Released: April 15, 2002 -- 3:00 p.m. CST For Week Ending April 14, 2002 SD-CW1502 Volume 51 Issue 15

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:   Above average temperatures and light rain showers moved across the state last week, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major farm activities included caring for newborn calves and lambs, hauling grain and seed, spreading fertilizer, and mending fences. Producers are anticipating fieldwork to get underway this week. Statewide, there were 3.2 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:  Warmer temperatures found their way across the state last week, with temperatures averaging 7.1 degrees above normal. Hot Springs reported the high of 84 degrees, while Aberdeen and Centerville reported the low of 18 degrees for the week. Thirty-seven of the 43 reporting stations recorded precipitation last week. However, many reported only trace amounts. The state averaged only 0.22 inch for the week. Pickstown recorded the most precipitation, with 1.05 inches received.

SOIL CONDITION:   Favorable soil temperature increases were seen last week with the spring warm-up. Soil temperatures from reporting stations averaged 46.4 degrees, compared to 37.4 degrees the previous week. Topsoil moisture is reported at 9 percent very short, 27 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is 11 percent very short, 30 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 4 surplus.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:   With the increase in soil temperatures, producers have slowly begun small grain seeding. Spring wheat seeding is at 9 percent complete, ahead of last year's average, but behind the five-year average of 22 percent. Oats are at 8 percent seeded and barley at 3 percent seeded. Winter wheat progress increased to 67 percent breaking dormancy, up 53 points from the previous week and ahead of last year's average. Winter rye is at 36 percent breaking dormancy, an increase of 34 points from last week. Winter wheat condition is at 84 percent fair to excellent.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    The calving and lambing season has gone exceptionally well, producers report, due to an overall mild winter and spring. Calving is at 57 percent complete, in line with the five-year average, and just 2 points behind last year's average. Lambing is now 68 percent complete, a point ahead of the five-year average. Calf and lamb deaths are mostly average to below average. Pastures are beginning to green up, despite below average precipitation levels and heavy utilization last season. Cattle moved to pasture are reported at 5 percent. Feed supplies are 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Stock water supplies decreased slightly from a week ago, with 7 percent now very short, 16 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Moisture is needed in many areas to help replenish stock dams.

               AS OF APRIL 14, 2002 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      9     6    0    11     8     0
Short      27    26    1    30    28     7
Adeq.      60    64   59    55    62    64
Surplus     4     4   40     4     2    29

                              
           CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
               AS OF APRIL 14, 2002 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   2      14     39      39      6
Winter Rye     0       9     32      54      5
Cattle         0       1     11      72     16
Sheep          0       1     15      68     16
Range & 
   Pasture     6      14     37      38      5


                  CROP PROGRESS AS OF APRIL 14, 2002   1/
                                                                                     
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Barley      
 seeded               3      0      0      15
Oats        
 seeded               8      1      0      18
Spring Wheat
 seeded               9      1      2      22
1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage. 
 

     

               SOIL TEMPERATURES  WEEK ENDING APRIL 14, 2002 
                              (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP
          
Beresford      52              Gettysburg  45
Brookings      38              Nisland     48
Caputa         51              Pierre      47
Chamberlain    51              Redfield    46
Cottonwood     52              Watertown   34



