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Weather allows for fieldwork progressSouth Dakota With only a few locations in the state receiving significant precipitation during the week ending July 29, the continued hot and dry conditions allowed producers 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, South Dakota Field Office, July 30. Major farm activities included harvesting small grains and hay, caring for livestock, and irrigating where available. Western parts of the state received some needed precipitation to temporarily alleviate some of the fire and dryness concerns as areas from around Custer, Dupree, and Faith received an inch or more of precipitation during storms in the middle of last week, according to the State Climate Office of South Dakota. These storms were associated with a cold front that brought needed cooler air to the whole state. Early in the week temperatures again exceeded 100 F across most of the western part of the state. Temperatures in the 90s, accompanying dew points in the 70s, led to nearly 3,000 cattle deaths in the northeast part of the state under extreme heat index conditions. Most of the state received little or no precipitation continuing the stretch of dryness that has occurred for nearly the last six weeks across the state. Some locations (Centerville for example) have received no precipitation this month. This has led to precipitation totals of less than 25 percent of average for the last 30 days over much of the eastern and southern parts of the state. Hot conditions with little-to-no significant rainfall have contributed to dryer topsoil moisture and subsoil moisture conditions this past week. The topsoil moisture rating continues to decline, with 77 percent of the state now rated short or very short, up 9 percentage points from last week and 12 points higher than the five-year average of 65 percent. The subsoil moisture rating has also dried, with 59 percent rated short or very short, up 13 points from last week. This week has been marked by the rapid progression of the small grain harvest. The oats harvest progressed to 70 percent completed this week, 41 percentage points ahead of last week and 20 points ahead of the five-year average. Barley and spring wheat harvests are also progressing well, to 30 percent and 37 percent completed, respectively. Hot, dry weather has caused row crop conditions to decline, with corn rated at 57 percent good to excellent, down 13 points from last week, and soybeans rated at 62 percent in good to excellent condition, down 8 points from last week. The dry weather continues to hurt alfalfa and range and pasture conditions. Alfalfa condition dropped 15 percentage points in the good to excellent categories, now at 42 percent. Range and pasture condition dropped 11 percentage points rated good to excellent, now at 44 percent. Cattle and sheep conditions have also fallen, now down to 74 percent and 88 percent rated good to excellent, respectively. Date: 8/1/07
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