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Released: November 16, 1998 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending November 15, 1998 Volume 47 Issue 36

GENERAL
Heavy snow and winds halted fieldwork for the week, keeping farmers from harvesting the remaining 18 percent of corn left in the fields, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. The storm, which left up to 12 inches of snow in some areas of the state, may leave some row crops unharvested until spring. There was 0.7 day suitable for fieldwork.

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

SOIL MOISTURE
The snow storm that moved across the state last week left behind several areas with surplus topsoil and subsoil moisture. The southeast area of the state is reporting surplus conditions in the aftermath of the storm, with the areas in the northeast and western part of the state continuing to report surplus soil moisture. The rest of the state is reporting adequate soil moisture conditions. 



SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON - NOV. 13 

               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   12     1     1    13
Adeq.      54    70   83    66    72    80
Surplus    46    30    4    33    27     6


CROPS
A winter blizzard that moved across the state last week halted harvest of the row crops still standing in the fields. Harvest was halted with 82 percent of the corn harvested, up 4 points from last week but behind the five-year average of 89 percent. There were reports of stalks breaking from the wet snow and strong winds that were associated with the storm. Sunflower harvested is 92 percent complete, up 2 points from last week but 4 points behind the average. Sorghum is 89 percent harvested, falling behind the five-year average of 94 percent. Many producers report that the unharvested crops may remain in the muddy, snow-drifted fields until the ground freezes, allowing the combines back in. Storage remains a concern, as many areas are reporting that grain is being piled on the ground. Emerged winter wheat and rye rate good to excellent, with the snow serving as insulation. 



 

   CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - NOV. 15

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   0       1      9      65     25
Winter Rye     0       1     19      59     21
Livestock      0       1     13      64     22


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
The first statewide snow storm of the season caught many producers with livestock still on summer pastures. Due to the snow depth, many producers are supplementing feed to those livestock that are still on summer pastures and stubble fields. There were no death losses reported from this winter storm, with livestock conditions remaining good to excellent over the region. Stock water supplies rated 2 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 25 percent surplus.

WEATHER
Temperatures statewide ranged from 0 degrees to 8 degrees below normal, after a winter storm moved through the state. The highest temperature was 57 degrees at Chamberlain and Pierre, with the lowest temperature of 6 degrees at Madison. Snow fell across the state last week, with Centerville, at 3.92 inches, receiving the most precipitation, while some areas of the state received less then 0.5 inch. 


             


           CROP PROGRESS - NOVEMBER 15
                                                                                       
              This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM            Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
  
                         Percent
Corn    
 grain harv      82     78     97     89   
Sorghum    
 grain harv      89     87     95     94   
Soybeans    
 harvested       96     95    100     99
Sunflower  
 harvested       92     90    100     96   
__________________________________________
 


               SOIL TEMPERATURES
                (4-Inch Depth) 

LOCATION       TEMP           LOCATION    TEMP

Beresford       40            Gettysburg   38
Brookings       40            Nisland      42
Caputa          39            Pierre       40
Chamberlain     40            Redfield     36
Cottonwood      37            Watertown    37


--------------------------------------------------
                  Temperature past week            
               -----------------------------------
                           Departure                  
                   Ave     from        High   Low     
Dist  Station              normal                     
--------------------------------------------------
                   - - - - - - Degrees - - - - - -     
NW  Lemmon          30       -2       43       18       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen        29       -4       40       10       
    Mobridge        32       -2       43       21       
                                                        
NE  Watertown       29       -3       40       11       
    Webster         29       -2       40       11       
                                                                                
WC  Philip          33       -3       50       15       
    Rapid City      32       -5       53       13       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain     33       -2       57       17       
    Highmore        33        0       47       16       
    Huron           31       -4       42       13       
    Pierre          36        0       57       18       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings       27       -6       41        9       
    Flandreau       29       -5       42        9       
    Forestburg      31       -4       45       12       
    Madison         29       -5       42        6       
    Mitchell        32       -5       49       13       
    Sioux Falls     31       -5       43        8       
                                                        
SW  Buffalo Gap     NA       NA       NA       NA                   
    Custer          29       -4       49       10       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel       35       -2       56       21       
                                                                                
SE  Armour          34       -2       54       18       
    Centerville     32       -4       44       15       
    Marion          30       -5       46       17       
    Menno           31       -5       44       17       
    Pickstown       35       -4       56       19       
    Sioux City      37       -2       51       24       
    Yankton         30       -8       46       10       
--------------------------------------------------
  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            0.94     14.25     12.23     0.80    -3.28    -3.23       
                                                                                
NC  Aberdeen          0.79     27.60     24.68     0.65     9.77     8.98       
    Mobridge          0.53     17.03     15.87     0.39     0.81     1.51       
                                                                                
NE  Watertown         0.08     23.95     22.16    -0.13     2.65     3.34       
    Webster           0.66     31.27     27.50     0.47    11.07     9.55       
                                                                                
WC  Philip            0.50     24.08     20.73     0.36     8.59     6.84       
    Rapid City        0.09     21.56     18.85    -0.05     5.67     4.86       
                                                                                
 C  Chamberlain       0.92     24.97     22.72     0.75     5.64     5.62       
    Highmore          1.31     22.59     19.63     1.17     3.63     2.69       
    Huron             1.98     24.59     21.10     1.79     5.30     4.50       
    Pierre            1.41     20.67     17.13     1.27     2.79     1.25       
                                                                                
EC  Brookings         0.36     18.09     16.52     0.15    -4.08    -3.71       
    Flandreau         0.98     23.84     20.89     0.77     1.95     1.07       
    Forestburg        1.88     26.47     24.03     1.67     6.10     6.29       
    Madison           1.10     28.45     25.92     0.82     5.63     6.15       
    Mitchell          2.30     27.00     23.91     2.09     6.03     5.51       
    Sioux Falls       2.07     30.80     25.55     1.79     8.17     5.65       
                                                                                
SW  Buffalo Gap       0.00     27.48     23.28    -0.14    10.61     8.16       
    Custer            0.06     22.43     18.20    -0.08     4.25     1.86       
                                                                                
SC  Bonesteel         0.90     26.13     23.48     0.69     1.53     1.58       
                                                                                
SE  Armour            1.62     30.57     27.32     1.41     8.65     8.22       
    Centerville       3.92     34.70     30.39     3.71    10.84     9.26       
    Marion            1.31     28.45     25.30     1.03     5.23     5.01       
    Menno             2.05     30.47     27.36     1.80     7.81     7.28       
    Pickstown         1.23     27.22     24.56     1.02     6.03     5.80       
    Sioux City        1.99     30.65     25.38     1.71     6.09     3.97       
    Yankton           1.53     28.39     24.27     1.32     5.95     4.28       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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