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Released: October 13, 1998 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending October 11, 1998 Volume 47 Issue 31

GENERAL
Heavy rains halted row crop harvest across the state early in the week, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Despite wet fields, producers resumed harvesting activities by week's end. Statewide, there were 3.1 days suitable for fieldwork.

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

SOIL MOISTURE
Soil conditions improved across the state, as heavy rains fell at the begin ning of the week. The state is reporting adequate topsoil and subsoil conditions, with the exception of the extreme northwest area of the state, which is reporting short subsoil conditions. 



   

 SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON - OCT. 9 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      0    12    4     0     4     5
Short       3    49   16    11    41    16
Adeq.      88    38   73    80    53    74
Surplus     9     1    7     9     2     5


CROPS
Heavy rains across the region halted row crop harvest early in the week, but harvest remains ahead the five-year averages. Producers were able to resume harvest activities late in the week, despite wet fields. Corn harvested is 31 percent, ahead the five-year average of 13 percent. Soybean harvest slowed to 55 percent completed, behind last year's 68 percent, but remained ahead of the five-year average. Sunflower harvested is 51 percent complete, compared to 37 percent one year ago and 26 percent on average. There were several reports of heavy wind damage to sunflower crops. Silage harvest is all but completed, with corn silage harvested at 98 percent and sorghum silage harvested at 91 percent. Both are well ahead of the five-year averages of 87 and 76 percent. Winter wheat seeding and emergence benefited from the wet weather conditions, with seeding 93 percent completed, 5 points behind last year, and slightly behind the five-year average. Winter wheat emerged is 78 percent, compared to the five-year average of 79 percent. 



       CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - OCT. 11

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Alfalfa        0       3     19      52     26
Corn           0       1      6      55     38
Sorghum        0       0     11      77     12
Soybeans       0       1      9      55     35
Sunflower      0       5      8      67     20
Winter Wheat   0       5     21      59     15
Winter Rye     0       3     29      54     14
Livestock      0       0      9      68     23
Range &
  Pasture      1       6     23      54     16


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Rains across the state improved the pastures to 70 percent good to excellent, compared to 58 percent last week. Producers continue to move livestock to stubble fields and wean calves. Producers are also moving hay to winter storage areas, as the third cutting of hay is completed. Stock water supplies rated 6 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus.

WEATHER
Temperatures statewide averaged from 3 degrees below to 4 degrees above normal. The highest temperature was 85 degrees at Pierre, while the lowest temperature was 26 degrees at Custer. Aberdeen received the most precipitation, with 0.4 inch. 


             

        CROP PROGRESS 1/ - OCTOBER 11
                                                                                       
             This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM            Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
  
                         Percent
Corn    
 mature          98     96     94     85
 grain harv      31     22     18     13  
 silage harv     98     89     97     87  

Sorghum    
 mature          95     91     94     88
 grain harv      35     31     27     18  
 silage harv     91     71     96     76
Soybeans    
 mature          99     96     97     88
 harvested       55     43     68     41
Sunflower  
 mature          98     92     92     89 
 harvested       51     32     37     26  

Winter Wheat 
 seeded          93     88     98     95 
 emerged         78     66     83     79
Winter Rye   
 seeded          95     94     98     95
 emerged         75     52     89     84   
 
1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.  


               SOIL TEMPERATURES
                (4-Inch Depth) 

LOCATION       TEMP           LOCATION    TEMP

Beresford       56            Gettysburg   54
Brookings       54            Nisland      55
Caputa          53            Pierre       56
Chamberlain     56            Redfield     53
Cottonwood      53            Watertown    53


--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Growing Degree Days |    Temperature past week            
               -----------------------------------------------------------
                 GDD       Departure|          Departure                  
                 Since     from     |  Ave     from        High   Low     
Dist  Station    April 6   normal   |          normal                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      - - - - - - Degrees - - - - - -     
NW  Lemmon            2741       358        50        0       79       33       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          2816       143        52        1       74       34       
    Mobridge          2868       170        52        0       78       32       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         2653       184        52        2       70       34       
    Webster           2798       401        53        4       73       35       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            2799      -101        52       -1       79       34       
    Rapid City        2662        54        52        0       77       32       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       3001        67        53       -1       78       33       
    Highmore          3066       349        54        2       78       36       
    Huron             3089       247        54        2       75       34       
    Pierre            3220       253        54        1       85       36       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         2679       298        51        1       72       32       
    Flandreau         2739       190        54        3       74       36       
    Forestburg        3082       221        56        3       76       40       
    Madison           2793       224        52        0       73       32       
    Mitchell          3087        95        53       -1       75       38       
    Sioux Falls       2857         7        54        2       73       38       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap         NA        NA        NA       NA       NA       NA                   
    Custer            2024       216        46        0       69       26       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         3005        61        51       -2       76       35       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            3212       233        54        1       75       37       
    Centerville       3067       192        53        0       73       36       
    Marion            2979       115        52       -1       73       37       
    Menno             3285       303        53       -1       74       37       
    Pickstown         3061       -73        53       -3       76       37       
    Sioux City        3274       100        57        1       79       33       
    Yankton           3283       246        54       -1       76       36       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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            0.15     11.23      9.21    -0.09    -5.42    -5.37       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          0.40     24.49     21.57     0.12     7.62     6.83       
    Mobridge          0.31     12.65     11.49     0.03    -2.65    -1.95       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         0.00     19.60     17.81    -0.42    -0.08     0.61       
    Webster           0.15     27.59     23.82    -0.20     8.67     7.15       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            0.06     19.94     16.59    -0.22     5.36     3.61       
    Rapid City        0.02     17.15     14.44    -0.26     2.20     1.39       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       0.00     19.53     17.28    -0.35     1.43     1.41       
    Highmore          0.13     18.94     15.98    -0.22     1.06     0.12       
    Huron             0.04     22.24     18.75    -0.31     4.27     3.47       
    Pierre            0.16     17.09     13.55    -0.12     0.27    -1.27       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         0.07     14.70     13.13    -0.35    -6.05    -5.68       
    Flandreau         0.13     16.92     13.97    -0.29    -3.35    -4.23       
    Forestburg        0.08     23.44     21.00    -0.34     4.57     4.76       
    Madison           0.21     22.93     20.40    -0.21     1.83     2.35       
    Mitchell          0.07     21.66     18.57    -0.28     2.07     1.55       
    Sioux Falls       0.06     25.75     20.50    -0.36     4.80     2.28       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap       0.00     23.61     19.41    -0.28     7.64     5.19       
    Custer            0.06     19.31     15.08    -0.16     2.01    -0.38       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         0.01     25.99     23.34    -0.41     2.81     2.86       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            0.03     26.20     22.95    -0.32     5.70     5.27       
    Centerville       0.03     29.67     25.36    -0.39     7.35     5.77       
    Marion            0.07     22.50     19.35    -0.35     0.87     0.65       
    Menno             0.07     25.14     22.03    -0.28     4.01     3.48       
    Pickstown         0.00     24.20     21.54    -0.35     4.39     4.16       
    Sioux City        0.00     27.39     22.12    -0.46     4.59     2.47       
    Yankton           0.00     24.27     20.15    -0.35     3.31     1.64       
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
bar chart showing crop progress compared to the last 10 years

                                     
 
 
 
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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