Released: April 21, 2003 -- 3:00 pm CST For Week ending April 20, 2003 SD-CW1603 Volume 52 Issue 16

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:    Rain showers moved in last week, bringing much-needed moisture to many areas across the state, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork was delayed for some, due to the rain received. However, farm activities throughout the week included progress with small grain seeding, preparing ground for row crops, spreading fertilizer, working cattle, and hauling grain and seed. Statewide, there were 3.1 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:   Producers welcomed precipitation and warm temperatures last week. Temperatures averaged 50.6 degrees across the state, 4.4 degrees above normal. Mobridge received the warmest weather in the state, with a high of 93. The low of 26 was reported in Custer. Precipitation was reported at all 43 weather stations, but the greatest amount received was 3.34 inches at Britton.

SOIL CONDITION:    Average soil temperatures for the week reached 49.1 degrees, 3.2 degrees warmer than the previous week. Precipitation received throughout last week improved topsoil and subsoil moisture levels. Topsoil is now rated at 32 percent very short to short, compared to last week's 56 percent. Subsoil moisture is currently 25 percent very short, 37 percent short, and 38 percent adequate.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:    Small grain seeding made good progress before the rainy weather last week. Barley seeding is 41 percent complete, ahead of last year's 21 percent and the five-year average of 24 percent. Barley emergence is at 3 percent. Oats seeding has reached 53 percent completion, with 12 percent emergence. Spring wheat seeding, at 66 percent, is well ahead of last year and the five-year average. Emergence of spring wheat is at 8 percent. Winter wheat and winter rye are reported in mostly fair to good condition. A few producers began planting corn this past week, however, seeding statewide was not significant.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Calving and lambing continue to progress well, with 68 percent of the calving and 75 percent of the lambing completed. The lack of severe weather has helped to keep livestock deaths at a minimum this year. Both calf and lamb deaths are mostly below average or average. Several reporters have mentioned that the recent rains have helped pastures to green-up significantly. However, cattle being moved to pasture is at 9 percent, and is behind the five-year average. Feed and stock water supplies are reported at mostly short to adequate. Cattle and sheep remain in mostly fair to good condition. The livestock feed and water supply comparison table was added to show current conditions.

     FEED AND WATER SUPPLIES COMPARISON
         AS OF April 20, 2003 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short     24     2     2     18      7    2
Short      32    10     9     32     15    7
Adeq.      42    81    78     49     76   75
Surplus     2     7    11      1      2   16


           SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
                AS OF April 20, 2003 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short     11    21    11     25     33    12
Short      21    35    29     37     35    28
Adeq.      67    44    58     38     31    58
Surplus     1     0     2      0      1     2




    CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
         AS OF April 20, 2003 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   2      10     38      42      8
Winter Rye     2      18     30      37     13
Cattle         1       2     27      57     13
Sheep          1       2     26      61     10
Range &                                       
   Pasture    24      31     26      17      2




         CROP PROGRESS AS OF April 20, 2003  1/
                                                      
                                                                       
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Barley        
 seeded              41     21     18      24
 emerged              3      0      2       2
Spring wheat 
 seeded              66     37     35      38
 emerged              8      1      2       6
Oats        
 seeded              53     32     25      30
 emerged             12      2      1       4
Corn        
 planted              0      0      1       1

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



              SOIL TEMPERATURES
 WEEK ENDING April 20, 2003 (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP

Beresford      52              Gettysburg   48
Brookings      48              Nisland      51
Caputa         48              Pierre       51
Chamberlain    53              Redfield     47
Cottonwood     51              Watertown    43




            TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, AND GROWING DEGREE DAYS
                        WEEK ENDING April 20, 2003
                                     
