Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending August 24, 2014.
For the week ending August 24, 2014, rain and humid conditions across South Dakota slowed small grain harvest, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Above average temperatures in the east aided row crop development. Statewide, there were 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 16 short, 79 adequate, and 4 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 18 short, 76 adequate, and 4 surplus.
Field Crops Report: Winter wheat harvested was 94 percent, near 93 last year, but behind 98 for the five-year average.
Spring wheat conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 4 poor, 28 fair, 57 good, and 11 excellent. Mature was 92 percent, behind last year at 97 and 99 average. Spring wheat harvested was 57 percent, well behind last year at 72 and 87 average.
Oats harvested was 93 percent, near last year at 91, and equal to average.
Barley conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 22 fair, 64 good, and 13 excellent. Barley mature was 90 percent, behind both last year and average at 97. Barley harvested was 50 percent, behind 53 last year and well behind 78 average.
Corn conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 21 fair, 59 good, and 13 excellent. Corn in the dough stage was 83 percent, ahead of 77 last year and 73 average. Corn dented was 13 percent, near 16 last year, but behind 27 average.
Soybean conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 22 fair, 57 good, and 14 excellent. Setting pods was 93 percent, near 89 last year and equal to average. Soybeans dropping leaves was 1 percent, near 2 last year, but behind 7 average.
Sorghum conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 13 fair, 81 good, and 5 excellent. Sorghum was 95 percent headed, near 97 last year and 94 average. Sorghum coloring was 41 percent, well ahead of 29 last year, but near 38 average.
Sunflowers conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 35 fair, 60 good, and 4 excellent. Sunflowers blooming was 84 percent, near 88 last year, but behind 92 average. Ray flowers dried was at 2 percent, behind 7 last year and 19 average.
Alfalfa hay conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 9 poor, 21 fair, 50 good, and 20 excellent. Alfalfa hay second cutting was 90 percent complete, behind 96 last year and 95 average. Third cutting was 31 percent complete, behind 46 last year and 47 average.
Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 8 poor, 24 fair, 54 good, and 13 excellent.
Stock water supplies were 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.
