Released: April 12, 2004 -- 3:00 pm CST For Week ending April 11, 2004 SD-CW1504 Volume 53 Issue 15

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:    With much of South Dakota receiving little or no precipitation last week, moisture levels continue to be a concern for farmers and ranchers across the state, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Major farm activities included calving and lambing, feeding livestock, fixing fences, fertilizer application, disking, seeding of small grains, and preparing for planting of row crops. Statewide there were 6.0 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:   Temperatures averaged in the 40's last week, however, cool temperatures toward the end of the week caused lows to range from the mid- teens to the mid-20's. Huron had the high temperature for the week, at 80 degrees, while the low for the week, 15 degrees, was found in Dupree, McIntosh, and Watertown. Several reporting stations received precipitation last week, with Centerville receiving the most moisture, at 0.17 inch.

SOIL CONDITION:    Last week's mild weather helped soil temperatures increase, with the current average soil temperature for the state at 49.3 degrees, 10.6 degrees above normal. With little moisture being received, topsoil and subsoil moisture levels have remained fairly unchanged. Topsoil moisture is currently rated at 14 percent very short, 30 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is currently rated 33 percent very short, 31 percent short, 35 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.

FIELD CROPS REPORT:    Seeding of small grains advanced significantly during last week's mild weather. Seeding and emergence of barley, oats, and spring wheat are all ahead of last year, as well as the five-year averages. Barley is currently 26 percent seeded and 2 percent emerged, compared to last year's 16 percent seeded with none emerged. Oats are 39 percent seeded and 4 percent emerged. Spring wheat seeding advanced 25 percentage points last week and is currently 44 percent seeded and 4 percent emerged. This is well ahead of the five-year average of 22 percent seeded and 2 percent emerged. Winter wheat condition is similar to last week with ratings of 10 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 5 percent excellent.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE, AND RANGE REPORT:    The mild weather received so far this spring has helped calving and lambing season progress well for the majority of producers. Calving is now 59 percent complete, ahead of last year's 54 percent and the five-year average of 42 percent. Calf deaths remain mostly below average to average. Lambing is currently 65 percent complete, in line with last year and ahead of the five-year average of 53 percent. Sheep and lamb deaths are rated 14 percent below average and 86 percent average. Cattle condition is similar to last week, with 1 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 67 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Sheep condition is also similar to last week with 20 percent fair, 67 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Many farmers and ranchers are concerned about the effect that continued dry weather is having on their range and pastures. Range and pasture condition is similar to last week, with only 23 percent rated good to excellent, compared to the five-year average of 34 percent rated good to excellent. Stock water supplies are rated 48 percent adequate to surplus, compared to last year's 47 percent, and the five-year average of 62 percent. Feed supplies are rated at 73 percent adequate to surplus, well above last year's rating of 44 percent adequate to surplus.

                FEED AND WATER SUPPLIES COMPARISON
                           AS OF April 12, 2004 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      8    23     7     24     20    5
Short      19    33    14     28     33   13
Adeq.      69    42    52     48     46   55
Surplus     4     2     6      0      1    7



                    SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
                           AS OF April 12, 2004 

               TOPSOIL         SUBSOIL
         This   Last  Last  This   Last  Last
RATING   Week   Week  Year  Week   Week  Year
                       Percent
Very 
 Short     14    10    20     33     31    32
Short      30    26    35     31     35    35
Adeq.      55    60    45     35     32    32
Surplus     1     4     0      1      2     1


                         CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
                           AS OF April 12, 2004 

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
                          Percent
Winter Wheat  10      14     34      37      5
Cattle         0       1     19      67     13
Sheep          0       0     20      67     13
Range &                                        
  Pasture     14      24     39      21      2
     



                  CROP PROGRESS AS OF April 12, 2004  1/
                                                       
                                                                         
                    This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM                Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
                         Percent
Barley        
 seeded              26      7     16      12
 emerged              2      1      0       0
Spring wheat 
 seeded              44     19     30      22
 emerged              4      1      1       2
Oats        
 seeded              39     12     26      19
 emerged              4      2      1       1

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



               SOIL TEMPERATURES WEEK ENDING April 12, 2004
                               (4-inch Depth)

LOCATION      TEMP             LOCATION   TEMP

Beresford      47              Gettysburg   49
Brookings      48              Nisland      51
Caputa         48              Pierre       51
Chamberlain    53              Redfield     48
Cottonwood     55              Watertown    45
   

                                                     
            TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, AND GROWING DEGREE DAYS
                        WEEK ENDING April 12, 2004
                                     
