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Released: April 10, 2000 -- 3:00 pm For Week Ending April 9, 2000 Volume 49 Issue 6

GENERAL:    Dry weather for most of the week across the state enabled producers to make good progress in spring tillage and seeding small grains, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Very strong winds blew across the state, resulting in some reports of grass fires and soil erosion. A snow storm hit eastern areas of the state late in the week. Major activities by farmers and ranchers were calving and lambing, spreading fertilizer, and seeding spring wheat. Statewide there were 5.0 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 develop ment. Very high winds blew across the state mid-week, drying out the soils and causing soil erosion. Areas with topsoil moisture considered very short or short covered 47 percent of the state, compared to 46 percent last week. Areas with subsoil moisture considered very short or short totaled 45 percent, up 2 percent from last week. 

    SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short     11     9    0     9     8     0
Short      36    37    2    36    35     3
Adeq.      50    49   68    51    50    70
Surplus     3     5   30     4     7    27

CROPS:    The condition of the winter wheat crop is now rated at 4 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. Winter rye is rated at 7 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Small grain seeding progress more than doubled from last week, with spring wheat at 45 percent, oats at 32 percent, and barley at 24 percent seeded. Many farmers reported concern over the dry condition of the soil being seeded. 


        CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   0       4     25      61     10
Winter Rye     0       7     29      50     14
Cattle         0       0      6      71     23
Sheep          0       0      7      69     24
Range & 
   Pasture     1       9     32      49      9

LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE:    Ranchers have moved 7 percent of the cattle to pasture. Stock water is not yet a concern, with water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 14 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Mild temperatures and plentiful feed have 94 percent of cattle in good to excellent condition. Calving is 47 percent complete, with continued favorable weather and no disease-related problems reported. Calf deaths were considered at 47 percent below normal, 52 percent normal, and 1 percent above normal; with sheep deaths rated at 49 percent below normal, 50 percent normal and 1 percent above normal.

WEATHER:    Warm, dry air covered the state, accompanied by very strong winds part of the week. Statewide, temperatures ranged from 5 degrees below to 3 degrees above normal. Average temperatures ranged from 36 degrees at Custer to 45 degrees at Armour, Winner, and Vermillion. The lowest temperature, 11 degrees, was recorded at Madison. Vermillion, at 78 degrees, was the warmest. The greatest precipitation was received at Lead, but snow fell in the eastern part of the state. 

             

      CROP PROGRESS - APRIL 9 1/
                                                                                                    
     This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
  
                         Percent
Barley  
 seeded            24      6     12      5
 emerged            1      0     NA     NA
Spring Wheat
 seeded            45     19     21      7
 emerged            5      3     NA     NA
Oats    
 seeded            32     14     21      6
 emerged            2      1     NA     NA
1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.




               SOIL TEMPERATURES         
      WEEK ENDING APRIL 9  (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP

Beresford      42              Gettysburg   44
Brookings      41              Nisland      44
Caputa         41              Pierre       44
Chamberlain    46              Redfield     40
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         44  +3  71  25| 0.00   2.62   0.09  +0.01  -0.50|     5    -3
Buffalo       41  +0  72  25| 0.03   0.83   0.08  -0.71  -0.24|     8    -1
Newell        41  +0  76  18| 0.06   1.66   0.10  -0.27  -0.29|     3    -6
Timber Lake   41  -1  65  23| 0.10   4.61   0.19  +2.06  -0.35|     1    -8
Aberdeen      40  -2  63  15| 0.19   2.39   0.22  -0.39  -0.32|     1    -8
Eureka        40  +1  61  21| 0.10   4.05   0.10  +1.91  -0.41|     0    -5
Faulkton      42  +2  64  21| 0.30   2.45   0.30  -0.28  -0.27|     4    -2
Mobridge      40  -2  66  20| 0.07   2.67   0.07  +0.15  -0.49|     4    -5
Britton       41  -1  60  20| 0.06   1.43   0.16  -0.79  -0.31|     1    -8
Sisseton      40  -2  64  20| 0.05   2.31   0.05  -0.78  -0.55|     0    -9
Webster       39  -2  59  24| 0.08   1.87   0.14  -0.94  -0.33|     0    -9
Watertown     39  -3  63  20| 0.16   1.53   0.16  -1.65  -0.43|     0    -6
Faith         40  -2  72  22| 0.26   3.16   0.29  +0.82  -0.19|     8    -1
Lead          38  -1  63  19| 0.86   8.02   1.63  +1.62  +0.57|     0    +0
Long_Valley   44  +0  72  20| 0.26   4.14   0.26  +1.65  -0.30|     8    -1
Philip        41  -3  74  18| 0.27   2.37   0.27  +0.25  -0.17|     7    -2
Rapid City    42  -1  76  20| 0.09   3.77   0.09  +1.29  -0.40|    10    +2
Chamberlain   40  -5  68  19| 0.17   1.12   0.17  -1.24  -0.37|     0   -12
Highmore      39  -4  64  17| 0.45   2.08   0.45  -0.68  -0.17|     0    -9
Huron         42  -2  71  16| 0.44   1.54   0.44  -1.85  -0.14|     4    -5
Pierre        43  -1  72  19| 0.05   1.27   0.05  -1.36  -0.49|     8    -1
Brookings     37  -3  67  12| 0.28   2.49   0.28  -0.11  -0.28|     0    -4
Madison       38  -4  69  11| 0.15   2.04   0.15  -1.83  -0.54|     0    -7
Mitchell      41  -4  68  20| 0.35   3.68   0.35  +0.31  -0.32|     0    -9
Sioux Falls   40  -3  71  17| 0.74   3.40   0.74  -0.16  +0.04|     0    -9
Custer        36  -3  67  15| 0.01   1.14   0.02  -1.22  -0.42|     6    +6
Hot Springs   43  -2  76  19| 0.00   2.18   0.00  +0.27  -0.38|     0   -14
Porcupine     39  -4  74  15| 0.07   4.41   0.07  +2.48  -0.34|     1    -7
Murdo         41  -2  72  21| 0.14   2.43   0.15  -0.50  -0.46|     0    -7
Winner        45  -2  73  21| 0.10   0.98   0.10  -2.62  -0.61|     7   -11
Armour        45  -2  70  17| 0.10   2.17   0.10  -1.41  -0.53|     5   -12
Vermillion    45  -3  78  15| 0.18   2.48   0.18  -0.84  -0.45|    11   -10
Yankton       42  -3  76  20| 0.25   3.14   0.25  +0.04  -0.29|     5    -6

bar chart showing crop progress compared to the last 10 years

                                     
 
 
 
South Dakota county map showing topsoil moisture South Dakota county map showing subsoil moisture

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

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