SD Winter Wheat Crop Emerging Slowly

South Dakota's winter wheat crop is about 43 percent emerged, but behind last year's pace and the five-year average.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its weekly crop and weather report that winter wheat is rated at 21 percent very poor, 32 percent poor, 44 percent fair and 3 percent good. By this time last year, the crop was 98 percent emerged and the five year average is 97 percent emerged.

Cattle conditions are rated at 72 percent good to excellent, 25 percent fair and 3 percent poor.

Precipitation was a bit more widespread this past week with nearly all locations receiving some moisture and about half the stations reporting above average precipitation. Vermillion had the highest total for the week at 0.51 inches.