>State Statisticsl Report R:rf

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Released: April 3, 2000 -- 3:00 p. For Week Ending April 2, 2000 Volume 49 Issue 5

GENERAL: Light showers across the state the middle of last week slowed spring seeding and tillage, accord ing to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major activities by farmers and ranchers were calving and lambing, spreading fertilizer, and seeding spring wheat. Statewide there were 4.6 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 CONDITIONS: Soil moisture levels are similar to last week, with many areas still too dry for crop development. Fall-seeded crops may have a chance to recover from drought with enough spring rains. Areas with topsoil moisture considered very short or short covered 46 percent of the state, compared to 44 percent last week. Areas with subsoil moisture consid ered very short or short totaled 43 percent, down 7 percent from last week. Statewide the average soil temperature at 4 inches was 42 degrees.

       SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      9     8    2     8     7     0
Short      37    36   15    35    43     8
Adeq.      49    51   66    50    45    70
Surplus     5     5   17     7     5    22

CROPS: With improved conditions small grain seeding began in northern counties last week. Statewide, spring wheat acreage is 19 percent seeded, more than doubled from last week. Barley seeding, mostly in the southern districts, has begun and is at 6 percent complete; while oats advanced to 14 percent seeded. Many farmers reported concern over the dry condition of the soil being seeded. Ninety-five percent of the winter wheat and 74 percent of the rye has broken dormancy. As we enter the active growing season, the wheat appears to have suffered minimal winter kill. Hard frosts are still a possibility, but warmer soils will help protect the crops. Drought stress may be showing in the condition of the winter wheat crop; rated 70 percent in good to excellent condition, compared to 80 percent a year ago. Winter rye is 65 percent in good to excellent condition this year, compared to 45 percent last week.




          CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   0       5     25      59     11
Winter Rye     0       8     27      49     16
Cattle         0       0      4      71     25
Sheep          0       0      2      73     25
Range & 
   Pasture     2       4     29      55     10

LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE: Range and pastures in most of the state need a good rain to green-up. Ranchers have just began to move cattle, 3 percent, to pasture. Feed supplies remain abundant with 97 percent rated adequate or surplus. Stock water is not yet a concern, with water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. There were a few reports of mud problems in confinement pens. Mild temperatures and plentiful feed have 96 percent of cattle in good to excellent condition. Calving is 41 percent complete with continued favorable weather and no disease- related problems reported. Calf death loss was reported at 48 percent below normal, 51 percent normal, and 1 percent above normal. Lambing is 48 percent complete.

WEATHER: Warm, dry air covered the state. Statewide, temperatures ranged from 1 degree below to 9 degrees above normal. Average temperatures ranged from 37 degrees at Custer to 46 degrees at Vermillion. The lowest temperature, 14 degrees, was recorded at several stations. Hot Springs and Porcupine, at 70 degrees, were the warmest. Significant precipitation, 0.78 inch, was recorded only at Lead last week.


             


           CROP PROGRESS - MARCH 19 1/
                                                                                                    
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
                         Percent
Barley  
 seeded             6      0       7        2
 emerged            0      0      NA       NA
Spring Wheat
 seeded            19      8      16        3
 emerged            3      1      NA       NA
Oats    
 seeded            14      4       8        2
 emerged            1      1      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      43              Gettysburg   44
Brookings      41              Nisland      43
Caputa         41              Pierre       44
Chamberlain    46              Redfield     42
Cottonwood     42              Watertown    40





             TEMPERATURE  |    -----  PRECIPITATION -----   | GDD BASE 50F
             -----------  |       SINCE  SINCE  SINCE  SINCE| ------------
            CURRENT WEEK  | CURR  JAN 1  APR 1  JAN 1  APR 1|SINCE APRIL 1
STATION    AVG DFN  HI  LO| WEEK  TOTAL  TOTAL    DFN    DFN| TOTAL   DFN
-------     --  --  --  --|-----  -----  -----  -----  -----| -----  ----
Bison       42  +5  59  21| 0.09   2.62   0.09  +0.48  -0.03|     0    -1
Buffalo     42  +5  61  23| 0.10   0.80   0.05  -0.48  -0.01|     0    -2
Newell      39  +2  61  21| 0.07   1.60   0.04  -0.02  -0.04|     0    -2
Timber Lake 41  +4  56  16| 0.09   4.51   0.09  +2.38  -0.03|     0    -2
Aberdeen    43  +6  64  19| 0.03   2.20   0.03  -0.16  -0.09|     0    -2
Eureka      41  +5  58  16| 0.00   3.95   0.00  +2.22  -0.10|     0    +0
Faulkton    45  +9  63  18| 0.00   2.15   0.00  -0.13  -0.12|     1    +1
Mobridge    44  +7  58  14| 0.00   2.60   0.00  +0.52  -0.12|     0    -2
Britton     44  +8  66  23| 0.00   1.27   0.00  -0.58  -0.10|     0    -2
Sisseton    43  +5  66  20| 0.00   2.26   0.00  -0.35  -0.12|     0    -2
Webster     41  +5  63  21| 0.06   1.79   0.06  -0.65  -0.04|     0    -2
Watertown   42  +6  63  19| 0.00   1.37   0.00  -1.34  -0.12|     0    +0
Faith       43  +5  60  21| 0.03   2.90   0.03  +0.94  -0.07|     0    -2
Lead        38  +3  61  23| 0.78   7.16   0.77  +1.60  +0.55|     0    +0
Long Valley 41  +0  63  15| 0.07   3.88   0.00  +1.83  -0.12|     0    -2
Philip      42  +2  65  16| 0.05   2.10   0.00  +0.33  -0.09|     0    -2
Rapid City  43  +5  66  21| 0.05   3.68   0.00  +1.59  -0.10|     0    -1
Chamberlain 43  +3  67  15| 0.00   0.95   0.00  -0.99  -0.12|     0    -2
Highmore    43  +5  62  10| 0.00   1.63   0.00  -0.64  -0.13|     0    -2
Huron       45  +6  67  14| 0.00   1.10   0.00  -1.83  -0.12|     1    -1
Pierre      45  +6  62  15| 0.00   1.22   0.00  -0.99  -0.12|     2    +0
Brookings   43  +7  64  18| 0.00   2.21   0.00  +0.05  -0.12|     0    +0
Madison     43  +6  65  17| 0.00   1.89   0.00  -1.43  -0.14|     0    +0
Mitchell    44  +5  67  18| 0.00   3.33   0.00  +0.49  -0.14|     0    -2
Sioux Falls 44  +5  66  18| 0.00   2.66   0.00  -0.34  -0.14|     0    -2
Custer      37  +3  59  22| 0.03   1.13   0.01  -0.88  -0.08|     0    +0
Hot Springs 43  +2  70  20| 0.00   2.18   0.00  +0.57  -0.08|     0    -2
Porcupine   41  +2  70  16| 0.08   4.34   0.00  +2.74  -0.08|     0    -1
Murdo       42  +4  59  17| 0.01   2.29   0.01  -0.15  -0.11|     0    +0
Winner      43  -1  62  14| 0.00   0.88   0.00  -2.16  -0.15|     0    -4
Armour      45  +3  66  16| 0.00   2.07   0.00  -1.02  -0.14|     0    -3
Vermillion  46  +4  67  16| 0.00   2.30   0.00  -0.53  -0.14|     0    -4
Yankton     45  +5  68  19| 0.00   2.89   0.00  +0.21  -0.12|     0    -2

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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