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Released: April 13, 1998 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending April 12, 1998 Volume 47 Issue 5

GENERAL
Fieldwork was limited last week due to rainfall across most of the state, according to the USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. The statewide average starting date for fieldwork is expected to be April 15 this year. Major activities consisted of small grain seeding, spreading fertilizer, spring tillage, fixing fence, calving, lambing and moving cattle. Producers are anxiously awaiting warmer, dryer weather conditions that would allow spring fieldwork to continue. Statewide, there was one day suitable for fieldwork.

This report is based on information from county agents and other reporters around the state. 

SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON
               TOPSOIL          SUBSOIL
          This  Last  Last  This  Last  Last
RATING    Week  Week  Year  Week  Week  Year
                        Percent
Very 
 Short       O     0    0     0     1     0
Short        1     3    0     2     5     1
Adeq.       59    57   28    64    66    33
Surplus     40    40   72    34    28    66


CROPS
With the latest series of storms to move across the state, topsoil moisture was rated as 40 percent surplus, 59 percent adequate, and 1 percent short, while subsoil moisture was 34 percent surplus, 64 percent adequate, and 2 percent short. Winter wheat condition improved last week as 87 percent was reported in good to excellent condition compared to 80 percent a week earlier. Statewide, 93 percent of the winter wheat acreage has broken dormancy along with 79 percent of the winter rye acreage. Winterkill was below normal across the state with damage reported as 22 percent light and 3 percent moderate to winter wheat acreage. Army cutworm problems are being reported in some areas of the state. 

CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS       
ITEM     V POOR    POOR   FAIR   GOOD  EXCEL
                          Percent
Winter Wheat  0       3     10     63     24
Winter Rye    0       1     11     58     30
Livestock     0       1      8     68     23
Range &  
    Pasture   1       7     14     62     16


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Calving and lambing season are well under way, with lambing 63 percent and calving 54 percent complete. The latest series of storms have contributed to the already muddy conditions, making calving difficult. Calf deaths were rated 23 percent below normal, 75 percent normal and 2 percent above normal, while lamb deaths were rated 24 percent below normal, 75 percent normal and 1 percent above normal. Producers are reporting muddy conditions, scours and pneumonia as the major causes of death. Livestock were in good to excellent condition, with 20 percent of the cattle moved to pasture. Feed supplies were rated 3 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Stock water supplies were 1 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus.

WEATHER
Average temperatures generally ranged from 37 to 53 degrees statewide over the last week. Pierre had the highest temperature of 66 degrees. The lowest temperature was 25 degrees at Deerfield. There was rain across the majority of the state, raising the precipitation levels for many areas. Yankton and Sioux City received the highest average precipitation for the week, with 2.13 and 2.02 inches respectively. 

CROP PROGRESS 
                 This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM             Week   Week   Year   Ave
                           Percent
Barley  
 seeded            23      1      0       2   
Spring wheat
 seeded            16      3      1       2 
Oats       
 seeded            12      2      1       2   

AVERAGE SOIL TEMPERATURES
(FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 12, 1998)
(4-inch Depth)
LOCATION       TEMP        LOCATION       TEMP 
Beresford        47        Gettysburg       45
Brookings        43        Nisland          48
Caputa           45        Pierre           46
Chamberlain      45        Redfield         42
Cottonwood       47        Watertown        42

STATION      AVERAGE   AVERAGE    AVERAGE     PRECIPITATION   GROWING
              HIGH       LOW     TEMPERATURE                DEGREE DAYS

SIOUX FALLS    59         38         48            1.24          0
SIOUX CITY     62         40         51            2.02          1
MITCHELL       59         37         48            1.19          0
PICKSTOWN      62         37         50            1.28          0
YANKTON        61         37         49            2.13          0
WINNER         63         38         50            0.05          0
HURON          58         40         49            0.16          0
BROOKINGS      58         36         47            0.88          0
WATERTOWN      55         36         46            0.59          0
KENNEBEC       63         36         50            0.00          0
MURDO          60         38         49            0.24          0
PIERRE         66         40         53            0.16          3
COTTONWOOD     63         34         48            0.19          0
OELRICHS       59         32         46               0          0
RAPID CITY     60         33         46            0.04          0
DEEFIELD       49         25         37            0.50          0
HOT SPRINGS    60         34         47            0.23          0
LEAD           51         29         40            0.46          0
ABERDEEN       53         35         44            0.42          0
MILBANK        0           0          0               0          0
WAUBAY         0           0          0               0          0
MOBRIDGE       61         36         48            0.00          0
FAULKTON       47         38         42            0.09          0
CAMP CROOK     0           0          0               0		 0
MILESVILLE     0           0          0               0		 0
LEMMON         58         35         46            0.00          0