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Released: October 26, 1998 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending October 25, 1998 Volume 47 Issue 33

GENERAL
Fall rains once again slowed harvest the first part of last week, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. The weather rebounded by mid-week, keeping harvest ahead of the five-year average. There were 4.6 days suitable for fieldwork.

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

SOIL MOISTURE
Soil moisture across the state remains in good condition, with the majority of the state reporting adequate subsoil and topsoil moisture. An area in the west central and northeast part of the state and a few other isolated areas are reporting surplus topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions. 



   


   SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON - OCT. 23 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      0     0    1     0     1     2
Short       1     4    8     2     8     8
Adeq.      84    82   85    85    84    81
Surplus    15    14    6    13     7     9


CROPS
Temperatures and weather conditions rebounded after early week rains, allowing producers to make good progress in row crop harvest. Most producers are busy with fall tillage and harvest. Corn harvest is 55 percent complete, up 13 points from last week and well ahead of the five-year average of 37 percent. Soybean harvest is 86 percent complete, behind last year's 92 percent, but ahead of the five-year average. Sunflower harvested is 75 percent complete, up 9 points from last week and 11 points ahead of the average. There were scattered reports of damage to sunflower fields from recent storms. The precipitation is aiding winter wheat conditions and emergence, with reports of bare spots filling in. Winter wheat emerged is 95 percent, behind last year's 96 percent emerged. Winter rye is 97 percent emerged, just slightly behind last year's progress of 99 percent. 



 
      CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - OCT. 25

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Corn           0       1      6      45     48
Sorghum        0       1     12      70     17
Winter Wheat   0       0      8      75     17
Winter Rye     0       5     12      70     13
Livestock      0       1      7      66     26
Range &
  Pasture      0       4     20      54     22


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Livestock conditions continue to improve over the region, with only scattered reports of pneumonia in calves. Producers continue to wean and market calves, with the majority of cattle off pastures and on stubble fields. Pasture conditions continued to rate in mostly fair to excellent condition. Producers are preparing for winter by spraying pastures for weeds and moving hay. Stock water supplies rated 4 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus.

WEATHER
Statewide, temperatures averaged from 1 degree below to 7 degrees above normal. The highest temperature was 80 degrees at Pierre, with the lowest temperature of 25 degrees at Custer. Mobridge, with 0.25 inch, received the most precipitation during the week, while Yankton and Sioux City received 0.15 inch. 


             


       CROP PROGRESS 1/ - OCTOBER 25
                                                                                       
              This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM            Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
  
                         Percent
Corn    
 grain harv      55     42     54     37   
Sorghum    
 grain harv      74     62     67     57   
Soybeans    
 harvested       86     75     92     83
Sunflower  
 harvested       75     66     78     64   
Winter Wheat 
 emerged         95     88     96     92
Winter Rye   
 emerged         97     95     99     97   
 
1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.  



               SOIL TEMPERATURES
                (4-Inch Depth) 

LOCATION       TEMP           LOCATION    TEMP

Beresford       52            Gettysburg   50
Brookings       50            Nisland      51
Caputa          50            Pierre       52
Chamberlain     52            Redfield     48
Cottonwood      49            Watertown    49



--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Growing Degree Days |    Temperature past week            
               -----------------------------------------------------------
                 GDD       Departure|          Departure                  
                 Since     from     |  Ave     from        High   Low     
Dist  Station    April 6   normal   |          normal                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      - - - - - - Degrees - - - - - -     
NW  Lemmon            2771       336        43       -1       68       29       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          2855       119        50        5       70       28       
    Mobridge          2915       156        50        4       73       30       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         2689       173        50        6       68       34       
    Webster           2845       408        50        7       69       32       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            2862      -125        51        4       73       32       
    Rapid City        2719        35        48        2       67       28       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       3088        70        52        5       75       33       
    Highmore          3136       348        53        7       75       34       
    Huron             3142       231        53        7       73       34       
    Pierre            3300       254        54        7       80       35       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         2747       316        48        4       70       27       
    Flandreau         2808       199        49        4       69       31       
    Forestburg        3163       231        52        5       72       35       
    Madison           2856       230        49        4       69       30       
    Mitchell          3164        95        52        4       73       34       
    Sioux Falls       2935        17        50        4       69       31       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap         NA        NA        NA       NA       NA       NA                   
    Custer            2060       203        45        4       63       25       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         3092        65        52        5       74       34       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            3292       233        52        5       73       36       
    Centerville       3161       209        51        4       71       33       
    Marion            3064       129        50        3       70       33       
    Menno             3373       308        51        3       72       34       
    Pickstown         3166       -54        53        3       74       35       
    Sioux City        3390       129        51        1       71       33       
    Yankton           3393       271        52        3       73       33       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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            0.01     11.42      9.40    -0.20    -5.62    -5.57       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          0.00     27.98     25.06    -0.23    10.64     9.85       
    Mobridge          0.25     14.26     13.10     0.04    -1.47    -0.77       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         0.00     22.68     20.89    -0.42     2.22     2.91       
    Webster           0.00     30.06     26.29    -0.30    10.54     9.02       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            0.01     20.92     17.57    -0.20     5.92     4.17       
    Rapid City        0.02     17.79     15.08    -0.19     2.39     1.58       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       0.00     21.97     19.72    -0.28     3.30     3.28       
    Highmore          0.00     20.86     17.90    -0.28     2.46     1.52       
    Huron             0.00     23.79     20.30    -0.34     5.18     4.38       
    Pierre            0.08     18.90     15.36    -0.20     1.56     0.02       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         0.00     16.40     14.83    -0.35    -5.00    -4.63       
    Flandreau         0.00     20.32     17.37    -0.42    -0.73    -1.61       
    Forestburg        0.00     23.73     21.29    -0.36     4.14     4.33       
    Madison           0.00     24.85     22.32    -0.42     2.97     3.49       
    Mitchell          0.00     24.24     21.15    -0.35     4.00     3.48       
    Sioux Falls       0.01     27.22     21.97    -0.40     5.50     2.98       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap       0.01     23.91     19.71    -0.20     7.53     5.08       
    Custer            0.02     19.85     15.62    -0.19     2.16    -0.23       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         0.00     26.35     23.70    -0.35     2.52     2.57       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            0.00     27.19     23.94    -0.35     6.04     5.61       
    Centerville       0.08     29.83     25.52    -0.27     6.81     5.23       
    Marion            0.00     24.10     20.95    -0.35     1.79     1.57       
    Menno             0.01     26.27     23.16    -0.34     4.49     3.96       
    Pickstown         0.00     25.00     22.34    -0.35     4.54     4.31       
    Sioux City        0.15     28.96     23.69    -0.27     5.38     3.26       
    Yankton           0.15     24.76     20.64    -0.20     3.15     1.48       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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