Released: March 5, 2001 -- 3:00 p.m
For Month of February 2001
SD-CW0901 Volume 50 Issue 09
AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY: The month of February
brought below normal temperatures and above normal
snowfall, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricul
tural Statistics Service. Major farm activities include
the clearing of snow for livestock to access feed and
crop planning for spring planting. Due to heavy snow
amounts, producers are anticipating mending fences,
challenging calving and lambing conditions, and possi
ble flooding this spring. With poor winter road condi
tions, very little grain hauling to elevators was reported.
This report is based on information from county extension
educators, farm service agency county directors, and other
reporters across the state.
WEATHER INFORMATION: February temperatures
averaged 9.7 degrees below normal, with precipitation
averaging 0 .33 inch above normal. The state average
temperature for the month of February was 12.9
degrees. Temperatures ranged from a high of 56
degrees in Spearfish to a low of -26 degrees in
Aberdeen. Two large snow storms covered most parts
of the state, with the east-central and northeastern
areas receiving the highest snowfall totals.
SOIL CONDITION: Soil temperatures from reporting stations averaged 26.5 degrees in February, compared to 28.3 degrees in January and 24.7 degrees in December. A slow spring thaw could prove beneficial to soil moisture conditions.
FIELD CROPS REPORT: Snow cover throughout this winter has provided good protection from harsh winter conditions for fall seeded grains and, as a result, the winter wheat crop is reported as 83 percent in fair to excellent condition. Winter rye is rated 99 percent in fair to excellent condition. Snow cover for the winter wheat crop was rated 18 percent poor, 62 percent adequate, and 20 percent excellent. Snow cover protection on alfalfa rated 14 percent poor, 60 percent adequate, and 26 percent excellent. Producers are starting to order their fertilizer and seed for the 2001 crop year.
LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT: Snow removal continues to dominate daily activities. Snow cover throughout this winter has provided good protection from harsh winter conditions for fall seeded grains and, as a result, the winter wheat crop is reported as 83 percent in fair to excellent condition. Winter rye is rated 99 percent in fair to excellent condition. Snow cover for the winter wheat crop was rated 18 percent poor, 62 percent adequate, and 20 percent excellent. Snow cover protection on alfalfa rated 14 percent poor, 60 percent adequate, and 26 percent excellent. Producers are starting to order their fertilizer and seed for the 2001 crop year.
SOIL TEMPERATURES WEEK ENDING MAR. 4, 2001
(4-inch Depth)
LOCATION TEMP LOCATION TEMP
Beresford 28 Gettysburg 21
Brookings 32 Nisland 30
Caputa 29 Pierre 25
Chamberlain 26 Redfield 27
Cottonwood 27 Watertown 24
CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
AS OF MAR. 4, 2001
ITEM V POOR POOR FAIR GOOD EXCEL
Percent
Winter Wheat 5 12 39 40 4
Winter Rye 0 1 22 72 6
Cattle 0 4 29 53 14
Sheep 0 3 30 52 15
TEMPERATURE and PRECIPITATION For Month Ending February 28 2001
Temperature past month Precipitation
Current Month Since Jan
High Low Average DFN TOTAL DFN TOTAL DFN
Dist Station - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Inches - - - -
NW Bison 43 -15 13 -9 0.65 0.19 0.65 -0.17
Buffalo 44 -17 14 -10 0.08 -0.22 0.15 -0.44
Dupree 42 -20 11 -12 1.11 0.70 1.24 0.59
McIntosh 39 -19 9 -11 0.21 -0.15 0.45 -0.2
Newell 49 -24 15 -9 0.57 0.19 0.75 0.05
Timber L 42 -19 10 -11 1.12 0.65 1.48 0.69
NC Aberdeen 38 -26 7 -11 1.27 0.80 1.55 0.71
Eureka 39 -19 8 -10 0.59 0.24 0.88 0.26
Faulkton 39 -24 8 -10 1.94 1.44 2.87 2.09
Mobridge 40 -18 10 -10 0.33 -0.09 0.45 -0.31
Roscoe 37 -17 6 -12 0.85 0.45 1.34 0.58
NE Britton 39 -16 9 -8 1.05 0.61 1.34 0.45
Clear La 38 -18 8 -10 1.86 1.23 3.1 1.87
Sisseton 38 -20 8 -11 0.5 -0.07 0.63 -0.47
Webster 35 -17 7 -10 0.26 -0.33 1.07 -0.1
Watertow 37 -23 7 -11 0.39 -0.19 0.43 -0.69
WC Faith 44 -15 13 -10 0.35 -0.13 0.4 -0.35
Milesvil 44 -21 13 -11 1.11 0.64 1.67 0.88
Long Val 47 -8 20 -8 0.94 0.57 1.82 1.2
Philip 46 -15 16 -10 0.12 -0.25 0.35 -0.28
Rapid Ci 49 -16 18 -10 0.18 -0.34 0.42 -0.49
Spearfis 56 -9 19 -9 1.14 0.41 1.25 -0.04
C Chamberl 40 -13 14 -10 0.76 0.39 2.63 2.04
Highmore 40 -16 13 -9 0.22 -0.27 0.73 -0.09
Huron 38 -21 10 -10 1.30 0.62 2.79 1.7
Onida 44 -16 11 -11 1.26 0.68 1.74 0.71
Pierre 45 -16 14 -10 1.43 0.95 2.45 1.54
EC Brooking 38 -21 7 -9 0.59 0.17 1.25 0.51
Madison 42 -22 10 -8 0.81 0.06 1.13 -0.14
Mitchell 40 -23 11 -10 0.80 0.20 2.62 1.6
Sioux Fa 39 -19 13 -8 0.68 0.04 2.18 1.03
SW Custer 46 -17 20 -8 0.77 0.21 0.9 -0.02
Hot Spri 48 -20 22 -9 0.81 0.41 0.95 0.25
Oelrichs 45 -22 19 -10 1.04 0.56 1.31 0.43
Porcupin 48 -18 19 -7 0.88 0.54 1.78 1.21
SC Murdo 45 -16 14 -9 1.17 0.75 1.87 1.12
Winner 44 -9 19 -9 0.93 0.31 2.53 1.4
SE Armour 41 -17 15 -10 1.17 0.48 2.97 1.76
Centervi 39 -23 13 -8 0.54 -0.26 1.96 0.72
Marion 39 -18 12 -8 1.44 0.76 2.71 1.49
Pickstow 45 -11 18 -6 0.92 0.40 2.47 1.55
Vermilli 43 -22 17 -8 0.73 0.21 1.85 0.94
Yankton 43 -20 15 -8 1.27 0.79
Map to weather reporting stations
Return to the List of 2001 Crop Weather Reports