News

South Dakota harvest advances despite damp weather

Despite rain and wind last week in South Dakota there was still a lot of field work done, bringing harvest closer to completion.

More precipitation fell, but most was rather light and not very helpful in changing drought conditions. Hot Springs had the most at over a half-inch. The US Drought Monitor map shows some decrease in drought level in the northeast part of the state after heavier rain the previous week.

Topsoil moisture is still 84 percent short to very short.

Winter wheat is 95 percent planted. The average is 98 percent planted, but high wind this past week has blown some out in some areas. Ninety-two percent of the sunflowers are harvested, ahead of the five year average of 42 percent.

Stock water supplies are 78 percent short to very short. Feed supplies are 45 percent adequate to surplus. Range and pasture are 83 percent poor to very poor.