Released: December 4, 2000 -- 3:00 p.m CST
For Week Ending December 3, 2000
SD-CW4800 Volume 49 Issue 48
AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY: Frequent snows, high
winds, and bitter cold challenged producers throughout the
month of December, according to USDA's South Dakota
Agricultural Statistics Service. Extreme cold, blowing
snow, and deep drifts are making chores difficult for
producers. Ranchers were kept busy accessing, moving
hay and grain to feed cattle, and tending to livestock.
Hauling grain to elevators and inside work were the main
activities for farmers, while everyone was busy moving
snow.
This report is based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.
WEATHER INFORMATION: Temperatures ranged from 5
to 12 degrees colder than normal during December.
Although Dupree, at 25 below, reported the coldest
temperature, 15 stations reported temperatures of 20
degrees below zero or colder. Precipitation accumulation
(melted snow) ranged from 0.07 inch at Highmore to 0.99
inch at Clear Lake in the northeast. The statewide average
was 0.36 inch. While the average snow depth was
reported at 10.5 inches, high winds stripped snow from
some areas and created very large drifts in others.
SOIL CONDITION: Soil temperatures from reporting stations (Beresford unavailable) averaged 24.7 degrees compared to 32.8 degrees in November. Soil temperatures averaged 5.9 degrees cooler then normal.
FIELD CROPS REPORT: Winter wheat is reported 70 percent in fair to good condition, with only 2 percent in excellent condition, compared to 77 and 4 percent, respectively, in November. Winter rye is rated 94 percent fair to good. Snow cover for the winter wheat crop rated 39 percent poor, 52 percent adequate, and 9 percent excellent. Snow cover protection on alfalfa rated 21 percent poor, 52 percent adequate, and 27 percent excellent. However, despite adequate snowfall, many fields have had the snow cover stripped by high winds, exposing winter crops to extreme cold. There were several reports of no-till fields holding snow cover well. Shelter belts and a few unharvested fields are reported to be catching deep drifts.
LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT: Early snow and extreme cold have many producers feeding a lot more than they normally would. Hay supplies were abundant this fall from both the 2000 season and large carryover from previous mild winters. Supplemental feeding has put a dent in stocks and much concern was expressed about dwindling supplies lasting the winter. Feed supplies are rated 4 percent very short, 16 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Many comments are reporting concern that cattle are not gaining weight due to cold and wind. Despite ranchers concerns, cattle are rated at 80 percent in good to excellent condition compared to 78 percent on December 3. Calf deaths were reported 12 percent below normal, 84 percent normal, and 4 percent above normal. Sheep were rated 81 percent in good to excellent condition, compared to 72 percent in November. Lamb deaths were mostly normal with 5 percent below normal and 2 percent above normal.
