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Released: April 23, 2001 -- 3:00 p.m. CST For Week Ending April 22, 2001 SD-CW1501 Volume 50 Issue 16

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:    The first part of the week brought warmer temperatures and windy, drying conditions; but by week's end, colder temperatures, rain, sleet, and, in some areas, snow brought fieldwork to a halt, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricul tural Statistics Service. Major farm activities included mending fences damaged from heavy snow drifts, preparing farm machinery for spring planting, fertilizing fields, and calving. Statewide, there were 1.2 days reported suitable for fieldwork. This report is based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.

WEATHER INFORMATION:   Average temperatures ranged from a high of 50 degrees in Vermillion to a low of 39 degrees in Roscoe, with a statewide average of 44.4 degrees, 4 degrees below normal. Precipitation fell across most of the state, ranging from a trace in some areas to 3.9 inches in the southeast. April precipitation for the state is 1.48 inches above normal, while the growing degree days are 11.2 below normal.

SOIL CONDITION:    Lowland flooding and cool soil temperatures continue to delay planting intentions. A few reports of spring tilling and fertilizing were noted earlier in the week. Soil temperatures from reporting stations averaged 43.3 degrees, compared to 42.1 degrees last week. Topsoil moisture was reported as 59 percent adequate, with 41 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is rated as 34 percent surplus, 59 percent adequate, and 7 percent short.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:    Just as conditions appeared to be suitable for spring planting, additional precipitation thwarted producers progress. A few reported planting activity in sandy type soils early in the week. Winter wheat condition is reported as 60 percent fair to excellent, compared to 70 percent last week. Winter wheat booted is reported at 7 percent. Spring wheat planted is estimated at 5 percent versus 71 percent a year ago and 36 percent for a five-year average. If cool, wet weather continues, acres intended for small grains may be planted to row crops.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Calving and lambing continues, with 67 percent of the calving and 79 percent of the lambing complete. Calf death loss is 15 percent above average and 85 percent average to below average, while cattle were rated 97 percent in fair to excellent condition, with 3 percent rated in poor condition. Sheep were rated at 68 percent in good to excellent condition and 32 percent poor to fair. Feed supplies are rated 5 percent very short, 24 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Stock water supplies are reported as 100 percent adequate or surplus. With hay stocks quickly dwindling, producers are anxiously waiting for pastures to green up and allow them to turn cattle out to graze.



            SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
                AS OF APRIL 22, 2001 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      0     0    5     0     0     8
Short       0     1   21     7     6    34
Adeq.      59    58   69    59    64    54
Surplus    41    41    5    34    30     4


    SOIL TEMPERATURES WEEK ENDING APR. 22,2001
                 (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP

Beresford      47              Gettysburg   44
Brookings      42              Nisland      47
Caputa         44              Pierre       46
Chamberlain    47              Redfield     43
Cottonwood     47              Watertown    36
                            



           CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
                  AS OF APR. 22, 2001 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat  24      16     35      22      3
Winter Rye     0       0     47      38     15
Cattle         0       3     28      54     15
Sheep          0       1     31      53     15
Range & 
   Pasture     5      21     33      34      7

1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.





        CROP PROGRESS AS OF APRIL 22, 2001   1/
                                                                                     
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
  
                         Percent
Barley  
 seeded             2      0     50     31
 emerged            0      0      5      3
Spring wheat
 seeded             5      2     71     36
 emerged            0      0     23      9
Oats     
 seeded             1      0     61     31
 emerged            0      0     17      6
Winter wheat
 boot               7      0      1      4
Winter rye  
 boot               0      0      1      0

1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.



