11/8 - 2009 South Dakota Pheasant Hunting Field Crops Conditions Report

November 11, 2009 by Chris Hitzeman

Major gains have been made in soybeans and now corn as well as sorghum across the state. However, corn and beans are still behind but catching up quick. Hunting will pick up but a lot more corn has to come out to really improve hunting conditions dramatically. The report also does not reflect the great gains made this week on the crop harvest due to excellent harvest and drying weather.

FIELD CROPS REPORT With the return of favorable weather, the soybean harvest advanced 26 percentage points last week. Seventy-six percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, compared to 97 percent last year and 99 percent for the five-year average. Eighteen percent of corn has been harvested for grain, compared to 50 percent last year and 71 percent for the five-year average. Ninety-two percent of the winter wheat seeded has emerged, compared to 93 percent last year and 96 percent for the five-year average. Twenty-four percent of the sunflower crop has been harvested, compared to 54 percent in 2008 and 71 percent for the five-year average. Sixty-seven percent of the sorghum crop has been harvested for grain, compared 54 percent last year and 83 percent for the five-year average.