             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       47  +6  71  17| 0.00   1.98   0.00  -0.77  -0.73|    25   +15
Buffalo     48  +7  73  19| 0.00   0.41   0.00  -1.21  -0.40|    31   +20
Dupree      45  +3  71  15| 0.03   1.58   0.03  -0.76  -0.57|    19    +8
Mc Intosh   46  +6  71  15| 0.05   1.48   0.05  -0.64  -0.55|    12    +3
Newell      46  +4  73  18| 0.05   1.51   0.05  -0.52  -0.44|    21   +10
Timber Lake 44  +2  71  16| 0.04   2.23   0.04  -0.46  -0.64|    17    +6
Aberdeen    44  +3  74  20| 0.00   2.49   0.00  -0.41  -0.66|     7    -4
Eureka      44  +3  73  19| 0.00   1.39   0.00  -0.87  -0.63|    11    +4
Faulkton    45  +4  75  16| 0.12   2.71   0.12  -0.16  -0.59|    11    +3
Mobridge    45  +4  74  18| 0.02   1.05   0.02  -1.61  -0.68|    16    +5
Roscoe      43  +1  73  17| 0.00   3.10   0.00  +0.34  -0.78|     5    -6
Britton     44  +3  74  19| 0.00   1.54   0.00  -0.80  -0.59|    19    +8
Clear Lake  43  +1  73  19| 0.00   1.97   0.00  -1.77  -0.77|     9    +1
Sisseton    44  +2  76  17| 0.00   1.70   0.00  -1.53  -0.74|    11    +0
Webster     41  -1  74  19| 0.00   2.93   0.00  +0.00  -0.59|    10    -1
Watertown   43  +2  75  15| 0.00   1.37   0.00  -1.95  -0.73|     5    -3
Faith       48  +5  73  18| 0.03   0.75   0.03  -1.71  -0.57|    30   +19
Milesville  47  +3  73  19| 0.03   2.02   0.03  -0.50  -0.52|    28   +13
Long Valley 47  +4  74  21| 0.02   2.00   0.02  -0.63  -0.68|    28   +17
Philip      49  +5  79  19| 0.05   0.86   0.05  -1.36  -0.49|    35   +22
Rapid City  49  +7  76  19| 0.06   2.00   0.06  -0.60  -0.55|    38   +28
Spearfish   46  +4  71  24| 0.06   2.48   0.06  -1.26  -0.82|    23   +12
Chamberlain 47  +2  79  25| 0.08   3.30   0.08  +0.82  -0.58|    18    +2
Highmore    45  +2  74  19| 0.00   2.27   0.00  -0.65  -0.78|    20    +9
Huron       48  +5  80  19| 0.07   3.23   0.07  -0.30  -0.65|    20    +8
Onida       45  +2  74  16| 0.01   2.75   0.01  -0.33  -0.68|    21   +10
Pierre      49  +5  73  20| 0.00   2.36   0.00  -0.41  -0.68|    30   +18
Brookings   44  +3  76  20| 0.00   1.81   0.00  -0.93  -0.70|     4    -2
Madison     45  +4  76  20| 0.03   1.93   0.03  -2.10  -0.82|     3    -6
Mitchell    45  +1  76  24| 0.04   3.00   0.04  -0.53  -0.79|     9    -4
Sioux Falls 47  +3  75  23| 0.01   3.58   0.01  -0.14  -0.85|    14    +3
Custer      42  +4  66  22| 0.11   1.59   0.11  -0.89  -0.45|    13   +13
Hot Springs 46  +2  74  23| 0.08   2.24   0.08  +0.23  -0.40|    23    +5
Oelrichs    47  +2  78  22| 0.08   1.92   0.08  -0.65  -0.52|    28   +14
Porcupine   46  +3  78  16| 0.10   2.72   0.10  +0.69  -0.41|    29   +19
Murdo       49  +7  71  20| 0.13   2.58   0.13  -0.49  -0.62|    29   +20
Winner      50  +4  75  28| 0.00   3.58   0.00  -0.20  -0.89|    41   +19
Armour      48  +2  76  26| 0.10   3.47   0.10  -0.26  -0.68|    22    +1
Centerville 46  +2  74  26| 0.17   4.40   0.17  +0.82  -0.57|    12    +0
Marion      45  +3  75  23| 0.00   3.40   0.00  -0.55  -0.88|     8    -3
Pickstown   48  +4  77  27| 0.10   2.72   0.10  -0.68  -0.74|    14    +0
Vermillion  48  +1  76  26| 0.00   4.81   0.00  +1.35  -0.77|    23    -4
Yankton     47  +3  77  25| 0.00   5.25   0.00  +2.03  -0.66|    16    +1



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