GENERAL: Despite the late start this fall, the contin ued unseasonably warm, dry weather has allowed row crops harvest to be essentially completed ahead of normal, according to the USDA's South Dakota Agricul tural Statistics Service. Major activities were finishing row crop harvest, moving grain to elevators, fencing, fall tillage, fertilizing, moving hay, and working cattle. Also, there were reports of grain being piled on the ground due to lack of inside space in scattered areas across the state. Statewide, there were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters around the state.
SOIL MOISTURE: Soil moisture has continued to decline, with all but portions of north central and northeast considered short or very short. Areas with topsoil moisture considered very short (25 percent) or short (46 percent) totaled 71 percent of the state, up 17 percentage points from last week. Areas with subsoil moisture considered very short (10 percent) or short (41 percent) totaled 51 percent of the state. Subsoil moisture fell below adequate for the first time since the week ending September 8, 1996.
SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON - NOV. 12
TOPSOIL SUBSOIL
This Last Last This Last Last
RATING Week Week Year Week Week Year
Percent
Very
Short 25 18 0 10 11 0
Short 46 36 0 41 29 1
Adeq. 25 41 54 41 53 66
Surplus 4 5 46 8 7 33
CROPS: Soybean harvest, at 99 percent, finished even with last year and the five-year average. Corn harvest advanced 9 percentage points from last week, to 95 percent complete. It was 6 points ahead of the five-year average. Sunflower harvest moved up 7 points from last week to 96 percent complete, slightly ahead of the five-year average. Dry soil is limiting fall tillage, but areas that have been idle for the last several years are being worked. Winter wheat and rye are seeded and nearly all emerged. However, dry conditions are prompting concerns over spotty emergence, lack of growth, and entering winter dormancy without sufficient moisture.
CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - NOV. 14
ITEM V POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCEL
Percent
Winter Wheat 1 7 31 53 8
Winter Rye 0 2 25 64 9
Cattle 0 1 10 67 22
Sheep 0 0 11 58 31
Range &
Pasture 3 10 33 45 9
LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE: Range and pasture conditions declined again this week; percent rated fair to very poor increased 10 percentage points to 46 percent. Stock water supplies remain mostly adequate but dust has developed into a problem for cattle producers, with some reports of dust pneumonia. However, cattle remain in good condition, with 89 percent rated good to excellent. Feed supplies are reported good with supplemental stubble and hay. Alfalfa is moisture-stressed.
WEATHER: Unseasonably mild temperatures and dry, windy conditions again prevailed across the state, increasing fire danger. Statewide, temperatures ranged from to 14 to 21 degrees above normal. Average temperatures ranged from 47 degrees at Britton to 59 degrees at Winner. The lowest temperature was 22 degrees at Porcupine. Pierre was the warmest, at 87 degrees. The most precipitation, 0.02 inch, was recorded at Roscoe.
CROP PROGRESS - NOVEMBER 14 1/
This Last Last 5-Yr.
ITEM Week Week Year Ave
Percent
Corn
grain harvested 95 86 81 89
Sorghum
grain harvested 95 82 87 91
silage harvested 98 93 100 100
Soybeans
harvested 99 98 99 99
Sunflower
harvested 96 89 92 95
Winter wheat
emerged 95 94 100 99
Winter rye
emerged 99 98 100 100
1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.
LAST CROP-WEATHER REPORT FOR 1999
This issue concludes the weekly reports for
1999 made possible by the dedicated county
extension educations, farm service agency
county directors, and farmers and ranchers
who supplied the necessary information.
Reports will be issued monthly during the
winter season.
Thank you!
USDA's South Dakota Ag Statistics Service
TEMPERATURE | ----- PRECIPITATION -----
----------- | SINCE SINCE SINCE SINCE
CURRENT WEEK | CURR JAN 1 APR 1 JAN 1 APR 1
STATION AVG DFN HI LO| WEEK TOTAL TOTAL DFN DFN
------- -- -- -- --|----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Buffalo 52 +19 81 30| 0.00 16.28 15.06 +2.86 +2.82
Aberdeen 48 +16 77 27| 0.00 22.31 20.52 +4.48 +4.87
Leola 48 +16 77 29| 0.00 26.60 24.58 +8.53 +8.66
Mobridge 50 +16 76 30| 0.00 21.25 20.75 +5.03 +6.43
Roscoe 49 +17 78 31| 0.02 25.62 23.70 +7.60 +7.60
Britton 47 +14 68 28| 0.00 29.02 26.38 +10.90 +9.97
Sisseton 48 +15 76 28| 0.00 23.57 20.82 +3.40 +3.08
Watertown 49 +17 77 27| 0.00 16.05 14.50 -5.33 -4.35
Webster 48 +17 77 30| 0.00 24.16 21.53 +3.96 +3.62
Faith 56 +21 81 32| 0.01 15.90 15.00 -0.12 +0.79
Lead 55 +20 73 30| 0.00 26.90 22.60 +0.21 +1.10
Philip 54 +18 84 25| 0.00 19.39 18.33 +3.89 +4.47
Rapid 56 +20 83 32| 0.00 18.08 16.98 +2.17 +3.01
Chamberlain 55 +19 86 31| 0.00 25.70 23.93 +8.82 +8.82
Highmore 51 +17 82 30| 0.00 22.02 21.02 +3.00 +4.07
Huron 53 +19 86 28| 0.00 16.89 16.06 -2.40 -0.48
Pierre 56 +20 87 35| 0.00 23.94 22.84 +6.05 +6.99
Brookings 49 +17 77 26| 0.00 20.28 18.26 -1.92 -1.96
Madison 51 +17 78 30| 0.00 20.84 20.08 -2.00 +0.35
Mitchell 52 +16 81 30| 0.00 29.13 26.76 +8.14 +8.40
Sioux Falls 53 +18 81 30| 0.00 22.20 20.40 -0.43 +0.56
Custer 53 +19 71 27| 0.00 19.96 19.16 +1.78 +2.86
Hot Springs 55 +17 78 27| 0.00 21.36 19.78 +6.05 +5.96
Porcupine 52 +18 84 22| 0.00 23.11 21.36 +7.75 +7.48
Bonesteel 56 +21 82 32| 0.00 19.96 16.14 -4.66 -5.72
Mission 54 +20 85 29| 0.00 24.03 22.56 +5.47 +6.02
Murdo 56 +21 85 31| 0.00 22.77 19.68 +5.45 +4.62
Winner 59 +21 85 34| 0.00 19.16 17.60 -3.40 -2.13
Armour 54 +17 81 30| 0.00 23.68 21.82 +1.76 +2.78
Vermillion 54 +16 80 30| 0.00 29.12 28.10 +5.60 +7.21
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