 
             TEMPERATURE       -----  PRECIPITATION -----     GDD BASE 50F
             -----------          SINCE  SINCE  SINCE  SINCE  ------------
            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       51  +9  76  26| 0.00   0.59   0.00  -2.31  -0.94|    27   +15
Buffalo     50  +9  77  28| 0.07   0.44   0.07  -1.25  -0.44|    21    +7
Dupree      52  +9  76  26| 0.00   0.62   0.00  -1.84  -0.77|    33   +19
Mc Intosh   50  +9  75  20| 0.03   0.82   0.03  -1.42  -0.74|    26   +15
Newell      46  +4  74  28| 0.40   1.63   0.40  -0.50  -0.23|    16    +2
Timber Lake 52 +10  76  23| 0.00   0.82   0.00  -2.01  -0.87|    36   +22
Aberdeen    47  +4  73  18| 0.10   0.99   0.15  -2.03  -0.69|    20    +5
Eureka      51 +10  77  22| 0.00   0.67   0.02  -1.71  -0.78|    25   +16
Faulkton    49  +8  75  19| 0.02   1.31   0.02  -1.70  -0.89|    30   +20
Mobridge    50  +7  77  22| 0.03   0.21   0.03  -2.59  -0.87|    33   +19
Roscoe      46  +3  74  22| 0.00   0.84   0.00  -2.08  -1.00|    13    -1
Britton     49  +6  75  21| 0.02   0.90   0.14  -1.56  -0.61|    23    +8
Clear Lake  44  +2  70  23| 0.28   6.89   0.35  +2.99  -0.64|    10    +0
Sisseton    46  +3  72  22| 0.55   0.77   0.55  -2.61  -0.40|    19    +4
Webster     49  +7  75  24| 0.24   1.29   0.44  -1.76  -0.32|    24   +11
Watertown   47  +5  70  19| 0.04   0.76   0.05  -2.70  -0.88|    16    +6
Faith       50  +7  76  25| 0.02   0.21   0.02  -2.37  -0.75|    31   +16
Milesville  53  +9  78  29| 0.05   1.80   0.20  -0.84  -0.52|    41   +21
Long Valley 55 +10  81  30| 0.16   0.45   0.16  -2.32  -0.74|    51   +35
Philip      52  +7  80  31| 0.17   0.56   0.17  -1.77  -0.52|    49   +31
Rapid City  51  +8  77  32| 0.47   1.39   0.47  -1.33  -0.31|    41   +29
Spearfish   54 +12  83  33| 0.35   3.12   0.98  -0.80  -0.15|    39   +25
Chamberlain 51  +5  78  25| 0.01   1.73   0.01  -0.89  -0.84|    25    +4
Highmore    54 +10  78  24| 0.05   0.45   0.05  -2.62  -0.95|    38   +24
Huron       53  +9  76  23| 0.08   1.55   0.14  -2.12  -0.78|    42   +25
Onida       51  +7  77  23| 0.00   0.62   0.00  -2.60  -0.89|    34   +19
Pierre      51  +6  77  25| 0.06   0.54   0.06  -2.37  -0.81|    39   +22
Brookings   46  +5  70  23| 0.42   3.29   0.42  +0.41  -0.48|    10    +2
Madison     47  +4  72  20| 0.16   1.43   0.16  -2.76  -0.92|    16    +5
Mitchell    50  +5  76  22| 0.10   2.40   0.10  -1.29  -0.96|    25    +7
Sioux Falls 52  +8  73  21| 0.59   2.42   0.59  -1.46  -0.50|    45   +29
Custer      45  +7  66  30| 0.67   2.22   0.72  -0.38  +0.00|     7    +6
Hot Springs 54  +8  84  28| 0.33   2.81   0.40  +0.70  -0.22|    41   +18
Oelrichs    54  +9  79  28| 0.37   2.88   0.41  +0.19  -0.36|    55   +36
Porcupine   51  +8  76  30| 0.22   2.25   0.58  +0.12  -0.07|    32   +20
Murdo       49  +6  76  27| 0.03   1.32   0.03  -1.89  -0.92|    29   +18
Winner      55  +8  79  27| 0.08   1.68   0.08  -2.29  -1.06|    52   +23
Armour      57 +10  79  26| 0.29   1.32   0.29  -2.57  -0.72|    57   +31
Centerville 49  +5  76  18| 0.64   1.69   0.64  -2.03  -0.30|    20    +3
Marion      49  +6  73  23| 0.43   1.91   0.43  -2.22  -0.71|    22    +8
Pickstown   53  +8  78  27| 1.05   2.17   1.05  -1.39  -0.02|    37   +18
Vermillion  57  +9  77  25| 0.46   1.58   0.46  -2.05  -0.54|    58   +23
Yankton     51  +5  75  26| 0.33   2.40   0.38  -0.97  -0.48|    26    +6                  

Source: National Weather Service, provided by AWIS, Inc.