USDA reports crop delays in South Dakota

By Scout Nelson

South Dakota's agricultural sector grappled with setbacks during the week ending July 21st, 2024, according to a report by the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Limited fieldwork opportunities hampered progress, with only 6.1 days deemed suitable for essential agricultural tasks. This lack of favorable weather conditions comes at a critical time for crop development, which is falling behind historical averages across the state.

Soil moisture presented a mixed picture. While most of the topsoil moisture (72%) remained adequate, a concerning 18% fell short of ideal levels, potentially impacting crop growth. Subsoil moisture fared slightly better, with 76% classified as adequate.

Corn development displayed the most significant delays. Silking, a crucial stage in the corn lifecycle, reached only 23%, falling well behind both last year's 55% and the established five-year average of 38%. Dough formation, another vital indicator of corn health, was minimal at just 2%, compared to the historical average of 3%.

Soybeans mirrored the concerning trend seen in corn. Blooming lagged both last year's figures and the historical average. The situation is particularly worrisome for pod setting, a critical stage for soybean yield. This crucial development phase reached a meager 3%, far behind the expected 16% for this time of year.

The winter wheat harvest also fell short of expectations, with only 31% completed compared to the previous year's progress. Spring wheat harvest followed a similar pattern, achieving only 2% completion, lagging behind the typical progress for this stage.

However, there were some positive developments. Spring wheat heading, a precursor to seed formation, reached 95%, nearly matching historical averages. Sorghum and sunflowers emerged in fair to good condition, offering a glimmer of hope. Nevertheless, their development remains behind schedule, requiring favorable conditions to catch up.

Pasture and range conditions provided a mixed bag, with a quarter of the land classified as fair and nearly 40% considered to be in good shape. While these findings offer some solace, they highlight the overall challenges faced by South Dakota's agricultural sector.

Farmers will be closely monitoring weather conditions and hoping for a turn towards more favorable circumstances to improve crop development and yields in the coming weeks.

Photo Credit: usda