Some Crops Showing Stress

    SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A week of warm and dry weather has help
field work in South Dakota, but some areas are beginning to notice
signs of stress on crops and pastures from lack of rain.
     The Agriculture Department says in its weekly crop and weather
report that livestock conditions improved slightly, even though
some pastures are showing signs of stress from decreased moisture.
     Soybeans setting pods are at 95 percent, behind the previous
year of 99 percent. Eighty-seven percent of corn is at or beyond
the dough stage, with 26 percent in the dent stage. That's well
behind the 5-year average of 39 percent.
     Small grain harvesting is nearly complete with the exception of
barley.
     Cattle and sheep conditions are mostly in the good to excellent
range.