>State Statisticsl Report R:rf

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Released: September 21, 1998 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending September 20, 1998 Volume 47 Issue 28

GENERAL Continued warm, dry weather across the state last week benefited the start of row crop harvest and maturation, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Dry soil conditions have caused winter wheat seeding to fall behind the five- year average. Statewide, there were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork.

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

SOIL MOISTURE Soil conditions showed little or no improvement across most of the state, as very little rainfall was received during the week. Conditions remained short in the northeast, northwest, south central and north central areas of the state, with topsoil moisture conditions increasing to 48 percent less than adequate compared to 43 percent last week. Subsoil moisture remained 32 percent less than adequate.



   
     SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON - SEPT. 18 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short     10     7    4     2     6     2
Short      38    36   12    30    26     9
Adeq.      50    56   75    65    68    78
Surplus     2     1    9     3     0    11

CROPS Warm, sunny weather advanced the maturity of row crops, with harvest starting in many areas of the state. Corn harvested for grain is 6 percent completed, ahead of the five-year average of 1 percent. Mature corn rose to 63 percent, compared to the five-year average of 33 percent. Producers also started soybean harvest ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves jumped 25 points to 87 percent, while those mature increased to 55 percent, compared to the five-year averages of 60 and 26 percent, respectively. Corn silage harvested is 74 percent completed, compared to the five- year average of 30 percent. Poor soil conditions and lack of moisture are affecting winter wheat seeding. Although seeding is 50 percent completed, it is 18 points behind last year and 11 points behind the five-year average.



     CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - SEPT. 20

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD  
EXCEL

                          Percent
Alfalfa        0       7     31      51    11
Corn           0       2     10      53    35
Sorghum        0       1     19      70    10
Soybeans       1       3     16      52    28
Sunflower      0       7     17      53    23
Livestock      0       1      9      69    21
Range &
  Pasture      2       7     28      51    12

LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE Another week of warm, dry weather continued to stress livestock and pasture conditions. The warm weather is benefiting haying as the third cutting of alfalfa increased to 80 percent completed, with many producers reporting a fourth cutting getting underway. Producers continue to move hay to winter feeding areas. Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 15 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.

WEATHER Temperatures averaged from 7 to 12 degrees above normal across the state last week. The highest temperature was 103 degrees at Pierre and the lowest temperature was 41 degrees at Brookings and Custer. Little to no precipitation was received in many locations across the state. Yankton received the most precipitation with 0.56 inch.


             



     CROP PROGRESS 1/ - SEPTEMBER 20
                                                                                       
             This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM            Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
  
                         Percent
Corn    
 dent            98     93     85     81
 mature          63     35     34     33
 grain harv       6      1      0      1  

 silage harv     74     53     40     30  

Flaxseed     
 harvested       98     97     95     87  
   Sorghum    
 coloring        90     86     90     80
 mature          54     32     34     31
 grain harv       9      6      1      1  

 silage harv     41     22     28     25
Soybeans    
 dropping leaves 87     62     93     60
 mature          55     18     34     26
 harvested        7      1      2      2
Sunflower  
 ray flowers dry 99     92     95     96 
 bracts yellow   92     74     75     77
 mature          55     21     25     31 
 harvested       11      6      0      1  

Winter Wheat 
 seeded          50     29     68     61 
 emerged         26     10     24     21
Winter Rye   
 seeded          62     42     64     62
 emerged         36     30     41     28  
Alfalfa      
 third cutting   80     69     14      3  
  
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            2580       363        68       11       94       51       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          2722       238        68        9       94       43       
    Mobridge          2796       279        70       10       97       48       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         2542       233        69       11       91       43       
    Webster           2693       448        69       12       91       44       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            2785       115        70        9       96       49       
    Rapid City        2555       154        70       10       97       46       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       2833       126        73       11       97       52       
    Highmore          2966       452        72       12       96       49       
    Huron             2969       329        71       10       95       44       
    Pierre            3103       355        74       12      103       50       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         2560       343        67        9       91       41       
    Flandreau         2616       247        68       10       91       45       
    Forestburg        2930       275        71       10       96       43       
    Madison           2663       269        68        8       91       44       
    Mitchell          2935       158        70        8       95       43       
    Sioux Falls       2729        73        71       10       91       49       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap         NA        NA        NA       NA       NA       NA                   
    Custer            1902       245        63       10       86       41       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         2831       106        70        8       92       50       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            3075       313        71        9       92       45       
    Centerville       2880       214        71       10       94       50       
    Marion            2828       164        71       10       91       52       
    Menno             3093       331        71       10       90       49       
    Pickstown         2905        -5        70        7       93       47       
    Sioux City        3076       122        72        9       93       55       
    Yankton           3105       290        73       11       95       52       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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      9.77      7.75    -0.35    -5.93    -5.88       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          0.00     21.58     18.66    -0.42     5.81     5.02       
    Mobridge          0.00      9.88      8.72    -0.35    -4.51    -3.81       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         0.00     16.83     15.04    -0.47    -1.52    -0.83       
    Webster           0.00     26.56     22.41    -0.46     8.85     6.95       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            0.04     20.83     17.63    -0.24     7.07     5.47       
    Rapid City        0.00     16.59     13.88    -0.28     2.52     1.71       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       0.00     17.19     14.94    -0.42     0.29     0.27       
    Highmore          0.00     20.76     17.80    -0.38     3.98     3.04       
    Huron             0.00     21.42     17.93    -0.42     4.58     3.78       
    Pierre            0.00     15.84     12.30    -0.35     0.01    -1.53       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         0.00     11.71     10.14    -0.63    -7.45    -7.08       
    Flandreau         0.00     15.25     12.30    -0.63    -3.37    -4.25       
    Forestburg        0.00     19.09     16.65    -0.48     1.54     1.73       
    Madison           0.00     18.12     15.59    -0.56    -1.47    -0.95       
    Mitchell          0.00     17.47     14.35    -0.56    -0.72    -1.27       
    Sioux Falls       0.00     24.30     19.05    -0.70     5.11     2.59       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap       0.22     18.01     13.81    -0.13     2.98     0.53       
    Custer            0.00     15.74     11.51    -0.35    -0.63    -3.02       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         0.00     19.75     17.10    -0.63    -1.78    -1.73       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            0.00     23.33     20.08    -0.56     4.25     3.82       
    Centerville       0.25     28.82     24.51    -0.38     8.09     6.51       
    Marion            0.00     19.75     16.60    -0.70    -0.16    -0.38       
    Menno             0.00     23.65     20.54    -0.63     3.98     3.45       
    Pickstown         0.14     22.92     20.26    -0.42     4.54     4.31       
    Sioux City        0.25     27.39     22.12    -0.44     6.32     4.20       
    Yankton           0.56     24.52     20.40     0.00     4.94     3.27       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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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