Released: March 31, 2003 -- 3:00 pm CST For Month ending March 30, 2003 SD-CW1303 Volume 52 Issue 13

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:    March brought fairly average weather to South Dakota. Western parts of the state received the most moisture in March, but still have a need for more, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major farm activities included working on machinery, hauling grain, calving and lambing, and feeding livestock. The majority of farmers and ranchers are preparing for spring fieldwork, with some getting an early start spreading fertilizer. This report is based on information from county exten sion educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters across the state. This report is based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.

WEATHER INFORMATION:   Temperatures last month averaged 32 degrees, 1 degree higher than normal for the month of March. Temperatures ranged from a high of 83 in Winner, to a low of -33 recorded in Onida. Bison received the most moisture, with 2.66 inches of precipitation during March.

SOIL CONDITION:    The 2003 spring season is starting with significantly less soil moisture than last year. Topsoil moisture is reported at 56 percent very short or short, compared to last year's 28 percent. Subsoil moisture is rated 69 percent very short or short, while last year only 38 percent of the state fell into those categories. Soil temperatures from reporting stations averaged 38.4 degrees.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:    Some producers have reported spring field activity, but, on average, farmers across the state anticipate April 8th to be the starting date for fieldwork. Limited seeding of small grains is starting in some localities. Statewide, seeding of spring wheat, oats, and barley is 1 percent completed, generally ahead of last year, but behind the five-year average. Winter wheat progress is reported at 75 percent breaking dormancy, while winter rye is at 54 percent. The condition of winter wheat is rated at 77 percent fair to excellent.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Calving and lambing season is in full swing, with 35 percent of the calving complete and 44 percent of the lambing done. Calf death loss during March was rated 28 percent below normal, 70 percent normal, and 2 percent above normal. Cattle deaths during the month were rated at 27 percent below normal, 71 percent normal, and 2 percent above normal. Sheep and lamb deaths were rated at 16 percent below normal, 83 percent normal, and 1 percent above normal. Cattle and sheep were reported in mostly fair to good condition. Feed supplies are reported at 43 percent adequate to surplus. Stock water supplies continue to worry producers, due to the lack of precipitation throughout the winter. Mild precipitation in some areas helped to replenish streams and dams. However, for the state, stock water supplies are rated 18 percent very short, 34 percent short, 46 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. The livestock feed and water supply comparison table was added to show current conditions.

     FEED AND WATER SUPPLIES COMPARISON
         AS OF March 30, 2003 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short     22     2    NA     18      6   NA
Short      35     8    NA     34     12   NA
Adeq.      42    82    NA     46     76   NA
Surplus     1     8    NA      2      6   NA


           SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
                AS OF MARCH 30, 2003 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short     19    NA     5     31     NA     1
Short      37    NA    23     38     NA    13
Adeq.      44    NA    67     30     NA    76
Surplus     0    NA     5      1     NA    10



    CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
         AS OF March 30, 2003 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   6      17     41      31      5
Winter Rye    10      14     41      31      4
Cattle         1       3     26      58     12
Sheep          0       1     27      66      6
Range &       33      30     24      12      1
    Pasture



         CROP PROGRESS AS OF MARCH 30, 2003  1/
                                                      
                                                                       
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Barley        
 seeded               1      0      0       2
Spring wheat 
 seeded               1      0      1       6
Oats        
 seeded               1      0      0       3

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



              SOIL TEMPERATURES
 WEEK ENDING March 30, 2003 (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP

Beresford      39              Gettysburg   39
Brookings      36              Nisland      40
Caputa         38              Pierre       42
Chamberlain    44              Redfield     36
Cottonwood     42              Watertown    33




                        TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION
                        Month ENDING MARCH 30, 2003
                                     
             TEMPERATURE     |         -PRECIPITATION-   
             -----------     | ---------------------------------                
             CURRENT WEEK    | CURR  DEPT FROM  SINCE   DFN SINCE
STATION       AVG DFN  I   LO| MONTH  NORMAL   JAN 1	  JAN 1
Bison         30  -1  66 -11  2.66   +1.58     3.93	 +2.03
Buffalo       32  +1  74 -10  1.83   +1.24     2.12	 +0.94
Dupree        31  -1  74  -8  0.93   -0.06     2.29	 +0.65
Mc Intosh     27  -3  65 -13  0.49   -0.29     1.10	 -0.33
Newell        32  +1  78  -4  1.60   +0.80     2.42	 +0.92
Timber Lake   29  -2  68 -11  0.97   -0.15     2.11	 +0.20
Aberdeen      28  -2  76 -12  0.48   -0.86     1.00	 -1.18
Eureka        28  -1  70 -16  0.27   -0.64     0.54	 -0.99
Faulkton      29  +0  75 -14  0.48   -0.84     2.22	 +0.12
Mobridge      30  -1  70 -13  0.28   -0.86     0.62	 -1.28
Roscoe        26  -4  72 -14  0.83   -0.33     1.68	 -0.24
Britton       28  -2  72 -15  0.18   -0.60     0.49	 -1.18
Clear Lake    27  -4  70 -15  0.68   -1.00     2.13	 -0.78
Sisseton      28  -3  74 -14  0.30   -1.03     0.32	 -2.11
Webster       27  -3  69 -16  0.31   -0.76     1.02	 -1.22
Watertown     28  -2  68 -14  0.29   -1.12     0.98	 -1.55
Faith         32  -1  70  -8  0.57   -0.49     0.92	 -0.89
Milesville    33  +1  76  -3  1.20   +0.12     2.99	 +1.12
Long Valley   37  +2  82  -3  1.09   -0.10     2.64	 +0.83
Philip        36  +2  80   2  0.84   -0.17     1.64	 +0.00
Rapid City    36  +3  80   0  1.05   +0.02     1.60	 -0.34
Spearfish     35  +2  75  -1  1.33   -0.10     4.10	 +1.38
Chamberlain   33  -2  78  -7  0.97   -0.21     2.04	 +0.27
Highmore      32  +2  74 -13  0.36   -0.83     1.24	 -0.77
Huron         33  +2  76  -7  0.14   -1.52     1.20	 -1.55
Onida         31  -2  73 -33  0.43   -0.81     2.12	 -0.15
Pierre        34  +2  76  -4  0.51   -0.62     1.14	 -0.90
Brookings     28  -1  72 -12  0.17   -1.07     0.81	 -1.17
Madison       30  +2  74 -11  0.17   -1.67     1.01	 -2.10
Mitchell      33  +1  78  -7  0.25   -1.36     2.11	 -0.52
Sioux Falls   34  +2  76 -12  0.22   -1.42     1.15	 -1.64
Custer        32  +0  67   0  1.87   +0.91     3.03	 +1.15
Hot Springs   38  +2  80   1  2.13   +1.38     3.06	 +1.61
Oelrichs      36  +0  80   1  1.80   +0.76     2.53	 +0.61
Porcupine     35  +2  78   0  2.07   +1.16     3.23	 +1.75
Murdo         33  +2  79  -4  0.96   -0.55     2.22	 -0.04
Winner        39  +3  83  -3  0.78   -0.92     2.03	 -0.80
Armour        37  +2  81  -5  1.00   -0.60     1.36	 -1.45
Centerville   31  -2  78 -12  0.91   -0.63     1.82	 -0.96
Marion        31  +0  76  -8  0.68   -1.09     1.73	 -1.26
Pickstown     35  +2  78  -8  0.53   -1.04     1.87	 -0.62
Vermillion    37  +1  78 -17  1.80   +0.15     3.12	 +0.56
Yankton       34  +1  80  -9  1.24   -0.41     3.18	 +0.67

       

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