Released: April 29, 2002 -- 3:00 p.m. CST For Week Ending April 28, 2002 SD-CW1702 Volume 51 Issue 17

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:   Cool, damp conditions, along with high winds, limited producers' fieldwork progress last week, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Despite unfavorable weather patterns, the additional moisture received by week's end was needed to help replenish soil moisture levels. Major farm activities included working cattle, spreading fertilizer, small grain seeding, and row crop tillage. Statewide, there were 4.7 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:  Below-average temperatures were reported across the entire state last week. Temperatures averaged 43.8 degrees. Yankton reported the high for the week at 86 degrees, while Porcupine recorded the low at 15. Most areas of the state received precipitation, either in the form of rain or snow. Precipitation levels ranged from 0.02 inch to 1.68 inches, with the average moisture level at 0.76 inch.

SOIL CONDITION:    Lack of sunshine and cool temperatures throughout last week brought average soil temperatures down compared to the previous week. Average soil temperatures for the week fell 3.3 degrees, and are now reported at 46.3 degrees. Many areas of the state received precipitation in the form of rain or snow, improving the soil moisture levels. Topsoil moisture is reported at 5 percent very short, 21 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is rated at 9 percent very short, 28 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:   Producers remained busy seeding small grains despite the cool weather conditions for much of last week. Small grain seeding continued ahead of the five-year average for barley, oats, and spring wheat. Barley is at 47 percent planted and 9 percent emerged. Oats are 56 percent seeded and 13 percent emerged, while spring wheat is 61 percent planted and 13 percent emerged. Winter wheat condition is rated at 60 percent good to excellent, a 9 point improvement from a week ago. Producer comments indicate that the winter wheat crop is turning out better than initially anticipated. Corn planted is at 11 percent, ahead of last year and the five-year average. Warmer days are needed for increasing soil temperatures and aiding germination of the corn crop.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Producers continue to wait for the spring green-up for pastures. Moisture received last week was beneficial, but warm days are needed to get pastures growing. Cattle moved to pasture are reported at 14 percent. Pasture condition is 5 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. Livestock remain in mostly good to excellent condition. Calving and lambing continue to well, both ahead of the five-year average. Calf deaths are reported at 96 percent average to below average, while sheep and lamb deaths are similar, at 97 percent average to below average. Stock water supplies are of concern to producers given the below average precipitation levels for the majority of the state. Stock water supplies are reported at 9 percent very short, 14 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Feed supplies remain mostly adequate to surplus.

               AS OF APRIL 28, 2002 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      5    11    0     9    12     0
Short      21    29    1    28    28     3
Adeq.      71    58   58    60    58    60
Surplus     3     2   41     3     2    37



                              
           CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
               AS OF APRIL 28, 2002 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   2       7     31      52      8
Winter Rye     0      11     34      45     10
Cattle         0       1     11      71     17
Sheep          0       1      9      70     20
Range & 
   Pasture     5      13     32      44      6




       CROP PROGRESS AS OF APRIL 28, 2002   1/
                                                                                     
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Winter Wheat
 boot                 0      0      1      11
Winter Rye  
 boot                 0      0      0       1
Barley      
 seeded              47     21     15      40
 emerged              9      2      2      12
Oats        
 seeded              56     28     19      43
 emerged             13      1      1      16
Spring Wheat
 seeded              61     39     25      49
 emerged             13      2      4      19
Corn        
 planted             11      1      3       7

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

     

   SOIL TEMPERATURES  WEEK ENDING APRIL 28, 2002 
                (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION  
TEMP
          
Beresford      45              Gettysburg  46
Brookings      43              Nisland     48
Caputa         50              Pierre      49
Chamberlain    50              Redfield    43
Cottonwood     50              Watertown   39



