>State Statisticsl Report R:rf

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Released: September 28, 1998 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending September 27, 1998 Volume 47 Issue 29

GENERAL Last week's cool, dry weather enabled farmers to make good progress in harvesting row crops as fields continue to dry down, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Corn, soybean and sunflower harvest are all well ahead of the five-year averages. Statewide, there were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork.

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

SOIL MOISTURE Soil conditions in the southwest improved from the early week precipitation received. However, conditions across the rest of the state continued to show little to no improvement. Conditions remain short in the extreme northeast, southeast, and northwest areas of the state, with topsoil moisture rated 56 percent and subsoil moisture 36 percent less than adequate.



   
  
   SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON - SEPT. 25 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short     10    10    4     4     2     3
Short      46    38   12    32    30    11
Adeq.      42    50   78    60    65    77
Surplus     2     2    6     4     3     9

CROPS Cooler temperatures prevailed over the state early in the week, giving way to warmer, drier temperatures by week's end. Many areas of the state reported a mild frost early in the week with some areas receiving a trace of snow. Row crop harvest continues with 14 percent corn harvested for grain, ahead of the five-year average of 3 percent. Soybean harvest is also ahead of the five-year average of 7 percent, with 21 percent completed, compared to 7 percent last year. Sunflower harvested is 19 percent completed, compared to 3 percent one year ago. Soybeans mature jumped to 77 percent, up 22 points from last week. Sorghum rated mature is 76 percent with 15 percent harvested, compared to the five-year averages of 52 and 3 percent, respectively. Corn silage harvested is 87 percent completed compared to the five-year average of 52 percent. Dry conditions continue to hamper the seeding and emergence of winter wheat. Although seeding is 74 percent completed, it is 10 points behind last year and 6 points behind the five-year average.




  CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - SEPT. 27

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD  
EXCEL

                          Percent
Alfalfa        1       5     26      54    14
Corn           0       2     10      54    34
Sorghum        0       2     15      73    10
Soybeans       0       2     14      55    29
Sunflower      1       4     19      56    20
Livestock      0       1     11      70    18
Range &
  Pasture      3       8     29      48    12

LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE The rains received this week aided livestock conditions; however, were not enough to significantly improve pasture conditions. Some alternate grazing is underway on stubble fields. The third cutting of alfalfa increased to 84 percent completed. Producers continue to prepare winter-feeding areas and have started to move cattle to market. Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 14 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus.

WEATHER Statewide, temperatures ranged from 1 degree below to 4 degrees above normal. The highest temperature was 93 degrees at Sioux City and the lowest temperature was 35 degrees at Mitchell and Watertown. Little to no precipitation was received in many locations across the state with Madison receiving the most precipitation with 1.07 inches.


             



 
   CROP PROGRESS 1/ - SEPTEMBER 27
                                                                                       
             This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM            Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
  
                         Percent
Corn    
 mature          88     63     57     55
 grain harv      14      6      2      3  

 silage harv     87     74     70     52  

Sorghum    
 coloring        98     90     97     91
 mature          76     54     58     52
 grain harv      15      9      3      3  

 silage harv     48     41     57     41
Soybeans    
 dropping leaves 96     87     92     77
 mature          77     55     51     43
 harvested       21      7      7      7
Sunflower  
 bracts yellow   94     92     93     91
 mature          68     55     52     55 
 harvested       19     11      3      4  

Winter Wheat 
 seeded          74     50     84     80 
 emerged         40     26     50     44
Winter Rye   
 seeded          74     62     80     81
 emerged         46     36     62     52  
   Alfalfa      
 third cutting   84     80     19      4  
  
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            2680       402        55        0       80       36       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          2785       232        57        1       82       38       
    Mobridge          2820       237        58        1       85       37       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         2612       243        58        2       81       35       
    Webster           2772       469        58        4       82       38       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            2729       -24        58       -1       83       39       
    Rapid City        2586       110        56       -1       85       37       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       2923       134        61        2       85       39       
    Highmore          3016       428        61        4       86       41       
    Huron             3045       331        61        3       87       42       
    Pierre            3163       335        62        3       89       40       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         2629       350        56        1       82       37       
    Flandreau         2687       252        58        2       83       39       
    Forestburg        3026       295        61        3       89       39       
    Madison           2734       275        57        0       84       37       
    Mitchell          3011       156        58       -1       87       35       
    Sioux Falls       2798        72        60        2       85       42       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap         NA        NA        NA       NA       NA       NA                   
    Custer            1970       257        51        0       74       37       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         2926       122        61        2       87       40       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            3169       329        61        2       86       37       
    Centerville       2961       220        59        1       86       36       
    Marion            2908       171        61        3       84       42       
    Menno             3191       350        61        2       85       40       
    Pickstown         2975       -15        60       -1       87       38       
    Sioux City        3174       142        64        3       93       44       
    Yankton           3194       300        62        2       88       41       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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     10.48      8.46    -0.35    -5.57    -5.52       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          0.00     21.46     18.54    -0.42     5.27     4.48       
    Mobridge          0.16     10.25      9.09    -0.15    -4.45    -3.75       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         0.11     16.94     15.15    -0.31    -1.83    -1.14       
    Webster           0.11     24.87     20.72    -0.31     6.74     4.84       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            0.11     17.94     14.74    -0.15     3.92     2.32       
    Rapid City        0.02     14.91     12.20    -0.26     0.56    -0.25       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       0.07     17.48     15.23    -0.35     0.16     0.14       
    Highmore          0.03     16.41     13.45    -0.32    -0.72    -1.66       
    Huron             0.00     18.91     15.42    -0.38     1.69     0.89       
    Pierre            0.00     15.33     11.79    -0.35    -0.85    -2.39       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         0.49     12.20     10.63    -0.12    -7.57    -7.20       
    Flandreau         0.51     16.09     13.14    -0.12    -3.16    -4.04       
    Forestburg        0.57     19.63     17.19     0.15     1.66     1.85       
    Madison           1.07     19.94     17.41     0.51    -0.21     0.31       
    Mitchell          1.04     18.51     15.39     0.48    -0.24    -0.79       
    Sioux Falls       0.14     22.58     17.33    -0.56     2.69     0.17       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap       0.04     21.14     16.94    -0.30     5.77     3.32       
    Custer            0.03     18.17     13.94    -0.32     1.45    -0.94       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         0.29     22.60     19.95    -0.34     0.44     0.49       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            0.38     23.55     20.30    -0.18     3.91     3.48       
    Centerville       0.36     23.94     19.63    -0.25     2.60     1.02       
    Marion            0.12     18.86     15.71    -0.58    -1.75    -1.97       
    Menno             0.37     20.00     16.89    -0.22    -0.26    -0.79       
    Pickstown         0.10     21.78     19.12    -0.46     2.84     2.61       
    Sioux City        0.19     25.88     20.61    -0.44     4.18     2.06       
    Yankton           0.15     20.44     16.32    -0.39     0.32    -1.35       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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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