Released: February 5, 2001 -- 3:00 p.m CST
For Month of January 2001
SD-CW0501 Volume 50 Issue 05
AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY: The month of January
brought above normal temperatures and above normal
snowfall, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricul
tural Statistics Service. Continuous clearing of blowing
and drifting snow make chores a challenging and
lengthy process. Farmers and ranchers are running out
of room to put the snow. Little to no grain hauling to
elevators was reported as difficulty in accessing grain
bins, poor road conditions, and lower grain prices were
discouraging such activities.
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 11 degrees above normal during January. Precipita
tion for January ranged from 0.45 inch below normal
at Spearfish to 1.65 inches above normal in Chamber
lain. Average snow depth statewide was reported at
15 inches.
SOIL CONDITION: Soil temperatures from reporting stations averaged 28.3 degrees in January compared to 24.7 degrees in December and 32.8 degrees in Novem ber. Soil temperatures in January averaged 1 degree cooler than normal.
FIELD CROPS REPORT: Winter wheat is reported as 77 percent in fair to good condition, with only 4 percent of the crop in excellent condition. Winter rye is rated 94 percent in fair to good condition. Snow cover for the winter wheat crop was rated 35 percent poor, 47 percent adequate, and 18 percent excellent. Snow cover protection on alfalfa rated 19 percent poor, 52 percent adequate, and 29 percent excellent. The snow cover received early this winter has stayed with us to this point and should benefit the fall seeded crops.
LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT: Snow removal continues to dominate daily activities. Feed supplies for the most part were adequate going into winter, but with early snow and cold temperatures supplies have quickly dwindled. Higher prices for hay reflect shortages across the state. Feed supplies are rated 9 percent very short, 25 percent short, 63 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Despite hay shortages, 73 percent of cattle are rated in good to excellent condition. Calf deaths during January were reported at 96 percent average to below average. Sheep were rated at 66 percent in good to excellent condition, compared to 81 percent in December and 72 percent in November. Sheep and lamb deaths were reported 96 percent at or below average, with only 4 percent reporting above average death losses in January.
SOIL TEMPERATURES WEEK ENDING February 4
(4-inch Depth)
LOCATION TEMP LOCATION TEMP
Beresford 30 Gettysburg 26
Brookings 32 Nisland 31
Caputa 30 Pierre 27
Chamberlain 29 Redfield 29
Cottonwood 28 Watertown 25
CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS AS OF February 4
ITEM V POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCEL
Percent
Winter Wheat 1 18 36 41 4
Winter Rye 0 0 31 63 6
Cattle 1 4 22 60 13
Sheep 1 2 31 51 15
TEMPERATURE and PRECIPITATION
for motnh of December 2000
AIR
TEMPERATURE PRECIPITATION
STATION HI LO AVG DFN TOTAL DFN
------- -- -- -- -- ----- ----
Bison 50 -2 26 +10 0.00 -0.36
Buffalo 52 3 28 +11 0.07 -0.22
Dupree 52 -11 25 +9 0.24 +0.00
Mc Intosh 44 -21 20 +8 0.24 -0.05
Newell 57 -2 26 +9 0.28 -0.04
Timber Lake 49 -12 23 +9 0.36 +0.04
Aberdeen 44 -27 16 +7 0.28 -0.09
Eureka 43 -13 19 +10 0.29 +0.02
Faulkton 44 -21 20 +9 0.93 +0.65
Mobridge 44 -15 21 +9 0.12 -0.22
Roscoe 42 -15 16 +6 0.49 +0.13
Britton 44 -24 18 +10 0.29 -0.16
Clear Lake 41 -13 17 +6 1.24 +0.64
Sisseton 46 -22 20 +10 0.13 -0.40
Webster 42 -14 17 +8 0.81 +0.23
Watertown 41 -20 16 +6 0.04 -0.50
Faith 56 -5 27 +11 0.05 -0.22
Milesville 58 -10 27 +10 0.56 +0.24
Long Valley 57 -4 29 +7 0.88 +0.63
Philip 60 -8 29 +10 0.23 -0.03
Rapid City 60 2 31 +9 0.24 -0.15
Spearfish 61 5 31 +8 0.11 -0.45
Chamberlain 50 -13 22 +5 1.87 +1.65
Highmore 45 -10 23 +9 0.51 +0.18
Huron 43 -21 18 +6 1.49 +1.08
Onida 45 -15 22 +8 0.55 +0.10
Pierre 54 -10 26 +10 1.02 +0.59
Brookings 41 -19 16 +7 0.66 +0.34
Madison 42 -18 17 +8 0.32 -0.20
Mitchell 45 -19 18 +5 1.82 +1.40
Sioux Falls 42 -13 20 +6 1.50 +0.99
Custer 52 -1 28 +6 0.13 -0.23
Hot Springs 58 -1 30 +6 0.11 -0.19
Oelrichs 55 0 29 +7 0.27 -0.13
Porcupine 58 -2 29 +9 0.90 +0.67
Murdo 58 -7 26 +10 0.70 +0.37
Winner 54 -6 28 +7 1.04 +0.53
Armour 48 -16 23 +6 1.80 +1.28
Centerville 47 -11 19 +6 1.42 +0.98
Marion 44 -14 19 +6 1.27 +0.73
Pickstown 53 -13 25 +7 1.35 +0.95
Vermillion 50 -12 23 +6 1.12 +0.73
Yankton 52 -13 21 +5 1.84 +1.46
Map to weather reporting stations
Return to the List of 2001 Crop Weather Reports