 
               TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, and GROWING DEGREE DAYS
                         WEEK ENDING SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 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       43  -7  73  21| 0.13   1.09   0.50  -2.93  -1.56|    44    +6
Buffalo     40  -9  73  19| 0.02   0.87   0.50  -1.58  -0.77|    42    +5
Dupree      45  -5  80  22| 0.30   1.46   0.84  -1.98  -0.91|    60   +13
Mc Intosh   43  -7  77  24| 0.24   1.51   0.72  -1.68  -1.00|    45    +7
Newell      39 -10  73  19| 0.70   2.34   1.11  -0.63  -0.36|    46    +7
Timber Lake 45  -5  78  22| 0.32   1.74   0.92  -2.15  -1.01|    64   +19
Aberdeen    43  -8  78  26| 0.85   1.95   1.11  -2.04  -0.70|    64   +13
Eureka      45  -4  78  26| 0.39   1.61   0.96  -1.75  -0.82|    61   +26
Faulkton    43  -7  80  23| 0.90   2.50   1.21  -1.54  -0.73|    74   +36
Mobridge    44  -6  79  28| 0.28   0.82   0.64  -3.01  -1.29|    79   +36
Roscoe      40 -10  78  26| 0.72   1.71   0.87  -2.33  -1.25|    42    -2
Britton     45  -6  76  25| 0.80   1.99   1.23  -1.42  -0.47|    84   +32
Clear Lake  38 -12  73  21| 1.68   5.30   2.36  +0.28  +0.25|    61   +21
Sisseton    41 -10  79  25| 1.01   1.79   1.57  -2.72  -0.51|    74   +20
Webster     41  -9  75  25| 0.74   2.73   1.88  -1.25  +0.19|    63   +19
Watertown   41  -9  74  26| 0.92   1.71   1.00  -2.84  -1.02|    76   +37
Faith       43  -8  78  23| 0.13   0.58   0.39  -3.01  -1.39|    60   +11
Milesville  47  -5  81  28| 0.96   3.18   1.58  -0.42  -0.10|    71    +9
Long Valley 48  -3  81  24| 0.88   1.48   1.19  -2.34  -0.76|    96   +42
Philip      46  -6  84  25| 0.62   1.30   0.91  -1.93  -0.68|    97   +38
Rapid City  44  -5  79  22| 1.31   2.89   1.97  -0.79  +0.23|    75   +40
Spearfish   40  -8  63  25| 0.19   3.43   1.29  -1.85  -1.20|    62   +25
Chamberlain 44  -9  83  29| 0.98   2.98   1.26  -0.68  -0.63|    73    +4
Highmore    48  -4  81  28| 0.89   1.59   1.19  -2.62  -0.95|    90   +39
Huron       45  -6  83  25| 1.17   2.99   1.58  -1.69  -0.35|   118   +63
Onida       45  -7  82  25| 0.54   1.35   0.73  -2.87  -1.16|    62    +8
Pierre      45  -7  83  28| 0.45   1.06   0.58  -2.90  -1.34|    93   +36
Brookings   40  -9  76  20| 0.84   4.20   1.33  +0.31  -0.58|    73   +40
Madison     41  -9  76  23| 0.80   2.57   1.30  -2.74  -0.90|    80   +39
Mitchell    44  -9  83  24| 0.94   3.38   1.08  -1.51  -1.18|    99   +35
Sioux Falls 45  -7  77  26| 1.21   4.20   2.37  -0.93  +0.03|   139   +84
Custer      36  -8  67  17| 0.74   3.32   1.82  -0.27  +0.11|    18    +3
Hot Springs 49  -3  77  18| 0.52   3.59   1.18  +0.61  -0.31|    78   +13
Oelrichs    43  -8  77  18| 0.59   3.63   1.16  -0.08  -0.63|    89   +31
Porcupine   44  -6  82  15| 0.80   3.19   1.52  +0.18  -0.01|    68   +27
Murdo       44  -6  82  27| 0.45   2.09   0.80  -2.19  -1.22|    78   +37
Winner      49  -5  82  28| 1.16   3.36   1.76  -1.97  -0.74|   130   +43
Armour      47  -6  82  28| 1.14   3.21   2.18  -1.83  +0.02|   137   +57
Centerville 45  -8  78  26| 0.96   3.21   2.16  -1.66  +0.07|   109   +48
Marion      43  -8  80  26| 1.17   3.55   2.07  -1.84  -0.33|    95   +46
Pickstown   46  -6  83  28| 0.97   3.84   2.72  -0.84  +0.53|   107   +43
Vermillion  51  -4  82  27| 1.04   3.30   2.18  -1.52  -0.01|   192   +90
Yankton     46  -7  86  25| 1.20   4.07   2.05  -0.36  +0.13|   117   +49                                   
Source: National Weather Service, provided by AWIS, Inc.