             TEMPERATURE       -----  PRECIPITATION -----    GROWING DEGREE 
             -----------          SINCE  SINCE  SINCE  SINCE     DAYS
            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       45  -3  72  17| 0.34   3.39   2.28  -0.15  +0.70|    16    -8
Buffalo     43  -5  72  15| 0.15   2.44   1.80  +0.40  +0.94|     7   -18
Dupree      44  -4  73  15| 1.04   3.45   2.00  +0.46  +0.70|    18   -11
Mc Intosh   42  -5  72  17| 0.10   2.46   1.85  -0.31  +0.55|     9   -14
Newell      41  -6  75  15| 0.89   3.00   1.45  +0.42  +0.37|    12   -14
Timber Lake 43  -5  71  17| 0.86   3.81   2.13  +0.40  +0.68|    14   -14
Aberdeen    43  -5  67  20| 0.15   4.15   2.30  +0.58  +0.91|    14   -18
Eureka      43  -4  69  17| 1.18   3.83   2.88  +0.89  +1.52|    15    -5
Faulkton    43  -3  74  19| 0.52   5.85   2.89  +2.28  +1.42|    23    +1
Mobridge    44  -3  72  14| 0.45   2.10   1.55  -1.26  +0.09|    22    -5
Roscoe      39  -9  67  18| 0.75   4.17   2.71  +0.61  +1.07|     4   -24
Britton     44  -3  70  21| 0.65   4.30   2.81  +1.31  +1.53|    14   -18
Clear Lake  42  -6  68  19| 0.70   7.74   4.14  +3.20  +2.51|    13   -10
Sisseton    42  -7  67  21| 0.02   4.20   3.07  +0.18  +1.48|     8   -25
Webster     41  -6  65  18| 0.15   3.92   2.80  +0.36  +1.53|     9   -18
Watertown   42  -5  66  19| 0.54   5.29   4.31  +1.22  +2.77|    14    -9
Faith       44  -4  74  17| 0.30   1.54   0.99  -1.59  -0.33|    19   -12
Milesville  46  -3  78  19| 1.15   3.81   1.90  +0.66  +0.67|    23   -17
Long Valley 45  -4  85  15| 1.16   5.96   3.36  +2.62  +1.89|    27    -7
Philip      47  -3  88  15| 0.71   1.94   1.48  -0.87  +0.31|    28   -10
Rapid City  45  -2  82  16| 1.16   2.89   2.05  -0.37  +0.73|    20    -3
Spearfish   44  -3  75  18| 0.93   4.87   2.10  +0.19  +0.21|    14   -11
Chamberlain 45  -6  78  21| 0.65   7.54   4.63  +4.36  +3.22|    25   -18
Highmore    47  -2  75  20| 1.08   4.49   3.37  +0.78  +1.73|    25    -6
Huron       46  -3  70  22| 0.60   8.24   4.68  +4.01  +3.20|    26    -9
Onida       43  -6  75  15| 1.23   4.76   2.84  +0.98  +1.39|    18   -15
Pierre      48  -2  83  20| 0.63   5.17   2.48  +1.69  +1.04|    38    +2
Brookings   42  -4  68  21| 0.62   5.17   3.13  +1.73  +1.67|    13    -6
Madison     43  -4  68  21| 0.78   5.44   3.37  +0.61  +1.65|    16    -8
Mitchell    46  -4  73  24| 1.07   7.83   4.31  +3.48  +2.59|    27   -12
Sioux Falls 46  -3  71  21| 0.66   5.81   2.85  +1.22  +1.05|    35    +1
Custer      41  -2  72  14| 0.93   3.62   1.98  +0.49  +0.73|     9    +0
Hot Springs 47  -3  81  19| 1.00   3.89   2.03  +1.32  +0.95|    21   -23
Oelrichs    44  -5  81  17| 0.87   4.49   1.77  +1.25  +0.45|    21   -17
Porcupine   45  -3  90  17| 1.39   5.41   2.62  +2.81  +1.50|    25    +0
Murdo       45  -3  85  18| 0.96   5.02   2.91  +1.22  +1.37|    25    +1
Winner      48  -4  82  20| 1.81   8.10   5.30  +3.38  +3.41|    47   -10
Armour      46  -5  71  22| 1.73   8.21   5.11  +3.68  +3.46|    24   -28
Centerville 46  -4  73  23| 0.60   5.27   2.75  +0.92  +1.18|    32    -5
Marion      45  -4  70  23| 0.73   7.23   3.76  +2.38  +1.90|    18   -11
Pickstown   46  -4  73  23| 0.86   9.20   5.61  +5.00  +3.90|    25   -15
Vermillion  50  -4  76  22| 3.42   7.81   5.55  +3.53  +3.90|    47   -21
Yankton     47  -3  75  26| 0.40   6.12   2.45  +2.18  +1.02|    30   -12
                                     
    
 


Map to weather reporting stations


 
 
 
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
 

Return to the List of 2001 Crop Weather Reports