>State Statisticsl Report R:rf

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Released: August 31, 1998 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending August 30, 1998 Volume 47 Issue 25

GENERAL Early week storms brought welcome rains to isolated areas of the state, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Warm weather for the remainder of the week helped crops to make significant progress, with corn and soybean development ahead of the five-year average.

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

SOIL MOISTURE Soil conditions in the extreme northeast corner improved after receiving much needed rainfall early this week. With the exception of the northwest corner where soil moisture is still short, the rest of the state continues to report adequate subsoil and topsoil conditions.



SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON -AUGUST 28

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      1     5    1     1     1     0
Short      16    21   18    14    16    12
Adeq.      76    70   76    78    76    78
Surplus     7     4    5     7     7    10

CROPS Warm weather and timely rains improved crop development across much of the state. Heavy rain and hail were reported in isolated areas of the state, with severe damage to row crops, alfalfa and small grains that were still in the field. In spite of this, producers have almost completed small grain harvest this week. Corn is 50 percent dented and 12 percent mature, compared to 32 and 6 percent last year and the five-year averages of 27 and 3 percent, respectively. Soybeans advanced to 16 percent dropping leaves and 5 percent mature, ahead of the five-year averages of 10 and 2 percent. Sunflower made the most progress with 57 percent of ray flowers dry and 43 percent of the bracts yellow, up 20 and 8 points, respectively, from last week. Sorghum is 55 percent turning color and 10 percent mature, compared to the five-year averages of 26 and 4 percent, respectively. Sorghum and corn silage harvest has started with 13 and 8 percent cut.



 CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - AUGUST 30

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD  
EXCEL

                          Percent
Alfalfa       0       6     21      53    20
Corn          0       3     12      50    35
Sorghum       0       2     10      69    19
Soybeans      0       2     12      53    33
Sunflower     0       1     12      61    26
Livestock     0       1      8      67    24
Range &  
    Pasture   1       4     22      52    21

LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE Livestock conditions remain 91 percent good to excellent and 9 percent poor to fair. Range and pasture benefited from the moisture this week, but still remain in need of rain with 27 percent very poor to fair and 73 percent good to excellent. Stock water supplies are 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Producers are almost finished with second cutting alfalfa and the third cutting is underway in many areas, with 52 percent harvested.

WEATHER Statewide, temperatures averaged 2 to 7 degrees above normal last week. The highest temperature was 98 degrees at Pierre, with the lowest temperature of 46 degrees at Custer. Huron received the most precipitation with 2.70 inches, while Lemmon, Buffalo Gap, and Pickstown received none.


             



      CROP PROGRESS 1/ - AUGUST 30
                                                                                       
              This   Last   Last    5-Yr.
ITEM             Week   Week   Year     Ave
  
  
                            Percent
Barley  
 harvested        98     97      89     95
Spring wheat
 harvested        99     96      92     93 
 
Oats       
 harvested        98     98      95     98
Corn
 dough            90     80      75     68
 dented           50     29      32     27
 mature           12     11       6      3
 silage harvested  8      4       2      1
Flaxseed
 harvested        85     68      56     38 
Sorghum
 headed           94     78      94     88
 coloring         55     33      31     26
 mature           10      2       3      4
 silage harvested 13      5       2      1
Soybeans
 setting pods     97     92      99     92
 dropping leaves  16      8       9     10
 mature            5      0       3      2 

Sunflower
 blooming         92     91      97     98
 ray flowers dry  57     37      42     59
 bracts yellow    43     35      31     36
 mature           11      7       1      3
Winter Wheat
 seeded            7      4       6      2
 emerged           5      1       2      0 
Winter Rye  
 seeded           21     16       4      2
 emerged          19      1       1      0 
Alfalfa    
 cut twice        90     90      98     88
 third cutting    52     36      NA     NA
Other Hay  
 harvested        90     88      99     88 


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            2199       228        70        4       90       50       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          2308        99        71        3       89       52       
    Mobridge          2364       121        74        5       94       53       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         2144        81        70        3       84       54       
    Webster           2272       264        71        5       87       54       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            2341       -11        74        3       92       56       
    Rapid City        2100       -15        72        4       91       53       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       2390        -1        73        4       93       55       
    Highmore          2519       293        74        6       93       56       
    Huron             2514       168        74        5       92       57       
    Pierre            2619       195        78        7       98       57       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         2187       211        69        4       88       51       
    Flandreau         2247       134        70        4       87       53       
    Forestburg        2505       148        73        4       92       55       
    Madison           2275       143        70        3       86       53       
    Mitchell          2515        49        74        4       93       57       
    Sioux Falls       2320       -48        71        2       87       54       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap         NA        NA        NA       NA       NA       NA                   
    Custer            1537       101        65        5       83       46       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         2403       -11        75        5       92       57       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            2628       176        74        5       92       57       
    Centerville       2463        87        72        3       87       54       
    Marion            2420        47        72        4       86       57       
    Menno             2660       203        73        4       88       59       
    Pickstown         2463      -106        75        3       95       57       
    Sioux City        2647        24        75        5       91       61       
    Yankton           2652       157        75        5       92       59       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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      9.49      7.47    -0.35    -5.16    -5.11       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          0.14     21.52     18.60    -0.33     7.07     6.28       
    Mobridge          0.38      9.75      8.59     0.03    -3.59    -2.89       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         1.52     16.85     15.04     0.94    -0.03     0.64       
    Webster           0.87     26.53     22.38     0.24    10.30     8.40       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            0.29     20.22     17.02    -0.06     7.32     5.72       
    Rapid City        0.06     15.84     13.13    -0.29     2.66     1.85       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       0.08     16.62     14.37    -0.34     0.98     0.96       
    Highmore          0.86     20.64     17.68     0.37     5.10     4.16       
    Huron             2.70     21.42     17.93     2.28     5.84     5.04       
    Pierre            0.91     15.82     12.28     0.56     1.10    -0.44       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         0.46     11.65     10.08    -0.17    -5.62    -5.25       
    Flandreau         0.50     15.69     12.74    -0.12    -1.03    -1.91       
    Forestburg        0.17     19.06     16.62    -0.25     2.95     3.14       
    Madison           0.55     18.02     15.49    -0.08     0.13     0.65       
    Mitchell          0.05     17.24     14.12    -0.44     0.71     0.16       
    Sioux Falls       0.84     23.46     18.21     0.17     6.39     3.87       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap       0.00     15.75     11.55    -0.30     1.75    -0.70       
    Custer            0.01     15.70     11.47    -0.41     0.44    -1.95       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         0.02     19.02     16.37    -0.59    -0.52    -0.47       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            0.02     22.63     19.38    -0.47     5.20     4.77       
    Centerville       0.20     26.12     21.81    -0.43     7.28     5.70       
    Marion            0.02     19.41     16.26    -0.61     1.58     1.36       
    Menno             0.20     22.89     19.78    -0.36     5.08     4.55       
    Pickstown         0.00     21.93     19.27    -0.49     5.27     5.04       
    Sioux City        0.79     27.18     21.91     0.16     8.18     6.06       
    Yankton           0.07     23.37     19.25    -0.50     5.47     3.80       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

bar chart showing crop progress compared to the last 10 years

South Dakota county map showing topsoil 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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