Released: April 22, 2002 -- 3:00 p.m. CST For Week Ending April 21, 2002 SD-CW1602 Volume 51 Issue 16

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:   Last week started with warm, dry weather, but by week's end, snow and rain showers moved in bringing some much-needed moisture for many areas of the state, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major farm activities included working cattle, hauling grain and seed, spreading fertilizer, and small grain seeding. Statewide, there were 5.3 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:  Producers were able to keep busy with field activity, thanks to warm, dry weather for most of the week. It wasn't until week's end that weather patterns changed, bringing cooler temperatures along with snow and rain showers. Temperatures averaged 50.6 degrees across the state. Vermillion and Yankton received the warmest weather, with highs reaching 93 degrees. The low of 17 degrees was reported for both Bison and Buffalo. All but one reporting station recorded precipitation for the week. The state averaged 0.33 inch of precipitation. Armour received the greatest amount of moisture, with 0.75 inch.

SOIL CONDITION:   Average soil temperatures for the week improved to 49.6 degrees, 3.2 degrees warmer than the previous week. Late week precipitation fell in the form of snow and rain for the majority of the eastern portion of the state. Topsoil moisture is reported at 11 percent very short, 29 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is 12 percent very short, 28 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 2 surplus.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:   Producers moved ahead with field work last week, with small grain seeding being the main objective. Spring wheat seeding is 39 percent complete, ahead of last year's 5 percent and the five- year average of 33 percent. Oats at 28 percent seeded and barley at 21 percent seeded are both well ahead of last year's pace. Winter wheat and rye are reported in mostly fair to excellent condition. Winter wheat progress increased to 89 percent breaking dormancy, while winter rye is at 69 percent breaking dormancy, both ahead of last year's average. A few producers began planting corn this past week, which is at 1 percent complete, in line with the five-year average.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Calving and lambing continue to progress well, with 70 percent of the calving and 78 percent of the lambing completed. Mild weather conditions have aided in keeping livestock deaths at a minimum this season. Calf deaths are reported at 29 percent below average, 67 percent average, and 4 percent above average. Sheep and lamb deaths are reported at 33 percent below average, 64 percent average, and 3 percent above average. The additional moisture received at the end of the week was beneficial in greening-up pastures across the state. Cattle moved to pasture are reported at 9 percent. Feed and stock water supplies are reported at mostly adequate to surplus.

               AS OF APRIL 21, 2002 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short     11     9    0    12    11     0
Short      29    27    0    28    30     7
Adeq.      58    60   59    58    55    60
Surplus     2     4   41     2     4    33

                              
           CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
               AS OF APRIL 21, 2002 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   2      13     34      45      6
Winter Rye     0      14     27      50      9
Cattle         0       0     11      73     16
Sheep          0       1     12      71     16
Range & 
   Pasture     6      17     34      39      4


                  CROP PROGRESS AS OF APRIL 21, 2002   1/
                                                                                     
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Barley      
 seeded              21      3      2      23
 emerged              2      0      0       2
Oats        
 seeded              28      8      1      27
 emerged              1      0      0       5
Spring Wheat
 seeded              39      9      5      33
 emerged              2      0      0       7
Corn        
 planted              1      0      0       1
1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage.

     

        SOIL TEMPERATURES  WEEK ENDING APRIL 21, 2002 
                     (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP
          
LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION  TEMP
          
Beresford      53              Gettysburg  49
Brookings      46              Nisland     48
Caputa         51              Pierre      52
Chamberlain    55              Redfield    47
Cottonwood     53              Watertown   42




 
               TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, and GROWING DEGREE DAYS
                         WEEK ENDING SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2002 



