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Corn crop progressingSouth Dakota Dry warm weather throughout the week ending Sept. 21 helped stimulate corn and soybean maturity, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, South Dakota Field Office, Sept. 22. Moisture during the previous weekend prompted planting of winter wheat. There were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork in the past week. Farm activities focused on cutting silage, caring for calves, seeding winter wheat, and preparing machinery for the row crop harvest. A warm, mainly dry, week across the state helped to push crops closer to maturity, according to the State Climate Office of South Dakota. Temperatures were well above average for the week, ranging from 1 F above average at Porcupine to 13 F above average at Spearfish. Most of the state was 5 to 10 F above average. Only a few stations reported precipitation, with the most at Faulkton at 0.57 inches. More than half of the stations reported no precipitation. The lack of precipitation is showing, with some accumulations falling several inches below average since April, particularly in the east central and southeast parts of the state. The warmer temperatures also kept freezing conditions at bay, allowing late developing crops additional time to reach maturity. Only isolated areas have reported any frost problems so far this fall. The combination of warm temperatures and little rainfall kept soil temperatures in the 60s over most of the state. Topsoil moisture ratings dropped slightly to 58 percent adequate to surplus. Subsoil moisture also dropped slightly and is rated at 61 percent adequate to surplus. Corn progressed notably over the week and is currently 24 percent mature. However, this level is still far lower than the five-year average of 48 percent mature. The percentage of soybeans dropping leaves jumped 30 percentage points to 73 percent, which is 6 percentage points behind the five-year average. Soybeans were turning yellow in many areas. Nineteen percent of the soybean crop is mature, and 1 percent has been harvested. Sunflowers are 65 percent in the bracts yellow stage and 2 percent mature. Sorghum silage harvested jumped to 66 percent complete, and 60 percent of corn silage has been harvested. Winter wheat seeding is 40 percent seeded, but has been slow to emerge. Five percent of the seeded winter wheat has emerged. Range and pasture conditions were beginning to decline with the onset of autumn; conditions were 59 percent in the good to excellent categories, 6 percentage points lower than last week. Feed supplies and stock water supplies remain strong at 95 and 82 percent adequate to surplus, respectively. Livestock conditions are stable, with cattle rated 88 percent good to excellent and sheep rated 91 percent good to excellent, both only slightly lower than last week. Producers report that calves are being weaned and given preconditioning shots. 9/29/08 Date: 9/24/08
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