Released: May 13, 2002 -- 3:00 p.m. CST For Week Ending May 12, 2002 SD-CW1902 Volume 51 Issue 19

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:   A wave of rain showers moved across the state toward week's end, bringing additional moisture to most areas, although producers continue to wait for warm temperatures, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major farm activities included row crop seeding, spraying and applying fertilizer, fixing fences, and moving cattle to pasture. Statewide, there were 3.2 days reported suitable for fieldwork last week. 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 for the third week in a row across the entire state. Average temperatures were mainly in the 40's, which is 6 to 14 degrees below normal. Porcupine reported the low for the week at 17 degrees, while Pickstown recorded a high of 83 degrees. All reporting stations received precipitation, with Sisseton reporting the greatest amount of 2.85 inches.

SOIL CONDITION:   Little improvement was seen in average soil temperatures last week. Many areas of the state received freeze and frost warnings, limiting the chances of increasing soil temperatures. The average soil temperature for the state was 51.1 degrees, only one degree warmer than the previous week. Watertown reported the lowest soil temperature at 41.9 degrees. Topsoil and subsoil moisture improved with the rain received last week.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:   Row crop seeding moved ahead last week despite damp weather conditions. Corn planted is at 64 percent, up 31 percentage points from last week, and well ahead of last year and the five-year average. Cool temperatures have held germination to a minimum and producers are concerned about corn that has been in the ground for several weeks. Corn is only 3 percent emerged. Soybeans are reported at 10 percent planted, compared to 3 percent last year and 12 percent for the five-year average. Sorghum planted is 3 percent complete, while sunflower is 1 percent seeded. Small grain seeding grew closer to completion, with 93 percent of the spring wheat planted. Barley is 77 percent seeded, while oats are 84 percent planted. Spring wheat, barley, and oats seeding are ahead of last year's average and the five-year average. Spring wheat is 58 percent emerged, while barley and oats emerged are 42 and 53 percent, respectively. Winter wheat condition is 2 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 43 percent good, and 11 percent excellent, generally the same as last week.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Calving and lambing near completion, with 89 and 91 percent complete, respectively. Cattle moved to pasture are reported at 38 percent complete, which is behind last year's and five-year average. Range and pasture condition remains relatively unchanged from a week ago at 3 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 41percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Stock water supplies remain a concern in portions of the state. Livestock condition shows little change from a week ago and feed supplies are 83 percent adequate to surplus.

    SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
           AS OF MAY 12, 2002 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      5     7    0     8    10     2
Short      17    23    4    22    27     5
Adeq.      72    67   61    67    60    60
Surplus     6     3   35     3     3    33



                              
        CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
               AS OF MAY 12, 2002 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   2       9     35      43     11
Winter Rye     0       1     33      50     16
Spring Wheat   0       5     40      48      7
Barley         0       4     40      48      8
Oats           0       4     28      58     10
Cattle         0       1     13      65     21
Sheep          0       1     10      68     21
Range & 
   Pasture     3      13     36      41      7



           CROP PROGRESS AS OF MAY 12, 2002   1/
                                                        
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Barley      
 seeded              77     65     66      72
 emerged             42     22     38      48
Spring Wheat
 seeded              93     84     67      80
 emerged             58     31     41      56
Oats        
 seeded              84     75     67      74
 emerged             53     32     43      49
Corn        
 planted             64     33     21      42
 emerged              3      1      3      NA
Sorghum     
 seeded               3      0      0       7
Soybeans    
 planted             10      3      3      12
 emerged              0      0      0      NA
Sunflower
 seeded               1      0      0       4 
Winter Wheat
 boot                 7      1     10      25 
Winter Rye  
 boot                 9      1      5      22
 headed               0      0      0       6
1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage. 

     

    SOIL TEMPERATURES  WEEK ENDING MAY 12, 2002
                (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION  TEMP
          
Beresford      51              Gettysburg  47
Brookings      46              Nisland     50
Caputa         51              Pierre      49
Chamberlain    51              Redfield    45
Cottonwood     50              Watertown   42




