Released: April 1, 2002 -- 3:00 p.m. CST For Month Ending March 31, 2002 SD-CW0902 VOLUME 51 ISSUE 13

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:   The month of March brought below normal temperatures combined with snowfall across much of the state, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Heavy snow accumulation in some areas was beneficial in adding much needed moisture content to dry fields. Major farm activities included working on machinery, hauling grain, calving and lambing, and feeding livestock. Producers are anticipating little to no fieldwork for at least two more weeks. Statewide, there was only 0.5 day 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:  Temperatures last month averaged 22.6 degrees, 10 degrees below normal, making March the coldest month this winter. Temperatures ranged from a high of 70 degrees, recorded in Chamberlain and Philip, to a low of -17 degrees reported in Hot Springs and Porcupine. Several snow storms moved across the state during March, bringing the majority of moisture.

SOIL CONDITION:   The 2002 spring season is starting with less soil moisture than last year. Topsoil moisture is reported at 5 percent very short, 23 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is 7 percent very short, 31 percent short, 57 percent adequate, and 5 surplus. Soil temperatures from reporting stations averaged 33.5 degrees.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:   Little has been reported in the way of spring field activity, due to cold temperatures and snowfall that prevailed during the month of March. Dormant seeding of wheat during the winter months accounted for 1 percent of the spring wheat seeded. Winter wheat progress is reported at 3 percent breaking dormancy, while winter rye is at 1 percent. Winter wheat condition is at 80 percent fair to excellent, a slight improvement from the 73 percent a month earlier. Producers are anticipating an April 15 start date for fieldwork.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Farmers and ranchers report livestock in mostly good to excellent condition after a month of extreme wintery conditions. Calving and lambing are well underway, with 34 percent of calving complete and 54 percent of lambing done. Calf deaths are reported at 29 percent below average, 69 percent average, and 2 percent above average. Sheep and lamb deaths are also reported at mostly average to below average. Feed supplies are reported at 90 percent adequate to surplus. Stock water supplies are beginning to worry producers due to the below normal precipitation throughout the winter. Additional snowfall received last month will help to replenish streams and stock dams in some areas. Stock water supplies are rated 6 percent very short, 12 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Very few cattle have been moved to pasture due to low resources.

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      5    NA    0     7    NA     1
Short      23    NA    4    31    NA    13
Adeq.      67    NA   78    57    NA    76
Surplus     5    NA   18     5    NA    10




      SOIL TEMPERATURES  WEEK ENDING MAR. 31, 2002 
                    (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION  TEMP
          
Beresford      36              Gettysburg  32
Brookings      32              Nisland     32
Caputa         36              Pierre      32
Chamberlain    37              Redfield    33
Cottonwood     37              Watertown   28

                      
        
         CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
             AS OF MARCH 31, 2002 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   2      18     38      40      2
Winter Rye     0       3     43      49      5
Cattle         0       1     11      70     18
Sheep          0       1      9      72     18
Range & 
   Pasture     7      15     29      45      4




            CROP PROGRESS AS OF MARCH 31, 2002   1/
                                                                                       
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Barley      
 seeded               0      0      0       2
Oats        
 seeded               0      0      0       4
Spring Wheat
 seeded               1     NA      1       5
1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.



      
                                                    
               TEMPERATURE & PRECIPITATION 
                MONTH ENDING March 31, 2002

                                           PRECIPITATION
                 AIR                       SINCE   SINCE       
             TEMPERATURE    PRECIPITATION  JAN 1   JAN 1
STATION     HI  LO AVG DFN  TOTAL    DFN   TOTAL    DFN
-------     --  --  --  --  -----   ----   ----     ----
Bison       56 -11  21 -10   0.28  -0.86   0.59    -1.37  
Buffalo     61 -12  22 -11   0.05  -0.54   0.37    -0.81  
Dupree      58 -13  21 -11   0.40  -0.64   0.62    -1.07  
Mc Intosh   61 -16  20 -11   0.58  -0.24   0.79    -0.68  
Newell      59 -13  20 -13   0.74  -0.06   1.03    -0.47  
Timber Lake 57 -11  21 -10   0.39  -0.78   0.82    -1.14  
Aberdeen    59  -9  22  -9   0.53  -0.81   0.84    -1.34  
Eureka      56 -14  21  -8   0.44  -0.52   0.61    -0.94  
Faulkton    62  -9  22  -8   0.84  -0.48   1.29    -0.81  
Mobridge    59 -12  22  -9   0.12  -1.02   0.18    -1.72 
Roscoe      57 -13  18 -12   0.56  -0.60   0.84    -1.08  
Britton     55 -15  21  -9   0.58  -0.24   0.76    -0.95  
Clear Lake  53 -10  17 -13   5.81  +4.13   6.54    +3.63
Sisseton    58  -8  21 -11   0.03  -1.30   0.22    -2.21  
Webster     58 -12  20 -10   0.57  -0.55   0.85    -1.44   
Watertown   59  -9  19 -11   0.21  -1.20   0.71    -1.82  
Faith       59  -9  22 -11   0.07  -0.99   0.19    -1.62  
Milesville  68 -10  22 -12   1.12  -0.01   1.60    -0.32
Long Valley 66  -8  26 -10   0.24  -1.01   0.23    -1.57  
Philip      70  -6  25 -10   0.26  -0.75   0.39    -1.25 
Rapid_City  67 -14  23 -12   0.67  -0.36   0.92    -1.02 
Spearfish   54 -13  24 -11   1.00  -0.50   2.14    -0.65 
Chamberlain 70  -4  22 -13   1.46  +0.28   1.72    -0.05  
Highmore    64 -11  22 -10   0.30  -0.95   0.40    -1.64  
Huron       67  -7  23 -10   0.50  -1.16   1.41    -1.34 
Onida       68  -6  23 -10   0.46  -0.84   0.57    -1.72 
Pierre      69  -5  24 -10   0.23  -0.90   0.48    -1.56 
Brookings   57  -9  18 -12   2.63  +1.39   2.81    +0.83  
Madison     58  -8  20 -10   1.03  -0.81   1.27    -1.84   
Mitchell    66  -3  22 -11   1.68  +0.07   2.30    -0.33  
Sioux Falls 57  -4  24  -9   1.39  -0.25   1.83    -0.96  
Custer      52 -10  22 -10   1.31  +0.35   1.50    -0.38 
Hot Springs 62 -17  27 -11   2.09  +1.30   2.41    +0.92 
Oelrichs    65 -16  24 -13   2.19  +1.15   2.47    +0.55
Porcupine   66 -17  24 -10   1.33  +0.42   1.67    +0.19  
Murdo       66  -6  23 -10   0.84  -0.67   1.29    -0.97  
Winner      67  -3  26 -11   1.29  -0.41   1.60    -1.23  
Armour      67  -3  27 -10   0.98  -0.69   1.03    -1.85 
Centerville 63  -5  26  -7   0.72  -0.82   1.05    -1.73   
Marion      58  -5  23  -9   1.02  -0.75   1.48    -1.51 
Pickstown   66   0  26  -9   0.83  -0.74   1.12    -1.37 
Vermillion  61  -7  30  -7   0.68  -1.04   1.12    -1.46  
Yankton     62  -5  26  -8   1.30  -0.35   2.02    -0.49   
 
Source: National Weather Service, provided by AWIS, Inc.