Released: March 1, 2004 -- 3:00 pm CST For Month ending February 29, 2004 SD-CW0904 Volume 53 Issue 9

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:    The month of February brought some periods of cold and snowy weather for the state, with the majority of the month remaining mild, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major farm activities included marketing grain, tending to livestock, calving and lambing, and repairing machinery. In general, the county and township roads are open for travel with little or no difficulty. This report is based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.

WEATHER INFORMATION:   Temperatures during February averaged in the lower 20's. Sisseton and Watertown had the low for the month, of -23 degrees, while Philip had the high for the month, at 68 degrees. Temperatures averaged slightly above normal for the month, with precipitation slightly below normal. Hot Springs had the greatest amount of moisture, with 1.08 inches reported. The average snow depth for the state at the end of February was 1.90 inches.

SOIL CONDITION:    Soil temperatures from report ing stations averaged 32.9 degrees for the past week, up 9.3 degrees from this time last month. Cottonwood had the average high, at 38.3 degrees, while Watertown had the average low, at 29.6 degrees. Soil temperatures averaged 3.2 degrees warmer than normal for this time of the year.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:    Moisture and snow cover are the main topics of worry for South Dakota producers this month. Snow cover for winter crops has been minimal in some areas, with moisture levels for the upcoming growing season also causing concern. Winter wheat condition remains similar to last month, with snow cover rated 94 percent poor and 6 percent adequate. Alfalfa snow cover declined from last month with 29 percent adequate to excellent, compared to last month's 49 percent adequate to excellent.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    February brought mostly favorable weather for livestock across the state, while calving and lambing season began. Many producers continue to have dry stock dams, with stock water supplies rated at 48 percent very short to short, compared to last month's 43 percent very short to short. The lack of snowfall has had a positive effect on calf and sheep and lamb deaths, with death losses at average or below average levels. Calf deaths are rated at 23 percent below average, 74 percent average, and 3 percent above average. Sheep and lamb deaths are rated at 13 percent below average, 86 percent average, and 1 percent above average. Calving and lambing season has started for much of the state, with calving 9 percent complete and lambing 20 percent complete. Cattle death losses are rated 23 percent below normal, 75 percent normal, and 2 percent above normal. Cattle and sheep remained in mostly fair to good condition for the month of February. Feed supplies are rated 4 percent very short, 19 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Both feed supplies and stock water supplies are readily available.

               SOIL TEMPERATURES WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 29, 2004
                               (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP

Beresford      36              Gettysburg   32
Brookings      32              Nisland      34
Caputa         32              Pierre       35
Chamberlain    32              Redfield     31
Cottonwood     38              Watertown    30
   
                         
                       CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
                        AS OF February 29, 2004      

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat  13      23     33      29      2
Cattle         0       2     21      62     15
Sheep          0       7     21      61     11



                                     

                    FEED AND WATER SUPPLIES COMPARISON
                          AS OF February 29, 2004 

              FEED          STOCK WATER
             SUPPLIES        SUPPLIES
         This   Last   5-Yr. This   Last  5-Yr.
RATING    Year   Year   Ave.  Year   Year  Ave.
                       Percent
Very 
 Short      4    18    NA     29     23    NA
Short      19    33    NA     19     30    NA
Adeq.      74    45    NA     51     46    NA
Surplus     3     4    NA      1      1    NA

                                                     

	         TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION
                  MONTH ENDING FEBRUARY 29, 2004
                                     

             TEMPERATURE   -----  PRECIPITATION -----    
             -----------                 SINCE  SINCE  
            CURRENT WEEK    CURR  CURR   JAN 1  JAN 1  
STATION     AVG DFN HI  LO  WEEK  DFN    TOTAL    DFN  
-------     --  --  --  -- -----  -----  -----  -----  
Bison       23   1  52 -11  0.65  0.17    1.18   0.34
Buffalo     25   2  53  -9  0.15 -0.17    0.19  -0.42
Dupree      24   2  53 -10  0.19 -0.24    0.72   0.05
Mc Intosh   19  -1  48 -19  0.29 -0.09    0.82   0.15
Newell      26   4  58  -7  0.41  0.01    0.62  -0.10
Timber Lake 21   1  55 -17  0.21 -0.28    0.75  -0.06
								
Aberdeen    19   2  50 -20  0.29 -0.21    0.75  -0.12
Eureka      21   5  52 -18  0.06 -0.31    0.15  -0.49
Faulkton    20   3  61 -17  0.13 -0.40    0.50  -0.31
Mobridge    22   3  56 -17  0.06 -0.38    0.14  -0.64
Roscoe      17  -1  58 -18  0.13 -0.29    0.51  -0.27
								
Britton     20   5  46 -20  0.18 -0.28    0.37  -0.54
Clear Lake  17  -1  45 -13  0.40 -0.26    0.86  -0.40
Sisseton    20   4  49 -23  0.08 -0.52    0.59  -0.54
Webster     19   4  49 -15  0.51 -0.11    0.96  -0.24
Watertown   18   2  45 -23  0.10 -0.51    0.36  -0.79
								
Faith       24   2  53 -11  0.04 -0.46    0.10  -0.67
Milesville  26   3  58 -12  0.20 -0.30    0.59  -0.23
Long Valley 28   2  67 -15  0.49  0.10    0.77    0.13
Philip      28   4  68 -16  0.02 -0.37    0.16  -0.49
Rapid City  30   3  63  -3  0.39 -0.15    0.42  -0.51
Spearfish   30   3  60  -1  0.86  0.10    1.14  -0.18
								
Chamberlain 23   0  59 -14  0.19 -0.20    0.56  -0.05
Highmore    24   4  56 -13  0.06 -0.46    0.15  -0.70
Huron       22   3  52 -16  0.27 -0.45    0.46  -0.67
Onida       23   2  58 -18  0.13 -0.48    0.40  -0.66
Pierre      26   4  65  -8  0.01 -0.49    0.18  -0.75
								
Brookings   16   1  44 -22  0.37 -0.07    0.66  -0.10
Madison     18   2  44 -15  0.43 -0.36    0.67  -0.64
Mitchell    20  -1  52 -13  0.41 -0.22    0.68  -0.37
Sioux Falls 21   2  47 -12  0.90  0.23    1.28   0.10
								
Custer      28   1  57  -8  0.61  0.03    0.81  -0.13
Hot Springs 31   2  62  -9  1.08  0.66    1.30   0.58
Oelrichs    29   1  61 -15  0.52  0.02    0.67  -0.23
Porcupine   28   3  66 -10  0.69  0.33    1.12   0.53
								
Murdo       25   3  63  -7  0.15 -0.30    0.35  -0.43
Winner      29   3  64  -8  0.21 -0.44    0.50  -0.66
								
Armour      25   1  56 -16  0.44 -0.29    0.48  -0.77
Centerville 19  -2  50 -14  0.91  0.07    1.53   0.25
Marion      19   0  49 -13  0.57 -0.15    0.94  -0.32
Pickstown   24   0  58 -11  0.55  0.00    0.71  -0.24
Vermillion  23  -2  54 -17  0.98  0.43    1.55   0.61
Yankton     21  -2  53 -15  0.96  0.45    1.70   0.81



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