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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TxvQYyYhXk2n3c9uu9A93xtJWyaAXd54Up5yu99LJ8TVPBB5WYHkdow+i9XTeGVn
 i3QvwpmFclJpN6hqqBFREA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-005329.txt : 20030522
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-005329.hdr.sgml : 20030522
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030522161605
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-005329
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030521
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030522

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MACFARLANE JOHN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001191494

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-00368
		FILM NUMBER:		03716466

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		215 S CASCADE ST
		CITY:			FERGUS FALLS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			56537

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OTTER TAIL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000075129
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				410462685
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		215 S CASCADE ST
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 496
		CITY:			FERGUS FALLS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			56538-0496
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2187398200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		215 S CASCADE ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 496
		CITY:			FERGUS FALLS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			56538-0496

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OTTER TAIL POWER CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-21</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000075129</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OTTER TAIL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OTTR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191494</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MACFARLANE JOHN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>507</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>27.49</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2934</value><footnoteId id="F6" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</va
lue></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F6">These shares are held jointly with his wife.  See below for other holdings:
1. Indirect holding of 17,951.7241 shares held by ESOP.
2. Indirect holding of 3,050.6195 shares by IRA.
3. Direct holding of 19,958.5013 shares held in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
4. Direct holding of 2,080.5254 shares held in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
5. Direct holding of 4,550 shares which is a grant of Restricted Stock.
6. Direct holding of 5,174 shares which no longer carries the restriction.
7. 52,000 stock options with expiration date of 2/22/2009.
8. 100,000 stock options with expiration date of 4/9/2010.
9. 100,000 stock options with expiration date of 4/8/2011.    </footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/  John C MacFarlane by Debra J Lill -POA</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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