAL
Hot, humid weather continued to stress pasture and livestock early in the week until cooler temperatures brought relief midweek, according to the USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Small grain harvest progressed rapidly last week, while row crops continued to advance ahead of the five-year averages. Statewide, there were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork.

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

SOIL MOISTURE
The northwest corner and part of the southwest corner of the state are reporting short topsoil moisture after dry weather last week. Most of the state is reporting adequate subsoil conditions, with part of the northeast corner still reporting surplus conditions. 



    SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON - JULY 24

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      1     1    2     0     1     0
Short      22    12   18    12     6    13
Adeq.      70    79   67    78    79    74
Surplus     7     8   13    10    14    13


CROPS
CROPS: Significant gains were made harvesting small grains, with 79 percent of winter wheat and 57 percent of winter rye completed. This is up 34 and 16 points from last week, and well ahead of the five-year averages of 30 and 15 percent. In addition, spring wheat, oats, and barley are 14, 29, and 17 percent harvested, respectively, compared to 2, 12 , and 2 percent last year. Row crop development remains well ahead of five-year averages, with corn 54 percent silked and 8 percent in dough stage, compared to the averages of 19 and 1 percent. Strong winds on July 18 damaged corn in various counties across the eastern part of the state. Soybeans are 31 percent setting pods, 9 points ahead of last year. Sunflower is 32 percent blooming, ahead of the five-year average of 9 percent. Alfalfa is 69 percent cut twice, 22 points ahead of last year. 



 CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - JULY 26

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat  0       1     14      50     35
Winter Rye    0       1     10      58     31
Alfalfa       0       8     28      51     13
Spring Wheat  0       1     12      59     28
Barley        0       1      8      59     32
Oats          0       1     12      63     24
Corn          0       1      8      56     35
Sorghum       0       2     13      76      9
Soybeans      0       1     13      55     31
Flaxseed      0       2     16      78      4
Sunflower     0       4      9      65     22
Livestock     0       0      7      69     24
Range &  
    Pasture   0       2     15      65     18


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Livestock benefited from the cooler temperatures that arrived midweek, with 93 percent in good to excellent condition. Flies and mosquitoes are still a problem for cattle, and extensive heat reduced milk production in some areas. Range and pasture condition declined slightly this week, with 83 percent reported good to excellent and 17 percent poor to fair. Stock water supplies are 3 percent short, 86 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus.

WEATHER
Temperatures averaged below normal last week. Statewide, these averages ranged from 5 degrees below normal at Sioux Falls, to 8 degrees above normal at Philip. The highest temperature was 104 degrees at Chamberlain, while the lowest temperature was 47 degrees at Lemmon. Little to no precipitation was received in many locations across the state. Philip received the most precipitation with 3.45 inches. 


             


  CROP PROGRESS 1/ - JULY 26
                                                                                    
                 This   Last   Last    5-Yr.
ITEM             Week   Week   Year     Ave
  
  
                            Percent
Barley  
 turning color    92     77      72     70
 ripe             57     22      17     22 
 harvested        17      5       2      5
Spring wheat
 turning color    94     79      63     64
 ripe             58     22      10     15
 harvested        14      3       2      3   
Oats       
 turning color    95     79      67     70
 ripe             67     42      28     35
 harvested        29     12      12     11
Corn
 ave.height(in.)  73     64      60     54
 2nd cult.        98     93      92     82
 tasseling        76     42      54     38
 silked           54     16      19     19
 dough             8      0       1      1
Flaxseed
 blooming         86     81      85     74
 ripe             57     35       0      1
 harvested        10      0       0      0 
Sorghum
 headed           15     11      14     10
Soybeans
 blooming         72     57      58     50
 setting pods     31     26      22     16  
Sunflower
 blooming         32     29      10      9
Winter Wheat
 ripe             99     85      71     73
 harvested        79     45      20     30    
Winter Rye  
 turning color   100     98      97     98
 ripe             93     64      76     73
 harvested        57     41      11     15    
Alfalfa    
 cut twice        69     48      47     43
Other Hay  
 cut              71     60      70     61  

1/ 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 6   normal   |          normal                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      - - - - - - Degrees - - - - - -     
NW  Lemmon            1339        50        70       -1       95       47       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          1577       106        72       -2       97       50       
    Mobridge          1580       102        74        0       99       49       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         1451        75        69       -3       92       50       
    Webster           1553       212        72        0       97       50       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            2184       601        84        8      101       66       
    Rapid City        1372       -12        70       -3       93       55       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       1626         8        74       -2      104       59       
    Highmore          1721       236        75        1      103       56       
    Huron             1717       148        72       -3       96       52       
    Pierre            1781       167        76       -1      103       56       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         1513       175        69       -2       93       48       
    Flandreau         1532        92        70       -3       88       51       
    Forestburg        1709       111        73       -2       98       53       
    Madison           1574       140        69       -3       91       51       
    Mitchell          1748        75        73       -3       97       56       
    Sioux Falls       1563       -35        70       -5       89       52       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap         NA        NA        NA       NA       NA       NA                   
    Custer             945        18        64       -2       91       49       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         1617        -7        73       -2       99       61       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            1775       109        72       -3       96       57       
    Centerville       1733        99        72       -2       95       56       
    Marion            1677        60        71       -3       91       58       
    Menno             1796       111        73       -2       93       59       
    Pickstown         1674       -58        73       -4      102       58       
    Sioux City        1833        27        73       -3       94       56       
    Yankton           1855       156        76        1       99       62       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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    -8.56    -8.51       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          0.04      9.60      6.68    -0.59    -2.34    -3.13       
    Mobridge          0.00      5.38      4.22    -0.42    -5.94    -5.24       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         0.00     10.51      8.70    -0.70    -3.26    -2.59       
    Webster           0.04     17.72     13.95    -0.66     4.81     3.29       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            3.45     17.67     14.36     2.96     6.64     4.93       
    Rapid City        0.49     11.69      8.98     0.07     0.44    -0.37       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       1.14     14.60     12.35     0.52     1.37     1.35       
    Highmore          0.16     13.14     10.18    -0.51     0.32    -0.62       
    Huron             0.01     14.27     10.78    -0.56     1.02     0.22       
    Pierre            0.25     10.44      6.90    -0.31    -2.21    -3.75       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         0.05      7.38      5.81    -0.69    -6.66    -6.29       
    Flandreau         0.17     11.29      8.34    -0.53    -2.23    -3.11       
    Forestburg        0.15     15.18     12.74    -0.48     1.39     1.58       
    Madison           0.12     12.50      9.97    -0.58    -2.07    -1.55       
    Mitchell          0.04     14.53     11.44    -0.52     0.59     0.07       
    Sioux Falls       0.28     16.31     11.06    -0.30     2.37    -0.15       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap       0.07      9.41      5.21    -0.56    -2.69    -5.14       
    Custer            0.03      9.45      5.22    -0.67    -3.29    -5.68       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         0.04     13.48     10.83    -0.73    -2.87    -2.82       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            0.99     18.60     15.35     0.29     3.80     3.37       
    Centerville       1.73     21.21     16.90     0.96     5.75     4.17       
    Marion            0.80     15.42     12.27     0.17     0.64     0.42       
    Menno             1.46     18.37     15.26     0.69     3.54     3.01       
    Pickstown         1.05     17.15     14.49     0.42     3.12     2.89       
    Sioux City        0.07     21.31     16.04    -0.63     5.70     3.58       
    Yankton           3.45     21.05     16.93     2.75     6.30     4.63       
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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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