Released: March 3, 2003 -- 3:00 pm CST For Month ending February 28, 2003 SD-CW0903 Volume 52 Issue 9

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:    The month of February brought some periods of cold temperatures and snow fall, but most of the state experienced continuing mild winter weather, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers and ranchers kept busy by tending to livestock, calving and lambing, fixing machinery, and preparing for the upcoming growing season. This report is based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.

WEATHER INFORMATION:   Temperatures averaged 2.9 degrees colder than normal for the month of February. Porcupine was the warmest spot this month, with a high of 65 degrees. Lows reached well into the nega tive numbers, with Custer and Hot Springs reporting the coldest temperature of 25 degrees below zero. Spearfish received the greatest amount of moisture, with 1.47 inches of precipitation during February. The average snow depth for the state was 1.0 inch.

SOIL CONDITION:    Soil temperatures from reporting stations averaged 26.4 degrees for the past week. This is down 3.3 degrees from last month. Soil temperatures averaged 3.2 degrees cooler than normal for the last week of February.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:    Moisture and snow cover appear to be the main topics of worry for producers again this month. Producers are concerned about their winter crops, as well as the upcoming growing season. Due to the lack of snow cover, winter crops in some areas have been exposed to potentially damaging cold temperatures. Winter wheat snow cover is rated 90 percent poor and 10 percent adequate. Winter wheat conditions are reported at 7 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 48 percent fair, 26 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Winter rye snow cover is rated 82 percent poor and 18 percent adequate. The condition of winter rye is rated 11 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 48 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Alfalfa snow cover is rated 88 percent poor and 12 percent adequate.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    The month of February brought favorable weather for livestock across the state as calving and lambing season continues. The lack of snowfall has had a positive influence on lowering calf deaths. Calf death loss during February was rated 28 percent below normal, 70 percent normal, and 2 percent above normal. Cattle deaths during February rated at 37 percent below normal, 62 percent normal, and 1 percent above normal. Sheep and lamb deaths rated 34 percent below normal, 65 percent normal, and 1 percent above normal. Cattle and sheep were reported in mostly fair to good condition. Feed supplies were rated at 18 percent very short, 33 percent short, 45 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Stock water supplies continue to deteriorate due to the lack of moisture across the state. Water supplies are currently 23 percent very short, 30 percent short, 46 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Accessible feed supplies rated 94 percent readily available, while accessible stock water supplies were rated 86 percent readily available, 13 percent difficult, and 1 percent inaccessible. The livestock feed and water supply comparison table was added to show current conditions.

     FEED AND WATER SUPPLIES COMPARISON
         AS OF March 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     23      5   NA
Short      33     6    NA     30     14   NA
Adeq.      45    86    NA     46     80   NA
Surplus     4     7    NA      1      1   NA


    CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
         AS OF March 2, 2003 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   7      14     48      26      5
Winter Rye    11       3     48      35      3
Cattle         1       3     24      60     12
Sheep          1       2     24      62     11



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

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP

Beresford      26              Gettysburg   23
Brookings      26              Nisland      31
Caputa         30              Pierre       25
Chamberlain    26              Redfield     30
Cottonwood     27              Watertown    22



                        TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION
                        Month ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 2003
                                     
             TEMPERATURE     |         -PRECIPITATION-   
             -----------     | ---------------------------------                
             CURRENT WEEK    | CURR   DEPT FROM  SINCE   DFN SINCE
STATION    AVG DFN    HI   LO| MONTH   NORMAL    JAN 1	   JAN 1
Bison       19  -4    46  -16   0.46    0.00      1.27     0.45
Buffalo     23   0    49  -18	0.06   -0.24      0.29    -0.30
Dupree      19	-3    50  -17	0.54	0.13      1.36     0.71
McIntosh    15  -5    45  -22   0.36    0.00      0.61    -0.04
Newell      22  -2    55  -19   0.51    0.13      0.82     0.12
Timber Lake 17  -4    48  -18   0.56    0.09      1.14     0.35								
Aberdeen    14  -4    43  -17   0.40   -0.07      0.52    -0.32
Eureka      16  -1    44  -15   0.27   -0.08      0.27    -0.35
Faulkton    15  -2    47  -13   1.45    0.95      1.74     0.96
Mobridge    17  -3    47  -15   0.22   -0.20      0.34    -0.42
Roscoe      12  -6    45  -17   0.55    0.15      0.85     0.09								
Britton     13  -3    41  -17   0.16   -0.28      0.31    -0.58
Clear Lake  11  -7    45  -16   1.21    0.58      1.45     0.22
Sisseton    14  -4    44  -14   0.00   -0.57      0.02    -1.08
Webster     12  -5    43  -16   0.37   -0.22      0.71    -0.46
Watertown   13  -5    42  -18   0.45   -0.13      0.69    -0.43								
Faith       21  -2    49  -14   0.23   -0.25      0.35    -0.40
Milesville  21  -3    52  -12   1.26    0.79      1.79     1.00
Long Valley 24  -4    63   -9   1.39    1.02      1.55     0.93
Philip      24  -2    60  -12   0.55    0.18      0.80     0.17
Rapid City  24  -4    60  -16   0.22   -0.30      0.55    -0.36
Spearfish   25  -3    57   -3   1.47    0.74      2.77     1.48								
Chamberlain 20  -4    57  -10   0.40    0.03      1.07     0.48
Highmore    19  -2    49  -12   0.68    0.19      0.88     0.06
Huron       18  -2    50   -9   0.93    0.25      1.06    -0.03
Onida       17  -4    49  -16   1.12    0.54      1.69     0.66
Pierre      22  -1    53   -8   0.21   -0.27      0.63    -0.28								
Brookings   13  -3    48  -13   0.41   -0.01      0.64    -0.10
Madison     16  -2    51  -12   0.54   -0.21      0.84    -0.43
Mitchell    19  -2    56   -7   1.46    0.86      1.86     0.84
Sioux Falls 20   1    52   -6   0.63   -0.01      0.93    -0.22								
Custer      22  -6    52  -25   0.36   -0.20      1.16     0.24
Hot Springs 27  -4    63  -25   0.43    0.03      0.93     0.23
Oelrichs    24  -5    62  -18   0.22   -0.26      0.73    -0.15
Porcupine   23  -3    65  -20   0.52    0.18      1.16     0.59								
Murdo       21  -2    58  -13   0.49    0.07      1.26     0.51
Winner      25  -3    59  -13   0.74    0.12      1.25     0.12								
Armour      23  -1    56   -8   0.22   -0.47      0.36    -0.85
Centerville 18  -2    55  -14   0.62   -0.18      0.91    -0.33
Marion      18  -2    52   -9   0.80    0.12      1.05    -0.17
Pickstown   23  -2    60   -7   0.73    0.21      1.34     0.42
Vermillion  24   1    54   -8   1.00    0.48      1.32     0.41
Yankton     21  -2    56   -8   1.42    0.94      1.94     1.08

       

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




The next Monthly Report for March will be released on March 31. 
Thank You.


           USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service