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Released: November 9, 1998 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending November 8, 1998 Volume 47 Issue 35

GENERAL
A week filled with rain and snow halted harvest with 22 percent of the corn still unharvested, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Many areas of the state received the first hard frost of the season last week. There were 3.8 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. Areas in the western and northeast parts of the state are reporting surplus topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions. There are also local pockets of surplus moisture around the state, as the rain continues and snowfall begins. 



   
SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON - NOV. 6 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      0     0    1     0     0     1
Short       0     0   10     1     1     8
Adeq.      70    73   82    72    75    82
Surplus    30    27    7    27    24     9


CROPS
Rain and snow most of the week delayed, and in some cases, halted harvest across the state. With only a few days suitable for fieldwork, producers were able to progress to 78 percent complete on corn harvest, up 12 points from last week and still ahead of the five-year average of 75 percent. There are reports of some corn molding from all the moisture, as well as corn stalks breaking and falling to the ground. Producers were able to almost complete soybean harvest, with 95 percent harvested, behind the five-year average of 97 percent. Sunflower harvested is 90 percent complete, up 7 points from last week and 1 point behind the average. There are isolated reports of blackbird damage in sunflower fields. Many areas are reporting that storage is becoming a problem, as grain is being stored in temporary buildings and piled on the ground. Winter wheat rates 88 percent good to excellent. A good snow cover is needed to protect the emerged winter wheat from cold temperatures. 



 

     CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - NOV. 8

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   0       0     12      65     23
Winter Rye     0       0     23      42     35
Livestock      0       1      5      67     27


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Livestock conditions remain good to excellent, despite the winter weather that has moved into the region. Many producers continue to keep livestock on green pastures and stubble fields, with a few reports of producers feeding supplemental feeds. There have been isolated reports around the state of calves being sick. Stock water supplies rated 3 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus.

WEATHER
Statewide, temperatures averaged from 4 to 10 degrees below normal. The highest temperature was 54 degrees at Mobridge, with the lowest temperature of 17 degrees at Custer. Rapid City received the most precipitation with 0.82 inch, while Marion and Watertown received the least with 0.01 inch. 


             


        CROP PROGRESS - NOVEMBER 8
                                                                                       
              This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM            Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
  
                         Percent
Corn    
 grain harv      78     66     90     75   
Sorghum    
 grain harv      87     82     89     87   
Soybeans    
 harvested       95     92    100     97
Sunflower  
 harvested       90     83     96     91   
_________________________________________



               SOIL TEMPERATURES
                (4-Inch Depth) 

LOCATION       TEMP           LOCATION    TEMP

Beresford       39            Gettysburg   36
Brookings       35            Nisland      38
Caputa          35            Pierre       39
Chamberlain     37            Redfield     33
Cottonwood      35            Watertown    34



--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Temperature past week            
               -----------------------------------------
                         Departure                  
                 Ave     from        High   Low     
Dist  Station            normal                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 - - - - - - Degrees - - - - - -     
NW  Lemmon        32       -4       51       21       
                                                                             
NC  Aberdeen      31       -5       43       22       
    Mobridge      33       -5       54       20       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown     29       -7       40       21       
    Webster       31       -4       44       20       
                                                                                
WC  Philip        32       -8       43       25       
    Rapid City    30      -10       38       21       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain   34       -5       50       21       
    Highmore      34       -4       47       22       
    Huron         33       -6       49       19       
    Pierre        35       -5       47       26       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings     30       -7       48       18       
    Flandreau     29       -8       39       19       
    Forestburg    33       -6       49       20       
    Madison       32       -6       48       20       
    Mitchell      34       -6       49       21       
    Sioux Falls   31       -9       44       19       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap   NA       NA       NA       NA                   
    Custer        27       -8       42       17       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel     34       -6       45       27       
                                                                                
SE  Armour        35       -6       47       24       
    Centerville   35       -5       50       25       
    Marion        34       -6       50       21       
    Menno         35       -5       50       22       
    Pickstown     35       -7       47       25       
    Sioux City    36       -7       48       22       
    Yankton       36       -6       50       21       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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            0.37     11.84      9.82     0.23    -5.55    -5.50       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          0.08     28.64     25.72    -0.06    10.95    10.16       
    Mobridge          0.04     14.70     13.54    -0.10    -1.38    -0.68       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         0.01     23.79     22.00    -0.20     2.70     3.39       
    Webster           0.05     31.07     27.30    -0.16    11.06     9.54       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            0.45     22.44     19.09     0.31     7.09     5.34       
    Rapid City        0.82     21.54     18.83     0.68     5.79     4.98       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       0.12     23.90     21.65    -0.09     4.74     4.72       
    Highmore          0.10     21.94     18.98    -0.04     3.12     2.18       
    Huron             0.12     25.29     21.80    -0.09     6.19     5.39       
    Pierre            0.10     19.26     15.72    -0.04     1.52    -0.02       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         0.05     17.30     15.73    -0.16    -4.66    -4.29       
    Flandreau         0.05     21.74     18.79    -0.16     0.06    -0.82       
    Forestburg        0.06     25.14     22.70    -0.16     4.98     5.17       
    Madison           0.03     26.31     23.78    -0.25     3.77     4.29       
    Mitchell          0.05     25.29     22.20    -0.17     4.53     4.01       
    Sioux Falls       0.11     29.02     23.77    -0.17     6.67     4.15       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap       0.07     24.49     20.29    -0.07     7.76     5.31       
    Custer            0.17     20.92     16.69     0.03     2.88     0.49       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         0.10     26.57     23.92    -0.11     2.18     2.23       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            0.08     28.16     24.91    -0.13     6.45     6.02       
    Centerville       0.13     31.07     26.76    -0.15     7.42     5.84       
    Marion            0.01     26.09     22.94    -0.27     3.15     2.93       
    Menno             0.02     27.85     24.74    -0.26     5.44     4.91       
    Pickstown         0.09     26.34     23.68    -0.12     5.36     5.13       
    Sioux City        0.29     29.18     23.91     0.01     4.90     2.78       
    Yankton           0.29     26.29     22.17     0.02     4.06     2.39       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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