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Harvest progress well behind scheduleSouth Dakota Harvest progress remains well behind schedule across South Dakota as rainy conditions continued for most of the week ending Oct. 26, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, South Dakota Field Office, Oct. 27. There were only 2.4 days suitable for fieldwork in the past week. Farm activities focused on general care of livestock, weaning calves, seeding winter wheat, harvesting where fields were dry enough, and waiting for the rain to stop and the crop to dry down. The eastern part of South Dakota continued to experience wet conditions as 1 to 4 inches of rain, and in some cases snow, fell during the week, causing more harvest delays. The wettest area was generally east of a line from McPherson County to Charles Mix County. Areas west of this also received precipitation as all but one station reported precipitation, though amounts across the west were generally lighter. For the past month, wetter than average conditions have been the situation over most of the state. Most of the eastern third of the state has received several inches above average precipitation since the beginning of October. Temperatures were cooler than average again this week, ranging from 1 to 6 F below average. Extremely strong winds behind a cold front covered most of the state Oct. 26. Wind gusts of more than 50 to 60 mph were pervasive across South Dakota. Soil temperatures continue to cool quickly with 4-inch temperatures at 50 F or below throughout the state. Topsoil moisture was rated as 24 percent surplus, compared to 7 percent last week and 5 percent for the five-year average. Only 1 percent of topsoil was rated as very short, which is 13 points less than the five-year average for very short. Subsoil moisture also saw an increase in the surplus category with 16 percent at surplus, 12 points higher than the five-year average. Precipitation and humid conditions continued to severely hinder the harvest of field crops, and progress fell further behind schedule. Corn harvest came to a near standstill, as rain fell for several days this week. Corn is 16 percent harvested, only 2 percentage points ahead of last week and 34 percentage points behind the five-year average. The soybean harvest is 83 percent complete, 9 percentage points behind the five-year average. Any crop damage from the high winds over the weekend is yet to be fully assessed, but there were some reports of corn stalks lodging and ears dropping to the ground. There were also reports of soybeans shattering and dropping. Sorghum is 25 percent harvested and sunflowers are 16 percent harvested. Operators in Potter County reported that significant acres of sunflowers are down and will not be harvestable. The rain has been good for winter wheat, which is estimated at 96 percent seeded and 82 percent emerged. Range and pasture conditions improved with the precipitation. Sixty-three percent of range and pasture conditions were rated good to excellent, which is 29 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Feed supplies increased slightly, now estimated at 98 percent adequate to surplus. Stock water supplies increased to 89 percent adequate to surplus, compared to the five-year average of 56 percent. Lingering wet conditions caused livestock conditions to decline slightly. Cattle condition dipped 1 percentage point to a rating of 87 percent good to excellent, and sheep condition dropped 3 percentage points to a rating of 90 percent good to excellent.
Date: 10/29/08
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