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More of the same- Dry weather, limited precipitationSouth Dakota Another mostly-dry week across the state allowed harvest to continue during the week ending Nov. 18, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, South Dakota Field Office, Nov. 19. Statewide, 6.6 days were suitable for fieldwork. Major farm activities included harvesting row crops, autumn tillage, fertilizing for next year's crops, baling or grazing crop residue, hauling hay for winter, and preparing equipment for winter storage. Another week of more of the same--limited precipitation and warmer temperatures ruled the state, according to the State Climate Office of South Dakota. A handful of stations reported very light precipitation for the week. The highest total was Spearfish, at 0.13 of an inch. More than half of the stations recorded no precipitation. After a wet period in September and early October, precipitation has been very limited, allowing quick progress at the end of the harvest season. But the dry conditions have been unwelcome in the northwest part of the state, where soil moisture conditions continue to worsen. Air temperatures for the week were well above average throughout the state, ranging from 7 to 14 F above average for the week. Above-average air temperatures have helped to stabilize soil temperatures. Soil temperature measurements, at a depth of 4 inches, were generally in the low 40s across the state. Statewide, topsoil moisture is rated at 80 percent adequate to surplus, down from 84 percent last week, but well above the average, for this time of year, of 58 percent. Subsoil moisture was rated at 75 percent adequate to surplus, down from 80 percent last week, but also above the average, at 47 percent. The western third of the state has the biggest concern for soil moisture. Continued mostly-dry conditions have allowed row crop harvest to advance. Some producers have reported harvesting low spots previously too wet for harvest. Corn harvest is now rated at 94 percent complete, placing between last year's 96 percent and the average of 92 percent. Sorghum harvest is complete, slightly ahead of the five-year average of 97 percent. Sunflower harvest rounds out the row crops with harvest rated at 91 percent, behind last year's 95 percent and behind the five-year average of 94 percent. Winter wheat condition was rated at 71 percent good to excellent, which is an improvement over the five-year average of 54 percent. The condition of both the cattle and sheep were rated at 90 percent good to excellent. Stock water supplies were rated at 73 percent adequate to surplus, which is better than last year's 50 percent. Feed supplies are rated at 93 percent adequate to surplus, which indicates most producers are well prepared to tend to their livestock through the winter. Date: 11/21/07
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