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Warmer temperatures seed across state
South Dakota Statewide during the week ending June 17, farmers and ranchers had 3.4 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, South Dakota Field Office, June 18. Major farm activities included planting row crops, post-emergence spraying, cultivating, and haying. Warmer and more humid conditions prevailed across the state over most of the week with temperatures reaching the 90s in many locations and the first 100 F reading of the year in Oelrichs, according to the State Climate Office of South Dakota. The warmer temperatures and moisture supplied energy to produce another active severe weather week. These combined storms produced (tornadoes, hail, and wind) more than 40 specific storm reports across the state. No specific crop damage was listed in any of the reports, but some likely did occur. Storms produced some areas of heavy rainfall, much of it in a corridor across the central part of the state from the northern Black Hills to Huron. Chamberlain, Pierre, and Huron were three of the locations reporting more than 3 inches for the week with over 5 inches reported in Onida. Despite the active storm events, other areas in the northwest (Bison), southwest (Hot Springs and Oelrichs) and southeast (Centerville and Vermillion) received less than a tenth of an inch for the week. These are generally the areas that are still below average for the growing season so far. Temperatures were generally 4 to 8 degrees above average over the whole state. This added GDD accumulation further above average for this time of year. Some stations are more than 10 days ahead of average since April 1. Topsoil moisture was rated at 97 percent adequate to surplus, while subsoil moisture is rated at 89 percent adequate to surplus. Both are vastly higher than last year at this time. The southwest corner of the state continues to be dry. Soybean and Sorghum planting has caught up to nearly normal, but sunflower planting continues to lag behind. Soybean planting is rated at 97 percent complete, while Sorghum planting is rated at 87 percent complete. Sunflower planting is rated at 58 percent complete, behind the five-year average of 79 percent. corn advanced to an average height of 15 inches. Also, 76 percent of the corn crop has been sprayed or cultivated once, ahead of the five-year average of 66 percent. Winter wheat is rated at 17 percent turning color, compared to the average of 13 percent. Farmers and ranchers continue haying when suitable. The first cutting of alfalfa is rated at 55 percent complete, while other hay is rated at 17 percent cut. Alfalfa condition is rated at 82 percent in good to excellent condition compared to last year's 39 percent. B 7 6/25/07 4 Star NE Date: 6/20/07
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