Released: February 3, 2003 -- 3:00 pm CST For Month ending January 31, 2003 SD-CW0503 Volume 52 Issue 5

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:    The year 2003 started with above-normal temperatures along with below- normal snowfall, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. The mild weather from previous months has continued into the new year. Having little snow to contend with, farmers and ranch ers have kept busy with routine chores, hauling grain and hay, calving, and tending to livestock. This report is based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.

WEATHER INFORMATION:   January temperatures ranged from -25 degrees at Spearfish and Pickstown, to 66 degrees at Dupree and Britton. Above-normal tempera tures and minimal snow cover brought mild winter conditions to South Dakota farmers and ranchers. Spearfish received the greatest amount of moisture, with 1.3 inches reported. The average snow depth for the state was 1.5 inches.

SOIL CONDITION:    Soil temperatures from reporting stations averaged 29.7 degrees. This is down 1 degree from last month. Soil temperatures averaged 2.7 degrees above normal.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:    Lack of snow cover continues to be a concern for winter wheat and rye producers. With much of the state lacking snow cover, many are unsure of this winter's effect on fall seedings. Winter wheat snow cover is rated 89 percent poor and 11 percent adequate. Winter wheat conditions are reported at 5 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 45 percent fair, 32 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Winter rye snow cover is rated 74 percent poor, 9 percent adequate, and 17 percent excellent. The condition of winter rye is rated 1 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 32 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Alfalfa snow cover is rated 77 percent poor, 20 percent adequate, and 3 percent excellent.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Livestock continue to experience favorable winter conditions. The lack of snow cover has provided maximum utilization of corn stalks, resulting in less use of forage supplies. Feed supplies are rated at 18 percent very short, 28 percent short, 51 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Some concerns are rising over stock water supplies, due to the lack of moisture received throughout January. Water supplies are currently 21 percent very short, 28 percent short, 49 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. The mild weather has been beneficial to livestock producers, with both cattle and sheep reported in fair to good condition. Cattle are rated at 2 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Sheep are similar, with 1 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 63 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Livestock death losses are mostly below normal to normal. Calf deaths in January were rated at 30 percent below average, 69 percent average, and 1 percent above average. Cattle deaths were rated at 35 percent below normal, 64 percent normal, and 1 percent above normal. Sheep and lamb deaths are 32 percent below average, 67 percent average, and 1 percent above average. The livestock feed and water supply comparison table was added to show current conditions.

     FEED AND WATER SUPPLIES COMPARISON
         AS OF FEBRUARY 2, 2003 

              FEED             STOCK WATER 
            SUPPLIES            SUPPLIES 
         This  Last 5-Yr.    This  Last  5-Yr.
RATING   Year  Year  Ave.    Year  Year   Ave.

                       Percent
Very 
 Short     18     1    NA     21      4   NA
Short      28    70    NA     28     11   NA
Adeq.      51    80    NA     49     79   NA
Surplus     3    12    NA      2      6   NA


    CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
         AS OF FEBRUARY 2, 2003 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   5      14     45      32      4
Winter Rye     1      19     35      32     13
Cattle         0       2     26      59     13
Sheep          0       1     22      63     14



              SOIL TEMPERATURES
 WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 2, 2003 (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP

Beresford      32              Gettysburg   28
Brookings      29              Nisland      32
Caputa         31              Pierre       30
Chamberlain    30              Redfield     26
Cottonwood     31              Watertown    27


                   TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION
                Month ENDING January 31, 2003
                                     
             TEMPERATURE    |-PRECIPITATION-   
             -----------    |                 
            CURRENT  WEEK   | CURR DEPT FROM 
STATION    AVG DFN    HI  LO| MONTH  NORMAL  
Bison       21  +6    59 -19  0.81  +0.45    
Buffalo     24  +8    61 -16  0.23  -0.06    
Dupree      20  +5    60 -25  0.82  +0.58    
Mc Intosh   17  +4    54 -19  0.25  -0.04    
Newell      24  +7    63 -13  0.51  +0.19    
Timber Lake 18  +4    55 -18  0.58  +0.26    
Aberdeen    16  +7    52 -17  0.12  -0.25    
Eureka      17  +8    48 -23  0.00  -0.27    
Faulkton    19  +8    59 -20  0.29  +0.01    
Mobridge    18  +6    58 -21  0.12  -0.22    
Roscoe      14  +4    52 -21  0.30  -0.06    
Britton     13  +5    47 -25  0.15  -0.30    
Clear Lake  13  +2    51 -19  0.24  -0.36    
Sisseton    15  +4    54 -21  0.02  -0.51    
Webster     13  +3    46 -20  0.34  -0.24    
Watertown   15  +5    47 -20  0.24  -0.30    
Faith       23  +6    61 -16  0.12  -0.15    
Milesville  22  +5    62 -20  0.53  +0.21    
Long Valley 27  +5    65 -13  0.16  -0.09    
Philip      25  +6    64 -22  0.25  -0.01    
Rapid City  28  +6    63 -13  0.33  -0.06    
Spearfish   30  +7    66  -7  1.30  +0.74    
Chamberlain 20  +3    63 -17  0.67  +0.45    
Highmore    19  +5    59 -21  0.20  -0.13    
Huron       20  +7    60 -23  0.13  -0.28    
Onida       18  +4    58 -21  0.57  +0.12    
Pierre      21  +5    61 -16  0.42  -0.01    
Brookings   14  +5    54 -22  0.23  -0.09    
Madison     16  +6    55 -19  0.30  -0.22    
Mitchell    18  +5    59 -17  0.33  -0.09    
Sioux Falls 19  +6    57 -14  0.30  -0.21    
Custer      29  +6    64  -7  0.80  +0.44    
Hot Springs 30  +6    65  -5  0.50  +0.20    
Oelrichs    28  +6    62  -6  0.51  +0.11    
Porcupine   25  +6    63 -18  0.64  +0.41    
Murdo       22  +6    62 -16  0.77  +0.44    
Winner      25  +4    65 -15  0.55  +0.04    
Armour      22  +5    60 -16  0.14  -0.38    
Centerville 18  +4    60 -23  0.29  -0.15    
Marion      18  +5    59 -17  0.25  -0.29    
Pickstown   22  +4    66 -14  0.61  +0.21    
Vermillion  22  +5    60 -17  0.32  -0.07    
Yankton     20  +4    63 -16  0.52  +0.14   
       

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




The next Monthly Report for February will be released on March 3. 
Thank You.


           USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service