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Heavy precipitation slows row crop harvestSouth Dakota Heavy precipitation, including snow in western South Dakota during the week ending Oct. 12, slowed the progress of the row crop harvest, but provided much needed soil moisture to many areas of the state, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, South Dakota Field Office, Oct. 14. There were 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork in the past week. Farm activities focused on general care of livestock, seeding winter wheat, and the row crop harvest. Heavy precipitation was the major event of the past week, including the first snow event of the cold season, according to the State Climate Office of South Dakota. Nearly the whole state received over an inch of precipitation, with many places in the east receiving more than 2 inches. The peak for the week was 3.58 inches in Aberdeen. The lowest reported amount was 0.60 inch in Highmore. Snow fell from the northern Black Hills to the northwest corner of the state. Amounts ranged from a few inches up to a foot. The precipitation helped to resolve some continuing dryness in parts of eastern and northwestern South Dakota. But the heavy rainfalls in the east have also slowed some harvest progress. Temperatures for the week varied greatly by location. Most of the western two-thirds of the state had below-average temperatures, with the coldest in the areas receiving snow in the far west, with temperatures 6 to 10 F below average. The eastern third was generally above average, by as much as 5 F. Soil temperatures continued to fall, with areas in the northeast reporting four-inch temperatures around 50 F and the rest of the state in the mid-50s. Topsoil moisture ratings improved to 83 percent adequate to surplus, 22 percentage points higher than last week. Subsoil moisture ratings also improved 6 points in the adequate to surplus categories, now estimated at 68 percent. The recent precipitation drove away almost all areas classified as drought in the state, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Only a small sliver in the northeast corner of the state, equal to 0.8 percent of the state, is rated D1 (Moderate Drought), while 26.1 percent of the state is still classified D0 (Abnormally Dry). Statewide precipitation slowed harvest progress in the state over the past week. Corn is now estimated at 83 percentage points in the mature stage, up 8 percentage points from last week but 12 percentage points behind the five-year average. The corn crop is 11 percent harvested, 13 percentage points behind the five-year average. The soybean harvest advanced only 14 points, now 56 percent complete, still 8 percentage points behind the five-year average. The sunflower harvest remains in the early stages, now estimated at 5 percent complete. The silage harvest is nearly complete, with 96 percent of the corn harvested and 95 percent of the sorghum harvested. Winter wheat is 90 percent seeded, with 62 percent of the crop emerged. Range and pasture conditions remained fairly stable, with 55 percent rated in the good or excellent categories, down 3 percentage points from last week. Feed supplies and stock water supplies saw little change at 94 and 80 percent adequate to surplus, respectively. Livestock conditions remain strong, with cattle rated 87 percent good to excellent and sheep rated 91 percent good to excellent. Producers are hoping that recent precipitation will improve pasture conditions across the state. 10/20/08 Date: 10/15/08
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