SOIL TEMPERATURES WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 12
(4-inch Depth)
LOCATION TEMP LOCATION TEMP
Beresford NA Gettysburg 20
Brookings 29 Nisland 30
Caputa 28 Pierre 22
Chamberlain 20 Redfield 29
Cottonwood 22 Watertown 24
CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS AS OF DEC. 3
ITEM V POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCEL
Percent
Winter Wheat 9 19 36 34 2
Winter Rye 0 0 29 65 6
Cattle 0 2 18 60 20
Sheep 0 2 17 60 21
TEMPERATURE and PRECIPITATION
for motnh of December 2000
Precipitation
Temperatures total total DFN DFN
December since since since since
STATION HI LOW AVG DFN total DFN Jan 1 Apr 1 Jan1 Apr 1
NW Bison 42 -17 11 -9 0.44 -0.03 16.76 14.23 -0.20 -0.71
Buffalo 46 -17 15 -5 0.08 -0.31 12.30 11.55 -1.69 -1.22
Dupree 42 -25 11 -9 0.15 -0.20 18.24 14.47 1.73 -0.30
McIntosh 38 -23 7 -10 0.20 -0.24 17.60 11.33 1.11 -3.64
Newell 48 -17 15 -6 0.17 -0.17 15.79 14.23 0.72 0.70
Timber Lake 40 -22 9 -10 0.42 -0.08 18.69 14.27 0.99 -1.42
NC Aberdeen 36 -24 7 -9 0.92 0.52 27.17 25.00 8.61 8.68
Eureka 38 -20 7 -8 0.20 -0.11 22.22 18.27 5.31 2.99
Faulkton 38 -21 7 -9 0.23 -0.12 23.71 21.56 5.17 5.18
Mobridge 40 -23 10 -8 0.20 -0.27 16.85 14.25 -0.10 -0.74
Roscoe 37 -22 5 -11 0.71 0.35 25.97 22.38 7.31 5.70
NE Britton 36 -21 5 -10 0.86 0.48 22.04 20.88 3.22 3.81
Clear Lake 36 -20 5 -12 0.99 0.43 20.93 19.04 -3.31 -2.23
Sisseton 34 -18 7 -11 0.09 -0.46 20.81 18.55 -0.33 -0.10
Webster 34 -20 4 -12 0.12 -0.42 19.34 17.61 -1.74 -1.13
Watertown 35 -19 7 -9 0.18 -0.32 19.49 18.12 -2.76 -1.54
WC Faith 43 -16 13 -7 0.10 -0.26 18.93 16.06 2.36 1.35
Milesville 44 -17 14 -7 0.33 -0.16 16.95 13.36 -1.13 -2.75
Long Valle 46 -22 18 -7 0.43 0.10 18.51 14.63 0.75 -1.20
Philip 48 -21 15 -8 0.19 -0.17 12.86 10.76 -3.17 -3.59
Rapid City 61 -19 18 -7 0.09 -0.38 19.95 16.27 3.30 1.61
Spearfish 45 -11 18 -9 0.52 -0.29 19.41 17.22 -2.81 -2.14
C Chamberlain 41 -17 11 -10 0.46 0.07 15.93 14.98 -1.51 -0.64
Highmore 41 -17 11 -7 0.07 -0.35 17.27 15.64 -2.42 -1.91
Huron 41 -19 10 -9 0.32 -0.14 17.97 16.87 -2.12 -0.41
Onida 40 -16 10 -10 0.20 -0.33 19.09 17.48 0.66 1.44
Pierre 45 -15 14 -7 0.21 -0.34 10.81 9.59 -7.87 -7.00
EC Brookings 36 -19 6 -10 0.30 -0.02 22.85 20.64 -0.05 -0.22
Madison 36 -18 7 -9 0.35 -0.42 24.37 22.48 0.23 1.52
Mitchell 40 -16 10 -9 0.19 -0.40 22.98 19.65 0.92 0.29
Sioux Fall 38 -17 10 -9 0.54 -0.15 26.42 23.76 2.54 2.74
SW Custer 50 -15 20 -5 0.30 -0.25 15.84 14.72 -3.20 -2.40
Hot Spring 52 -23 21 -7 0.45 0.09 14.18 12.00 -1.66 -2.31
Oelrichs 52 -19 19 -6 0.29 -0.17 16.73 14.17 -0.15 -0.74
Porcupine 49 -23 17 -6 0.65 0.28 21.58 17.24 5.70 2.88
SC Murdo 43 -17 13 -8 0.50 -0.05 17.41 15.13 -0.73 -0.69
Winner 43 -15 18 -7 0.40 -0.20 16.81 15.93 -6.74 -4.73
SE Armour 41 -17 12 -10 0.24 -0.47 20.20 18.13 -2.79 -1.91
Centerville 40 -18 9 -10 0.36 -0.29 24.37 21.14 -0.65 -1.04
Marion 39 -15 9 -10 0.35 -0.38 23.07 20.72 -1.48 -0.76
Pickstown 44 -13 14 -9 0.22 -0.41 17.17 15.11 -5.10 -4.60
Vermillion 41 -18 12 -11 0.79 0.13 23.25 20.95 -1.48 -1.09
Yankton 44 -14 12 -10 0.61 0.08 28.50 25.61 5.04 4.71
Map to weather reporting stations
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