Released: March 28, 2005 -- 3:00 pm CST For Month ending March 27, 2005 SD-CW1305 Volume 54 Issue 13

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:    The month of March was slightly warmer than normal, with a few snow storms occurring, bringing some much-needed moisture to several areas throughout the state, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Precipitation totals for the month were lower than normal for most reporting stations, with many producers concerned over the lack of moisture. Major farm activities for March included hauling grain, calving and lambing, feeding livestock, and preparing for small grain seeding. The majority of farmers are preparing for spring fieldwork, with many getting an early start on spreading fertilizer and a few seeding small grains. This report is based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.

WEATHER INFORMATION:   Average temperatures for March were in the upper 20's and 30's and averaged about 2.3 degrees above normal for the state. The high for the month was 73 degrees, reported in Centerville, Vermillion, and Yankton. Both Aberdeen and Britton reported the low for the month, at -6 degrees. Precipitation received varied throughout the state from none reported in Britton and Webster, to 1.4 inches reported in Winner.

SOIL CONDITION:    This spring has started off with topsoil moisture levels slightly lower than last year, while subsoil moisture levels are rated slightly higher than last year. Topsoil moisture is rated at 57 percent adequate to surplus, compared to the previous year's 61 percent adequate to surplus. Subsoil moisture levels are rated at 52 percent adequate to surplus, compared to the previous year's 39 percent adequate to surplus. Soil temperatures from reporting stations averaged 35 degrees for the past week, about 0.9 degree below normal for this time of year.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:    While some producers have already reported spring field activity, on average across the state, April 5th is expected to be the starting date for fieldwork. This is almost one week later than last year's expected start date for fieldwork. Seeding of small grains has started in some areas, with seedings ahead of last year and the five-year averages. Oats are rated at 5 percent seeded, ahead of last year's 3 percent and the five-year average of 2 percent. Spring wheat is rated at 6 percent seeded, equal to last year's rating, and ahead of the five-year average of 3 percent. Winter wheat progress is reported at 57 percent breaking dormancy, comparable to last year's 74 percent. The condition of winter wheat is rated at 60 percent good to excellent, compared to 54 percent good to excellent 4 weeks earlier.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Another mild month has been beneficial to livestock, with calving and lambing now in full swing. Calving is now rated at 32 percent complete, with lambing 51 percent complete. Both calf and sheep or lamb deaths were rated mostly at or below average for the month of March. While cattle and sheep were rated in mostly good to excellent condition, range and pasture conditions were rated at only 29 percent good to excellent, with 6 percent of cattle moved to pastures. Many producers need precipitation to improve range and pasture conditions, as well as stock water supplies. Stock water supplies are rated at 51 percent adequate to surplus, with feed supplies rated at 77 percent adequate to surplus. A year ago stock water supplies were rated only 43 percent adequate to surplus.

          FEED AND WATER SUPPLIES COMPARISON
                 AS OF MARCH 27, 2005 

       FEED SUPPLIES      STOCK WATER
        This  Last 5-Yr.   This  Last  5-Yr.
RATING   Week  Year  Ave.   Week  Year   Ave.

                       Percent
Very 
 Short     11     6    NA     22     34   NA
Short      12    22    NA     27     23   NA
Adeq.      71    66    NA     49     42   NA
Surplus     6     6    NA      2      1   NA




         CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
             AS OF MARCH 27, 2005 

ITEM        V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                          Percent
Winter Wheat   4       4     32      54      6
Cattle         0       1     11      72     16
Sheep          0       0      6      80     14
Range &                                        
  Pasture     23      23     25     25      4  



      CROP PROGRESS AS OF MARCH 27, 2005  1/
                                                                         
                                                                           
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Barley        
 seeded               0     NA      3       1
Spring wheat 
 seeded               6     NA      6       3
Oats        
 seeded               5     NA      3       2
1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage. 
          




