>State Statisticsl Report R:rf

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Released: March 27, 2000 -- 3:00 p. For Week Ending March 26, 2000 Volume 49 Issue 4

GENERAL: Most of the state received rains the middle of last week, easing concerns over topsoil moisture for seeding, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricul tural Statistics Service. While the moisture relieved some of the stress on the wheat crop, total soil mois ture is still low. Areas with topsoil moisture consid ered very short or short covered 44 percent of the state, compared to 39 percent last week. Livestock continue to do well. Major activities include calving and lambing, machinery repair, cleaning seed, tilling and plowing fields, seeding, and purchasing supplies. Warmer, dryer conditions allowed field work all week in some parts of the state, while other parts could do no fieldwork. Statewide there were 3.1 days suitable for field work. 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      8    14   NA     7    11    NA
Short      36    25   NA    43    39    NA
Adeq.      51    57   NA    45    47    NA
Surplus     5     4   NA     5     3    NA

CROPS: Seeding of small grains has begun across much of the state, with 8 percent of spring wheat and 4 percent of oat acreage completed. If the weather holds, northern counties hope to seed spring wheat next week while soil moisture is adequate. With dormancy broken for 90 percent of the winter wheat and 49 percent of winter rye, there were few reports of winter kill. Most reports of winter kill were in the northern and western areas of the state; however, it is still a little early to determine the extent of damage. Average snow depth for the state last week was 0.0 inch, with scanty snow confined to the northern and western counties. Winter wheat is rated 55 percent in good to excellent condition, compared to 45 percent last week and 84 percent a year ago. Winter rye is 45 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       6     39      53      2
Winter Rye     0      16     39      39      6
Cattle         0       0      4      74     22
Sheep          0       0      4      60     36
Range & 
   Pasture     3       5     31      50     11

LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE: Range and pastures have begun to turn green where moisture is adequate, but most ranchers have not yet begun to move cattle. Feed supplies remain abundant, with 99 percent rated adequate or surplus. Stock dams are down, with water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 15 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Mild temperatures and plentiful feed have 96 percent of cattle in good to excellent condition. Calving is 29 percent complete, with no weather or disease related problems reported. Calf deaths, with 44 percent rated below normal and 56 percent normal, are up slightly from last week.

WEATHER: Precipitation fell several times mid-week and ended with clear skies and strong winds over the weekend. 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 to 14 degrees above normal. Average temperatures ranged from 35 degrees at Custer to 50 degrees at Vermillion. The lowest temperature was 16 degrees at Porcupine. Pierre, at 69 degrees, was the warmest. The most precipitation since January 1, 6.38 inches, was recorded at Lead, which is now 1.56 inches above normal. Porcupine received 0.51 inch precipitation last week and is now 2.90 inches ahead of normal. Winner received 0.09 inch and is 1.63 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             8      3     NA     NA
 emerged            1      0     NA     NA
Oats    
 seeded             4      2     NA     NA
 emerged            1      0     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      41              Gettysburg   43
Brookings      41              Nisland      41
Caputa         39              Pierre       43
Chamberlain    45              Redfield     40
Cottonwood     42              Watertown    40





                               PRECIPITATION 
             TEMPERATURE           SINCE  SINCE  
            CURRENT WEEK     CURR  JAN 1  JAN 1  
STATION    AVG DFN  HI  LO   WEEK  TOTAL    DFN  
-------     --  --  --  --  -----  -----  -----  
Bison       45 +12  64  25   0.05   2.61  +0.86  
Buffalo     43  +9  66  25   0.00   0.70  -0.40  
Newell      38  +4  63  18   0.05   1.58  +0.20  
Timber Lake 44 +11  62  26   0.06   4.42  +2.66  
Aberdeen    45 +11  61  29   0.08   2.17  +0.17  
Eureka      46 +14  60  29   0.12   3.95  +2.56  
Faulkton    46 +14  63  31   0.19   2.15  +0.23  
Mobridge    44 +10  62  28   0.25   2.60  +0.85  
Britton     46 +13  62  32   0.10   1.28  -0.27  
Sisseton    44 +10  62  30   0.09   2.26  +0.01  
Webster     44 +12  60  31   0.14   1.73  -0.37  
Watertown   44 +11  58  27   0.18   1.37  -0.98  
Faith       43  +8  64  27   0.05   2.87  +1.21  
Lead        41  +8  60  19   0.00   6.38  +1.56  
Long Valley 46  +9  66  27   0.08   3.81  +2.16  
Philip_AP   43  +6  65  23   0.05   2.05  +0.53  
Rapid City  42  +6  67  21   0.01   3.63  +1.83  
Chamberlain 45  +8  63  29   0.27   0.95  -0.67  
Highmore    45 +11  62  26   0.20   1.63  -0.21  
Huron       47 +12  65  31   0.17   1.10  -1.47  
Pierre      47 +11  69  30   0.06   1.22  -0.67  
Brookings   44 +12  60  28   0.23   2.21  +0.39  
Madison  _  45 +12  62  29   0.23   1.89  -1.01  
Mitchell    46 +10  64  31   0.26   3.36  +0.94  
Sioux Falls 46 +10  62  29   0.39   2.66  +0.08  
Custer      35  +3  56  17   0.02   1.10  -0.66  
Hot Springs 43  +4  65  19   0.03   2.17  +0.82  
Porcupine   42  +5  66  16   0.51   4.26  +2.90  
Murdo       44  +9  64  30   0.07   2.28  +0.20  
Winner      47  +9  65  26   0.09   0.91  -1.63  
Armour      49 +11  67  31   0.25   2.09  -0.51  
Vermillion  50 +10  67  36   0.40   2.30  -0.04  
Yankton     47 +10  65  32   0.27   2.89  +0.57  
   
To view Crop Weather charts and maps please go 
to NASS  at http://www.nass.usda.gov/sd/cw/toc_cw0.htm.

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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