>State Statisticsl Report R:rf

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Released: March 20, 2000 -- 3:00 p. For Week Ending March 19, 2000 Volume 49 Issue 3

GENERAL: Most of the state received precipitation in the form of rain or snow last week, halting the early start on fieldwork, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. While the moisture relieved some of the stress on the wheat crop, soil moisture is still low. Livestock continue to do well. Major activities include calving and lambing, machinery repair, tilling and plowing fields, and purchasing supplies. This report is based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.



       SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON 

               TOPSOIL         SUBSOIL
          This  Last Last  This  Last  Last
RATING    Week  Week Year  Week  Week  Year

                       Percent
Very 
 Short     14    NA   NA    11    NA    NA
Short      25    NA   NA    39    NA    NA
Adeq.      57    NA   NA    47    NA    NA
Surplus     4    NA   NA     3    NA    NA

CROPS: Warm weather early in March has crops breaking dormancy, but recent colder temperatures and snows have cycled with warm days to melt snow, exposing crops to freezing temperatures. Statewide, 70 percent of the winter wheat has broken dormancy, along with 43 percent of winter rye. Injury to winter wheat is just starting to show as the crop breaks dormancy, but it is still too early to tell the frequency or severity of any damage. Warm temperatures allowed farmers to get a jump on field work, with seeding of spring wheat and oats starting. Planting and working the fields stopped with rains and snows during the middle of the month. Average snow depth for the state in mid-March was 0.0 inch. Winter wheat is rated 45 percent in good to excellent condition, compared to 34 percent last month, and 84 percent on March 29, 1999. Winter rye is 34 percent in good to excellent condition this year, compared to 60 percent at the end of March last year.




          CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   0      15     40      44      1
Winter Rye     0       5     61      33      1
Cattle         0       0      5      59     36
Sheep          0       0      9      55     36
Range & 
   Pasture     5       9     24      54      8

LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE: Warm and dry weather has changed to cool and wet the last week, however feed and water supplies remain easily accessible. Hay and roughage supplies are 10 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 20 percent surplus, down from 34 percent surplus last month. Stock dams are down, with supplies rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Mild temperatures and plentiful feed have 95 percent of cattle in good to excellent condition. Calving is 24 percent complete. Cattle deaths, at 20 percent below normal and 80 percent normal, are up from February's 47 percent below normal. Calf deaths were reported 51 percent below normal and 49 percent normal.

WEATHER: The middle of March brought wind, rain, and snow, followed by warm days that cleared fields of snow. Precipitation fell several times during the week of the 13th and ended with dense fog on Sunday for much of the state. Temperatures fluctuated during last week, but were mostly above normal. Average snow depth for the state was 0.0 inch. Statewide, temperatures ranged from 3 degrees below to 7 degrees above normal. Average temperatures ranged from 28 degrees at Brookings to 41 degrees at Long Valley. The lowest temperature was 2 degrees at Brookings. Chamberlain and Pierre were the warmest, at 63 degrees. Every station received some precipitation. The largest total accumulated since January 1, 5.76 inches, was recorded at Lead, which is now 1.59 inches above normal. Timber Lake is 2.83 inches ahead of normal in precipitation this year, while Winner is furthest behind at 1.27 inches below normal.


             


           CROP PROGRESS - MARCH 19 1/
                                                                                                    
     This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
  
                         Percent
Barley  
 seeded             0      0     NA     NA
Spring Wheat
 seeded             3     NA     NA     NA
Oats    
 seeded             2     NA     NA     NA
1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.




          SOIL TEMPERATURES         
      WEEK ENDING MARCH 19  (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP

Beresford      37              Gettysburg   37
Brookings      34              Nisland      37
Caputa         35              Pierre       38
Chamberlain    39              Redfield     32
Cottonwood     38              Watertown    32





 
                  TEMPERATURE  |    -----  PRECIPITATION -----   | GDD BASE 50F
                  -----------  |       SINCE  SINCE  SINCE  SINCE| ------------
                 CURRENT WEEK  | CURR  JAN 1  APR 1  JAN 1  APR 1|SINCE APRIL 6
STATION         AVG DFN  HI  LO| WEEK  TOTAL  TOTAL    DFN    DFN| TOTAL   DFN
-------          --  --  --  --|-----  -----  -----  -----  -----| -----  ----
Bison            36  +6  57  15| 0.04   2.53         +1.10       |
Buffalo_AP       35  +3  51  17| 0.16   0.70         -0.21       |
Newell           32  +0  51  14| 0.00   1.50         +0.36       |
Timber_Lake      34  +5  55  15| 0.00   4.27         +2.83       |
Aberdeen         29  -3  52   9| 0.13   2.09         +0.49       |
Eureka           31  +3  52  11| 0.03   3.72         +2.61       |
Faulkton         34  +6  54  17| 0.00   1.96         +0.44       |
Mobridge         31  +1  52  13| 0.01   2.34         +0.96       |
Britton          32  +2  53  12| 0.00   1.18         -0.14       |
Sisseton_AP      30  -2  52  13| 0.02   2.17         +0.33       |
Webster          31  +3  52  13| 0.00   1.59         -0.23       |
Watertown_SD     30  +0  56   9| 0.02   1.19         -0.73       |
Faith_AP         34  +3  52  15| 0.01   2.82         +1.48       |
Lead             33  +2  53  13| 0.13   5.76         +1.59       |
Long_Valley      41  +7  61  20| 0.07   3.72         +2.42       |
Philip_AP        36  +3  60  18| 0.00   2.00         +0.80       |
Rapid_City       35  +2  56  15| 0.00   3.62         +2.14       |
Chamberlain_Ag   34  -1  63  10| 0.00   0.68         -0.57       |
Highmore         37  +5  57  12| 0.00   1.43         -0.07       |
Huron            34  +3  60  10| 0.03   0.93         -1.16       |
Pierre           38  +5  63  15| 0.00   1.16         -0.37       |
Brookings_Ag     28  -2  53   2| 0.13   1.98         +0.56       |
Madison_Resrch_  29  -2  55   8| 0.00   1.66         -0.69       |
Mitchell_Ag      32  -1  61  10| 0.00   3.10         +1.17       |
Sioux_Falls      32  -2  57   7| 0.22   2.27         +0.19       |
Custer           31  +0  49  13| 0.09   1.03         -0.44       |
Hot_Springs      38  +2  62  18| 0.00   1.69         +0.55       |
Porcupine        36  +2  59  18| 0.04   3.75         +2.67       |
Murdo            36  +4  58  16| 0.00   2.21         +0.61       |
Winner           39  +3  61  12| 0.00   0.82         -1.27       |
Armour           37  +3  61  10| 0.01   1.84         -0.34       |
Vermillion       37  +0  61  12| 0.35   1.90         +0.00       |
Yankton          34  +0  61  14| 0.32   2.62         +0.78       |

bar chart showing crop progress compared to the last 10 years

South Dakota county map showing topsoil moisture

Topsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
Subsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers

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