A mixed week of weather conditions brought 5.7 days suitable for field work. Some areas received heavy rain with severe storms, while others stayed dry and have some crops showing stress from the conditions. Livestock conditions are steady but continue to deal with warm weather. Major activities this week included; spraying weeds, scouting for pests, harvesting small grains and hay, and trying to keep livestock cool.
This report was based on information from county extension educators, Farm Service Agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.
Weather: Warm and fairly dry conditions pervaded the state over the week. Temperatures averaged in the 70¡s F statewide for the week, according to the State Climate Office of South Dakota. Temperatures were mostly 1-6 ¡F above average for the week. The daily high for the week was 105¡ F at Oelrichs and Mitchell. The low was 50¡ F at Custer.
A few stations experienced some heavier rainfalls for the week while many were quite dry even for this time of year. Custer reported the highest total at 2.30 inches. Another half dozen stations received over an inch. Centerville reported 0.02 inches for the week, part of a continuing dry area in the southeast. Some below average totals show up in the growing season totals here. This area saw an introduction of D0 last week on the US Drought Monitor.
Field crops report: The warm weather has allowed crops to make good progress, but some areas of prolonged dry conditions are starting to show stress. Soybeans blooming are at 92 percent, now equal to the 5-year average. Soybeans setting pods are now 49 percent complete, behind the previous year of 59 percent. Ninety-five percent of the corn is tasseled, just ahead of the five year average of 94 percent. Corn silked is 75 percent complete, just short of the 5-year average of 77 percent. Small grains are also making good progress and harvest continues to make progress.
Winter wheat harvest is nearing the end with 91 percent complete, just shy of 94 percent for the previous year. Ninety-eight percent of the spring wheat crop is turning color, just short of 100 percent for the previous year. Spring wheat harvest now 36 percent complete, is well behind the previous year of 51 percent and the five-year average of 55 percent. Oats are 97 percent turning color and 58 percent harvested, still behind last year averages of 100 and 62 percent, respectively. Second cutting of alfalfa is 83 percent complete and 3rd cutting is now 12 percent harvested both nearing the 5-year averages of 84 and 16 percent, respectively.
Livestock, pasture, and range report: A slight dip in temperatures last week allowed for livestock conditions to be steady to slightly higher. Sheep conditions are rated 89 percent in good to excellent condition. Cattle conditions are rated 86 percent in good to excellent condition. Pastures and range conditions, with 82 percent in good to excellent condition, are well ahead of the five-year average of 54 percent. Stock water supplies are steady with the previous year at 97 percent rated adequate to surplus. Feed supplies are rated 99 percent adequate to surplus, ahead of the 5-year average of 82 percent.
Small grain harvest began in some areas of the state last week, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 3 percent short, 65 adequate, and 32 surplus while subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent short, 63 adequate, and 36 surplus. Statewide, on average, there were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork.
Crops: Some producers reported insect damage and concerns that the recent excessive moisture would promote disease. Access to fields remained an issue in a few areas. As of August 7, barley was 99 percent headed, 90 percent in the milk stage, 50 percent turning, and 3 percent harvested. Durum wheat was 100 percent jointed, 98 percent in the boot stage, 89 percent headed, 52 percent in the milk stage, and 12 percent turning. Spring wheat was 99 percent headed, 87 percent in the milk stage, 46 percent turning, and 2 percent harvested. Oats were 97 percent headed, 85 percent in the milk stage, 46 percent turning, and 2 percent harvested. Canola was 46 percent turning and 1 percent swathed.
Eighty-one percent of the corn crop had reached the silking stage, compared to 95 percent last year and 84 percent for the five-year average. Dry edible beans were 92 percent blooming, 59 percent setting pods, and 4 percent fully podded. Dry edible peas were 22 percent mature, significantly behind both last year and the average. Flaxseed was 87 percent blooming and 18 percent turning. As of August 7, potatoes were 100 percent blooming and 80 percent had rows filled. Soybeans were 89 percent blooming, 60 percent setting pods, and 1 percent fully podded. Sunflowers were 36 percent blooming. Other activities during the week included spraying pesticides and cutting hay.
Livestock: Stockwater supplies were rated 1 percent short, 65 adequate, and 34 surplus. Pasture and range conditions were rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 14 fair, 51 good, and 31 excellent. The second cutting of alfalfa was 39 percent complete. Cutting of other hay was estimated at 77 percent complete. Wet soil conditions have slowed haying progress in some areas of the state. Hay condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 12 fair, 60 good, and 21 excellent.
Weather: Temperatures were above normal in parts of the northwest and southeast and near normal elsewhere. Precipitation was below normal in parts of the south central and northwest and near to above normal across much of the rest of the state. Highs on Monday were in the upper 70s to mid-90s with rain in parts of the southwest and eastern part of the state. There were showers and thunderstorms in the northwest, central, and east on Tuesday with highs in the upper 70s to low 90s. Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds were reported in the far northwest on Tuesday. Highs on Wednesday were in the 70s to low 90s with showers and thunderstorms in the west, central, and northeast. Thursday highs were in the 80s to low 90s. Severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds were reported in parts of the southwest, central, and east. Highs on Friday were in the 70s and 80s with rain in the west, central, and northeast. Severe thunderstorms were reported in the southwest and south central on Friday. Highs on Saturday were in the upper 60s to low 80s with