     SOIL TEMPERATURES WEEK ENDING MAR. 27, 2005
                (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP

Beresford      38              Gettysburg   33
Brookings      31              Nisland      40
Caputa         37              Pierre       36
Chamberlain    37              Redfield     32
Cottonwood     37              Watertown    31

                                                     

	         TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION
                  MONTH ENDING March 27, 2005
                                     

             TEMPERATURE   -----  PRECIPITATION -----    
             -----------                 SINCE  SINCE  
            CURRENT WEEK    CURR   CURR   JAN 1  JAN 1  
STATION     AVG DFN HI  LO  MONTH  DFN    TOTAL    DFN  
-------     --  --  --  --  -----  -----  -----  -----  
Bison       36   7  65  13  0.56   -0.37   0.77  -0.92
Buffalo     36   6  67  15  0.04   -0.43   0.23  -0.83
Dupree      34   4  67  12  0.57   -0.28   1.12  -0.38
Mc Intosh   34   5  67   8  0.34   -0.32   0.78  -0.47
Newell      36   5  70   9  0.57   -0.08   0.91  -0.40
Timber Lake 33   4  66   9  0.83   -0.14   1.61  -0.15								
Aberdeen    29   0  64  -6  0.17   -0.94   1.23  -0.72
Eureka      32   6  66   6  0.18   -0.59   0.84  -0.43
Faulkton    31	 4  66   6  0.34   -0.75   1.30  -0.57
Mobridge    34   5  69  11  0.36   -0.58   1.13  -0.57
Roscoe      28   0  65   4  0.17   -0.76   1.04  -0.65								
Britton     29   1  61  -6  0.00   -0.66   1.08  -0.43
Clear Lake  26  -3  65   2  0.39   -1.01   2.08  -0.55
Sisseton    29  -2  62  -4  0.07   -1.02   1.43  -0.76
Webster     28   0  61  -1  0.00   -0.93   0.89  -1.21
Watertown   28  -1  65   1  0.08   -1.09   1.06  -1.23								
Faith       35   5  67  16  0.62   -0.25   1.25  -0.37
Milesville  36   4  68  12  1.00    0.04   1.63  -0.12
Long Valley 37   3  69  11  1.14    0.11   1.81   0.16
Philip      36   3  70  10  0.77   -0.08   1.03  -0.45
Rapid City  37   5  70  10  0.78   -0.07   2.31   0.55
Spearfish   38   6  64  12  0.76   -0.47   1.89  -0.60								
Chamberlain 33   0  72  10  1.05    0.07   2.25   0.68
Highmore    34   4  66   8  0.42   -0.59   1.06  -0.72
Huron       33   2  71   3  0.27   -1.15   0.80  -1.71
Onida       35   5  69  10  0.39   -0.69   0.80  -1.22
Pierre      35   3  70  10  0.38   -0.55   0.52  -1.32								
Brookings   27  -1  67  -3  0.22   -0.81   1.27  -0.47
Madison     28   1  68   3  0.45   -1.11   1.33  -1.50
Mitchell    31  -1  70   6  0.61   -0.72   1.69  -0.43
Sioux Falls 31  -1  70   7  0.85   -0.51   2.42  -0.09								
Custer      33   2  57  11  0.46   -0.34   1.11  -0.61
Hot Springs 39   3  68  12  0.50   -0.15   1.41   0.10
Oelrichs    36   2  70   7  0.61   -0.25   1.10  -0.61
Porcupine   36   3  69   9  1.09    0.34   1.87   0.55								
Murdo       34   3  68  13  1.20   -0.07   2.07   0.05
Winner      37   2  70   9  1.40   -0.02   2.43  -0.12								
Armour      36   3  70   7  0.82   -0.57   1.72  -0.84
Centerville 31   0  73   5  0.54   -0.76   1.86  -0.68
Marion      30   0  70   6  0.58   -0.90   1.77  -0.69
Pickstown   34   1  72   9  0.52   -0.78   1.52  -0.70
Vermillion  35  -1  73   8  0.61   -0.83   2.08  -0.27
Yankton     33   0  73   8  0.74   -0.67   1.90  -0.33

Source: National Weather Service, provided by AWIS, Inc.