Heat kills cattle as South Dakota bakes
Monday, July 30, 2007, 4:47 PM
by Peter Shinn
Hot, humid weather and no rain in most of South Dakota led to declining crop conditions, much drier soils, and thousands of cattle deaths last week. That’s the word from the South Dakota Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The latest crop progress and condition report out Monday afternoon said nearly 3,000 head of cattle died from extreme heat in northeast South Dakota last week. 77% of the state’s topsoil and 59% of South Dakota subsoil has a moisture rating of short-to-very short, and both of those figures are up substantially from last week.
At the same time, South Dakota corn and soybean conditions both declined last week. 57% of the state’s corn crop now rates good-to-excellent, down 13 points from the week before. 62% of South Dakota’s soybean crop rates good-to-excellent – down eight points.
South Dakota alfalfa conditions dropped 15 points in a week, all the way down to 42% good-to-excellent. Pasture and range conditions didn't fare much better, falling 11 points last week to 44% good–to-excellent.
Monday, July 30, 2007, 4:47 PM
by Peter Shinn
Hot, humid weather and no rain in most of South Dakota led to declining crop conditions, much drier soils, and thousands of cattle deaths last week. That’s the word from the South Dakota Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The latest crop progress and condition report out Monday afternoon said nearly 3,000 head of cattle died from extreme heat in northeast South Dakota last week. 77% of the state’s topsoil and 59% of South Dakota subsoil has a moisture rating of short-to-very short, and both of those figures are up substantially from last week.
At the same time, South Dakota corn and soybean conditions both declined last week. 57% of the state’s corn crop now rates good-to-excellent, down 13 points from the week before. 62% of South Dakota’s soybean crop rates good-to-excellent – down eight points.
South Dakota alfalfa conditions dropped 15 points in a week, all the way down to 42% good-to-excellent. Pasture and range conditions didn't fare much better, falling 11 points last week to 44% good–to-excellent.