Released: March 29, 2004 -- 3:00 pm CST For Month ending March 28, 2004 SD-CW1304 Volume 53 Issue 13

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:    South Dakota experienced fairly mild weather for the month of March. Several areas of the state received precipitation, but many producers feel that more rain is needed to improve soil moisture levels, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major farm activities included hauling grain, calving and lambing, feeding livestock, and preparing for small grain seeding. The majority of farmers are preparing for spring fieldwork, with many getting an early start spreading fertilizer and seeding small grains. This report is based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.

WEATHER INFORMATION:   Average temperatures for March were in the 30's and lower 40's, which is approximately 7.5 degrees above normal for the month. Temperatures ranged from a high of 84 degrees in Pickstown, to a low of 1 degree in Webster. All of the 43 reporting weather stations received precipitation, with Yankton receiving the most moisture, at 3.55 inches.

SOIL CONDITION:    This spring has started with somewhat better soil moisture levels than last year. Topsoil moisture is rated at 39 percent very short to short, compared to last year's 56 percent. Subsoil moisture is currently rated at 61 percent very short to short, compared to last year's 69 percent. Soil temperatures from reporting stations averaged 45.3 degrees, 9.3 degrees above normal for this time of year.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:    While some producers have already reported spring field activity, on average across the state, March 31st is expected to be the starting date for fieldwork. This is one week earlier than last year's expected start date for fieldwork. Seeding of small grains has started in some areas, with seedings ahead of last year and the five-year averages. Barley and oats are both 3 percent seeded, with spring wheat 7 percent seeded. Winter wheat progress is reported at 74 percent breaking dormancy, comparable to last year's 75 percent. The condition of winter wheat is rated at 77 percent fair to excellent, equaling the rating from one year ago.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    Calving and lambing season is in full swing, with 37 percent of the calving and 47 percent of the lambing complete for the state. Calf death loss during March was rated 23 percent below average, 74 percent average, and 3 percent above average. Cattle deaths during the month were rated at 28 percent below average, 71 percent average, and 1 percent above average. Sheep and lamb deaths were rated at 14 percent below average and 86 percent average. While cattle and sheep were reported in mostly fair to excellent condition, range and pasture condition is only rated 59 percent fair to excellent. Many producers need precipitation to promote regrowth in their pastures, as well as to improve their stock water supply. Stock water supplies for the state are rated 34 percent very short, 23 percent short, 42 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Feed supplies are reported at 72 percent adequate to surplus.

                FEED AND WATER SUPPLIES COMPARISON
                           AS OF MARCH 28, 2004 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      6    22    NA     34     18   NA
Short      22    35    NA     23     34   NA
Adeq.      66    42    NA     42     46   NA
Surplus     6     1    NA      1      2   NA



                    SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
                           AS OF MARCH 28, 2004 

               TOPSOIL         SUBSOIL
         This   Last  Last  This   Last  Last
RATING   Week   Week  Year  Week   Week  Year
                       Percent
Very 
 Short     13    NA    19     32     NA    31
Short      26    NA    37     29     NA    38
Adeq.      60    NA    44     38     NA    30
Surplus     1    NA     0      1     NA     1


                         CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
                           AS OF MARCH 28, 2004 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                          Percent
Winter Wheat   7      16     46      29      2
Cattle         0       1     25      60     14
Sheep          0       0     24      61     15
     



                  CROP PROGRESS AS OF MARCH 28, 2004  1/
                                                       
                                                                         
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Barley        
 seeded               3     NA      1       0
Spring wheat 
 seeded               7     NA      1       3
Oats        
 seeded               3     NA      1       2
1/ Percents represent all acreage in or beyond each stage. 



               SOIL TEMPERATURES WEEK ENDING March 28, 2004
                               (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP

Beresford      50              Gettysburg   43
Brookings      46              Nisland      46
Caputa         44              Pierre       47
Chamberlain    48              Redfield     39
Cottonwood     50              Watertown    42
   

                                                     

	         TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION
                  MONTH ENDING March 28, 2004
                                     

             TEMPERATURE   -----  PRECIPITATION -----    
             -----------                 SINCE  SINCE  
            CURRENT WEEK    CURR  CURR   JAN 1  JAN 1  
STATION     AVG DFN HI  LO  WEEK  DFN    TOTAL    DFN  
-------     --  --  --  -- -----  -----  -----  -----  
Bison       38   8  70  12  0.62  -0.39  1.80   -0.05
Buffalo     38   7  73  14  0.22  -0.30  0.41   -0.72
Dupree      39   8  71  12  0.83  -0.09  1.55   -0.04
Mc Intosh   36   7  71  10  0.61  -0.11  1.43    0.04
Newell      37   6  71  10  1.21   0.51  1.46    0.04
Timber Lake 37   7  70  12  1.44   0.39  2.19    0.33
								
Aberdeen    37   8  72   6  1.74   0.55  2.49    0.43
Eureka      38  10  72   7  1.24   0.40  1.39   -0.09
Faulkton    37   8  75   6  2.10   0.93  2.60    0.62
Mobridge    38   9  75   8  0.89  -0.13  1.03   -0.77
Roscoe      34   5  73   4  2.59   1.57  3.10    1.30
								
Britton     36   8  69   4  1.04   0.32  1.80    0.17
Clear Lake  34   6  71   2  1.04  -0.46  1.90   -0.86
Sisseton    36   6  69   4  1.11  -0.07  1.70   -0.61
Webster     34   7  69   1  1.97   0.98  2.93    0.74
Watertown   36   7  71   4  0.95  -0.31  1.31   -1.10
								
Faith       37   7  71  10  0.62  -0.32  0.72   -0.99
Milesville  39   7  74  10  1.40   0.39  1.99    0.16
Long Valley 41   8  78  16  1.21   0.10  1.98    0.23
Philip      41   8  77  16  0.65  -0.26  0.81   -0.75
Rapid City  40   7  78  16  1.52   0.61  1.94    0.10
Spearfish   40   8  77   7  1.61   0.28  2.42   -0.23
								
Chamberlain 40   7  82  14  2.64   1.58  3.20    1.53
Highmore    39   8  74   8  2.12   1.01  2.27    0.31
Huron       40   9  78   8  2.70   1.20  3.16    0.53
Onida       40   9  74  13  2.34   1.19  2.74    0.53
Pierre      40   8  76  15  2.18   1.17  2.36    0.42
								
Brookings   35   7  72   4  1.14   0.03  1.80   -0.07
Madison     37   8  73   5  1.20  -0.46  1.87   -1.10
Mitchell    38   7  76  11  2.24   0.80  2.92    0.43
Sioux Falls 39   8  75   9  2.21   0.74  3.49    0.84
								
Custer      36   6  69   9  0.67  -0.19  1.48   -0.32
Hot Springs 42   6  80  13  0.86   0.17  2.16    0.75
Oelrichs    41   6  83  11  1.17   0.25  1.84    0.02
Porcupine   41   8  83  13  1.50   0.69  2.62    1.22
								
Murdo       39   8  76  17  2.10   0.74  2.45    0.31
Winner      43   8  82  16  2.83   1.31  3.58    0.90
								
Armour      42   8  83  12  2.89   1.40  3.37    0.63
Centerville 39   8  79  11  2.64   1.26  4.17    1.51
Marion      38   8  77  10  2.42   0.84  3.36    0.52
Pickstown   41   8  84  17  1.91   0.51  2.62    0.27
Vermillion  43   7  80  14  3.26   1.72  4.81    2.33
Yankton     40   8  83  12  3.55   2.06  5.25    2.87




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