 
                TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, and GROWING DEGREE DAYS
                        FOR WEEK ENDING SUNDAY MAY 12, 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 -11  65  30| 0.56   1.98   1.39  -3.23  -1.86|    54   -40
Buffalo     41 -12  63  28| 0.35   1.39   1.02  -2.06  -1.25|    46   -41
Dupree      44 -11  67  26| 0.69   2.20   1.58  -2.44  -1.37|    75   -42
Mc Intosh   41 -13  68  23| 0.30   1.96   1.17  -2.29  -1.61|    53   -48
Newell      40 -14  55  26| 0.96   3.63   2.40  -0.40  -0.13|    55   -38
Timber Lake 44 -12  67  29| 0.43   2.17   1.35  -2.91  -1.77|    76   -37
Aberdeen    45 -11  74  27| 1.40   3.46   2.62  -1.51  -0.17|    80   -45
Eureka      44 -10  63  27| 0.82   2.50   1.85  -1.84  -0.91|    77   -19
Faulkton    45 -10  72  27| 1.10   3.76   2.47  -1.40  -0.59|    87   -16
Mobridge    44 -11  71  25| 0.53   1.46   1.28  -3.49  -1.77|    96   -17
Roscoe      42 -13  70  29| 0.70   2.48   1.64  -2.68  -1.60|    50   -61
Britton     45 -11  64  27| 1.48   3.09   2.33  -1.37  -0.42|   105   -26
Clear Lake  45 -11  75  30| 1.57   6.91   3.97  +0.67  +0.64|    73   -42
Sisseton    46 -11  74  32| 2.85   4.71   4.49  -1.06  +1.15|    91   -47
Webster     42 -13  56  32| 2.81   5.64   4.79  +0.52  +1.96|    72   -46
Watertown   46 -10  74  26| 1.42   3.21   2.50  -2.57  -0.75|    91   -18
Faith       42 -13  68  31| 0.73   1.58   1.39  -3.23  -1.61|    67   -50
Milesville  46 -11  68  32| 0.51   4.36   2.76  -0.59  -0.27|    91   -49
Long Valley 47  -9  68  29| 0.56   2.61   2.32  -2.35  -0.77|   128    +0
Philip      46 -11  72  31| 0.76   2.79   2.40  -1.56  -0.31|   128   -10
Rapid City  44 -10  66  25| 1.09   4.48   3.56  -0.30  +0.72|    88    -1
Spearfish   44  -9  60  30| 0.32   4.88   2.74  -1.95  -1.30|    71   -13
Chamberlain 47 -11  77  32| 0.83   4.54   2.82  -0.33  -0.28|    91   -72
Highmore    47  -9  70  30| 0.63   2.43   2.03  -2.98  -1.31|   116   -13
Huron       48  -8  81  29| 0.88   3.87   2.46  -1.98  -0.64|   150   +20
Onida       45 -12  67  30| 0.57   2.01   1.39  -3.33  -1.62|    84   -52
Pierre      46 -10  73  31| 0.45   1.83   1.35  -3.29  -1.73|   117   -22
Brookings   46  -8  77  30| 2.59   6.81   3.94  +1.80  +0.91|    87    -5
Madison     47  -9  79  26| 0.59   3.16   1.89  -3.38  -1.54|   101   -14
Mitchell    48 -10  81  28| 0.65   4.38   2.08  -1.79  -1.46|   126   -33
Sioux Falls 50  -6  79  28| 0.67   5.00   3.17  -1.39  -0.43|   173   +36
Custer      38 -10  61  22| 0.95   4.99   3.49  +0.14  +0.52|    20   -14
Hot Springs 44 -11  63  28| 0.79   5.24   2.83  +1.11  +0.19|    94   -40
Oelrichs    45 -11  70  24| 0.48   4.93   2.46  -0.02  -0.57|   108   -22
Porcupine   43 -13  70  17| 0.74   5.13   3.46  +0.99  +0.80|    84   -21
Murdo       45 -11  69  30| 0.46   3.20   1.91  -2.24  -1.27|    93   -22
Winner      48 -11  71  31| 0.48   5.06   3.46  -1.88  -0.65|   178   -16
Armour      50  -9  79  32| 0.31   4.03   3.00  -2.30  -0.45|   179    -5
Centerville 51  -6  81  29| 1.47   5.03   3.98  -1.19  +0.54|   148    -5
Marion      49  -8  80  30| 1.18   4.99   3.51  -1.67  -0.16|   121   -13
Pickstown   51  -7  83  32| 0.53   5.05   3.93  -0.80  +0.57|   142   -14
Vermillion  53  -7  79  31| 1.44   5.24   4.12  -1.03  +0.48|   258   +35
Yankton     52  -6  82  29| 1.04   5.67   3.65  -0.16  +0.33|   150   -14                                    
Source: National Weather Service, provided by AWIS, Inc.
Growing Degree Day values calculated using standard corn formula with no temperature caps.