            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       44  -3  77  17| 0.37   0.96   0.37  -2.50  -1.13|    38   +16
Buffalo     44  -2  79  17| 0.41   0.85   0.48  -1.19  -0.38|    39   +16
Dupree      45  -2  73  24| 0.54   1.16   0.54  -1.76  -0.69|    48   +21
Mc Intosh   44  -2  71  19| 0.45   1.27   0.48  -1.43  -0.75|    38   +17
Newell      45  -1  82  25| 0.00   1.64   0.41  -0.88  -0.61|    46   +22
Timber Lake 46  -1  72  23| 0.60   1.42   0.60  -1.91  -0.77|    52   +26
Aberdeen    50  +4  79  25| 0.11   1.10   0.26  -2.40  -1.06|    57   +28
Eureka      47  +3  75  26| 0.55   1.22   0.57  -1.65  -0.72|    48   +30
Faulkton    51  +6  78  24| 0.29   1.60   0.31  -1.90  -1.09|    67   +47
Mobridge    50  +5  80  25| 0.33   0.54   0.36  -2.75  -1.03|    69   +44
Roscoe      48  +2  78  26| 0.15   0.99   0.15  -2.49  -1.41|    37   +11
Britton     50  +4  85  26| 0.29   1.19   0.43  -1.73  -0.78|    69   +40
Clear Lake  52  +7  82  28| 0.33   7.22   0.68  +2.76  -0.87|    56   +35
Sisseton    52  +5  86  25| 0.01   0.78   0.56  -3.16  -0.95|    66   +36
Webster     48  +2  81  28| 0.70   1.99   1.14  -1.50  -0.06|    55   +30
Watertown   54  +9  84  23| 0.03   0.79   0.08  -3.20  -1.38|    70   +49
Faith       47  -1  77  24| 0.24   0.45   0.26  -2.61  -0.99|    54   +25
Milesville  47  -2  75  28| 0.42   2.22   0.62  -0.86  -0.54|    60   +23
Long Valley 49  +2  79  28| 0.15   0.60   0.31  -2.66  -1.08|    84   +53
Philip      51  +3  85  27| 0.12   0.68   0.29  -2.07  -0.82|    84   +49
Rapid City  48  +2  83  28| 0.19   1.58   0.66  -1.61  -0.59|    67   +46
Spearfish   47  +2  83  27| 0.22   3.34   1.20  -1.24  -0.59|    62   +39
Chamberlain 52  +4  79  28| 0.27   2.00   0.28  -1.11  -1.06|    66   +26
Highmore    49  +2  77  25| 0.25   0.70   0.30  -2.93  -1.26|    72   +44
Huron       55  +8  83  23| 0.27   1.82   0.41  -2.34  -1.00|   102   +70
Onida       47  -2  78  29| 0.19   0.81   0.19  -2.90  -1.19|    53   +23
Pierre      52  +5  79  31| 0.07   0.61   0.13  -2.79  -1.23|    81   +48
Brookings   54 +10  87  28| 0.31   3.47   0.60  +0.10  -0.79|    65   +48
Madison     55  +9  88  29| 0.34   1.77   0.50  -2.98  -1.14|    72   +50
Mitchell    55  +7  83  30| 0.04   2.44   0.14  -1.82  -1.49|    85   +49
Sioux Falls 59 +11  89  33| 0.57   2.99   1.16  -1.51  -0.55|   126   +95
Custer      41  -1  75  21| 0.36   2.58   1.08  -0.48  -0.10|    18   +10
Hot Springs 47  -2  81  25| 0.26   3.07   0.66  +0.56  -0.36|    67   +26
Oelrichs    48  +0  85  26| 0.16   3.04   0.57  -0.13  -0.68|    86   +51
Porcupine   49  +4  85  25| 0.14   2.39   0.72  -0.15  -0.34|    61   +38
Murdo       51  +5  81  29| 0.32   1.64   0.35  -2.08  -1.11|    66   +44
Winner      53  +3  79  29| 0.60   2.20   0.60  -2.42  -1.19|   108   +55
Armour      57  +7  85  32| 0.75   2.07   1.04  -2.38  -0.53|   125   +77
Centerville 58 +11  92  32| 0.56   2.25   1.20  -2.02  -0.29|    98   +64
Marion      56  +9  88  31| 0.47   2.38   0.90  -2.38  -0.87|    84   +58
Pickstown   56  +7  87  32| 0.70   2.87   1.75  -1.25  +0.12|    94   +57
Vermillion  63 +11  93  33| 0.68   2.26   1.14  -1.93  -0.42|   159   +96
Yankton     59 +10  93  33| 0.47   2.87   0.85  -0.99  -0.50|   102   +63                                    
Source: National Weather Service, provided by AWIS, Inc.