Released: February 4, 2002 -- 3:00 p.m. CST For Month Ending January 31, 2002 SD-CW0502 VOLUME 51 ISSUE 05

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:   The 2002 year started with above normal temperatures along with below normal snowfall, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. This is a continuation of the mild winter weather season from last November and December. With little snow to move this winter, farmers and ranchers have kept busy doing other chores, such as hauling grain, working on machinery, and tending to livestock. This report is based on information from county exten sion educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.

WEATHER INFORMATION:  Temperatures ranged from 2 to 13 degrees above normal for the month of January. Unseasonably high temperatures stretched across the state in January, bringing spring-like conditions with record highs seen in some areas. However, we weren't without cold temperatures, as lows also reached below zero readings in January. Philip and Yankton reported the high of 73 degrees, while Eureka recorded the low at -17 degrees. Precipitation, in the form of snow, was minimal across the state for the month of January. Huron received the greatest amount of moisture with 0.82 inch reported. The average snow depth for the state was 0.9 inch.

SOIL CONDITION:   Soil temperatures from reporting stations averaged 25.3 degrees for the past week. Soil temperatures averaged 2.0 degrees cooler than normal.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:   Lack of snow cover continues to be a concern for winter wheat and rye producers. With nearly half of the state lacking snow cover, many are still unsure of this winter's effect on fall seedings. Winter wheat snow cover is rated as 96 percent poor and 4 percent adequate. Winter wheat conditions are reported at 1 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Winter rye snow cover is 75 percent poor, 24 percent adequate, and 1 percent excellent. Winter rye condi tions are rated at 32 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Alfalfa snow cover is reported at 85 percent poor, 14 percent adequate, and 1 percent excellent.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:   Live stock continue to experience favorable winter conditions, allowing for excellent rates of gain. The lack of snow cover has provided maximum utilization of corn stalks, even in December and January, resulting in less use of forage supplies. Feed supplies are reported at 92 percent adequate to surplus. Some concerns are arising over stock water supplies, due to the lack of moisture received throughout the winter months. Water supplies are currently 4 percent very short, 11 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. The mild weather has been beneficial to livestock producers, with both cattle and sheep reported in mostly good to excellent condition. Cattle are rated at 8 percent fair, 69 percent good, and 23 percent in excellent condition. Sheep are similar at 1 percent poor, 6 percent fair, 68 percent good, and 25 percent excellent. Livestock death losses are mostly below normal to normal. Calf deaths in January were rated at 41 percent below normal, 58 percent normal, and 1 percent above normal. Cattle deaths were rated 42 percent below normal, 56 percent normal, and 2 percent above normal. Sheep and lamb deaths are 40 percent below normal and 60 percent normal.

 SOIL TEMPERATURES WEEK ENDING FEB. 3, 2002
                 (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP

Beresford      25              Gettysburg   25
Brookings      24              Nisland      30
Caputa         27              Pierre       26
Chamberlain    28              Redfield     21
Cottonwood     26              Watertown    22
              

                      
        
             CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
                  AS OF FEB. 3, 2002      

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   1       7     37      53      2
Winter Rye     0       0     32      59      9
Cattle         0       0      8      69     23
Sheep          0       1      6      68     25




      
                                                    
       TEMPERATURE & PRECIPITATION 
    FOR MONTH ENDING JANUARY 31, 2002 
                                                                
                 AIR                                        
             TEMPERATURE    PRECIPITATION     
STATION     HI  LO AVG DFN  TOTAL    DFN 
-------     --  --  --  --  -----   ----    
Bison       61  -6  26 +10   0.24  -0.12     
Buffalo     65  -6  25  +8   0.22  -0.07     
Dupree      62 -10  26 +10   0.20  -0.04     
Mc Intosh   55 -11  22  +9   0.09  -0.20     
Newell      65 -11  25  +8   0.23  -0.09     
Timber Lake 59  -7  24 +10   0.30  -0.02     
Aberdeen    51 -13  20 +11   0.28  -0.09     
Eureka      68 -17  22 +13   0.21  -0.06     
Faulkton    56  -8  23 +12   0.33  +0.05     
Mobridge    64 -16  23 +11   0.04  -0.30     
Roscoe      54 -11  20 +10   0.26  -0.10     
Britton     51  -9  20 +12   0.13  -0.32     
Clear Lake  49 -10  20  +9   0.14  -0.46     
Sisseton    52  -9  22 +11   0.03  -0.50     
Webster     49  -8  20 +10   0.12  -0.46     
Watertown   50 -12  20 +10   0.16  -0.38     
Faith       61  -7  26 +10   0.11  -0.16    
Milesville  66  -6  27 +10   0.24  -0.08     
Long Valley 66  -4  28  +7   0.05  -0.20     
Philip      73  -9  29 +10   0.09  -0.17     
Rapid City  72  -4  28  +7   0.05  -0.34     
Spearfish   65  -8  30  +7   0.22  -0.34     
Chamberlain 67  -5  26  +9   0.21  -0.01     
Highmore    53  -5  24 +11   0.00  -0.33     
Huron       57  -6  25 +12   0.82  +0.41     
Onida       60  -5  26 +11   0.16  -0.29     
Pierre      59  -4  26 +10   0.25  -0.18    
Brookings   53 -13  19 +10   0.14  -0.18     
Madison     56  -6  21 +11   0.20  -0.32     
Mitchell    59  -3  24 +11   0.26  -0.16     
Sioux Falls 63  -4  26 +13   0.11  -0.40     
Custer      60  -5  25  +2   0.04  -0.32     
Hot Springs 63  -7  28  +4   0.09  -0.21     
Oelrichs    63  -5  28  +6   0.05  -0.35     
Porcupine   67 -12  26  +7   0.05  -0.18     
Murdo       71  -5  27 +10   0.26  -0.07     
Winner      71  -2  30  +9   0.06  -0.45     
Armour      66  -2  29 +12   0.00  -0.52     
Centerville 70  -7  25 +12   0.12  -0.32     
Marion      63  -4  24 +12   0.15  -0.39     
Pickstown   71   0  28 +10   0.14  -0.26     
Vermillion  67  -5  30 +13   0.22  -0.17     
Yankton     73  -4  26 +11   0.08  -0.30     
 
Source: National Weather Service, provided by AWIS, Inc.


 

            The next Crop Weather Report will be
                for the month of February and 
               will be released March 4, 2002.


                       Thank you!
        USDA's South Dakota Ag Statistics Service