             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       49  +4  75  29| 1.21   5.14   1.21  +1.76  -0.21|    59   +39
Buffalo     50  +6  84  32| 0.33   2.45   0.33  +0.46  -0.48|    78   +57
Dupree      50  +4  80  30| 0.73   3.11   0.82  +0.26  -0.34|    78   +53
Mc Intosh   48  +3  75  29| 0.76   1.86   0.76  -0.77  -0.40|    62   +43
Newell      51  +6  81  32| 0.67   3.09   0.67  +0.63  -0.29|    66   +44
Timber Lake 49  +4  81  30| 0.62   2.74   0.63  -0.51  -0.66|    67   +43
Aberdeen    48  +3  92  29| 1.34   2.34   1.34  -1.09  +0.09|    57   +30
Eureka      49  +4  86  30| 1.88   2.42   1.88  -0.38  +0.66|    65   +49
Faulkton    49  +5  91  31| 1.48   3.74   1.52  +0.31  +0.19|    57   +39
Mobridge    51  +6  93  33| 1.13   1.75   1.13  -1.47  -0.19|    83   +60
Roscoe      47  +2  90  30| 1.18   2.86   1.18  -0.54  -0.30|    43   +19
Britton     48  +2  88  29| 3.34   3.83   3.34  +0.98  +2.20|    68   +41
Clear Lake  48  +3  88  30| 1.77   4.01   1.88  -0.37  +0.41|    52   +33
Sisseton    48  +2  89  29| 2.28   2.60   2.28  -1.26  +0.85|    68   +41
Webster     45  -1  88  28| 1.44   2.46   1.44  -0.96  +0.31|    63   +40
Watertown   48  +3  89  30| 1.51   2.49   1.51  -1.42  +0.13|    63   +44
Faith       49  +3  85  32| 0.71   1.67   0.75  -1.32  -0.43|    75   +48
Milesville  50  +3  77  32| 1.07   4.11   1.12  +1.10  +0.03|    78   +44
Long Valley 52  +5  85  29| 1.61   4.56   1.92  +1.37  +0.60|    93   +65
Philip      51  +4  90  33| 1.66   3.34   1.70  +0.65  +0.65|    88   +56
Rapid City  53  +8  87  35| 0.47   2.21   0.61  -0.91  -0.57|    84   +65
Spearfish   51  +6  75  32| 0.36   4.73   0.63  +0.25  -1.06|    83   +62
Chamberlain 51  +3  90  32| 1.13   3.49   1.45  +0.45  +0.18|    89   +52
Highmore    52  +6  87  34| 1.17   2.66   1.42  -0.89  -0.06|    85   +59
Huron       52  +6  91  32| 1.24   2.47   1.27  -1.62  -0.07|    94   +65
Onida       48  +0  81  33| 1.18   3.32   1.20  -0.32  -0.11|    69   +42
Pierre      51  +4  92  32| 1.46   2.76   1.62  -0.57  +0.33|    90   +60
Brookings   50  +6  87  32| 1.61   2.56   1.75  -0.74  +0.43|    65   +50
Madison     50  +5  88  32| 2.48   3.82   2.81  -0.85  +1.25|    68   +48
Mitchell    52  +4  88  33| 1.48   4.03   1.92  -0.14  +0.38|    80   +47
Sioux Falls 54  +7  85  36| 2.18   4.15   3.00  -0.26  +1.38|    83   +55
Custer      46  +5  70  26| 0.58   4.40   1.37  +1.41  +0.26|    27   +20
Hot Springs 52  +5  81  29| 0.77   4.21   1.15  +1.76  +0.19|    63   +25
Oelrichs    52  +5  82  27| 0.75   3.46   0.93  +0.36  -0.25|    75   +43
Porcupine   51  +5  87  30| 0.93   4.38   1.15  +1.90  +0.15|    78   +57
Murdo       49  +3  89  31| 2.28   4.86   2.64  +1.22  +1.26|    91   +71
Winner      54  +4  90  32| 1.00   3.61   1.58  -0.91  -0.11|   129   +80
Armour      53  +4  90  33| 1.44   2.98   1.62  -1.39  +0.13|   111   +67
Centerville 56  +8  86  32| 1.12   3.30   1.48  -0.89  +0.07|   107   +76
Marion      53  +6  87  33| 1.45   3.71   1.98  -0.96  +0.30|    80   +56
Pickstown   56  +8  90  33| 1.86   4.60   2.73  +0.56  +1.18|   108   +74
Vermillion  55  +4  86  35| 0.59   4.30   1.18  +0.19  -0.30|   122   +64
Yankton     56  +8  88  33| 1.50   5.80   2.62  +2.01  +1.34|    98   +62

       

Source: National Weather Service, provided by AWIS, Inc.
Growing Degree Day values calculated using standard corn formula with no temperature caps.