News

Spotty South Dakota rain impacting small grains

Crop condition ratings are declining for the small grain crops in South Dakota.

USDA says winter wheat conditions are mostly split between fair to very poor and the spring wheat conditions are rated 42% fair with more than half of the crop headed.

South Dakota State University Extension Agronomist Jonathan Kleinjan tells Brownfield rains have been spotty in the state.

“Some places are worse than others, depending on what cloud you’re under, but spring wheat and oats will be half of the usual crop in many places. There are still times for row crops, but we’ll need good rains the rest of the summer.”

Corn conditions are rated 48% good to excellent. Soybean conditions are rated 50% good to excellent. Sorghum conditions are 57% good to excellent, a decline from the previous week with 3% of the crop headed. Sunflower planting is at 89% complete with under half of the crop emerged. USDA says 52% of pasture and rangeland conditions are fair.