Return to the List of 1999 Crop Weather Reports

Released: March 1, 1999 -- 3:00 p.m. For February 1999 Volume 48 Issue 02

GENERAL
Mild weather conditions dominated the state during February, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service, with moderate temperatures and little snowfall recorded across the region. Many producers took advantage of the mild temperatures to haul grain, spread fertilizer, and prepare machinery for spring seeding. The latter part of the month brought a snowstorm with significant snowfall totals to several areas of the state. Warm temperatures and sunshine prevailed as the month ended. The average snow depth across the state was 1.6 inches.

Based on information from county agents and farm service agency county directors.


CROPS
February continued the mild and sunny conditions from the previous month. At month's end, winter wheat condition was rated as 9 percent excellent, 75 percent good, 15 percent fair, and 1 percent poor. Winter rye condition was rated as 10 percent excellent, 69 percent good, 19 percent fair, and 2 percent poor. Snow cover was minimal for the month, as the only significant snowfall occurred the latter part of the month. Warm temperatures and sunshine quickly melted the snow that accumulated. As February ended, snow cover protection for alfalfa was rated 1 percent excellent, 29 percent adequate, and 70 percent poor. Snow cover for winter wheat was 1 percent excellent, 25 percent adequate, and 74 percent poor. Winter rye snow cover was 1 percent excellent, 34 percent adequate, and 65 percent poor. There is concern about snow coverage for crops as the winter season winds down. Many areas of the state have fall seeded crops and alfalfa laying dormant with little to no snow cover, posing a risk of winterkill. The lack of snow cover and the high winds in the western part of the state have caused some soil erosion. Some reports indicate that if the mild weather patterns continue, spring fieldwork will start earlier than expected.


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Livestock producers benefitted from the mild temperatures, with livestock showing little to no stress and producers using less of their feed stocks. Cattle and sheep remain in good to excellent condition. Calving and lambing season has started in most areas of the state, with only a few reports of coyotes being a problem. During February, calf death losses were rated as 31 percent below normal and 69 percent normal. Cattle death losses were rated 33 percent below normal, 66 percent normal, and 1 percent above normal. Sheep and lamb death losses were rated 17 percent below normal and 83 percent normal. Hay and roughage supplies were 3 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus. Stock water supplies were 1 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. 


             


     CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
_____________________________________

Item    V Poor Poor Fair Good Excel
_____________________________________


Percent
Winter Wht   0  1    15   75    9
Winter Rye   0  2    19   69    10
Cattle       0  0    10   65    25
Sheep        0  0     8   69    23
_____________________________________

               

									
		         Air Temperatures		 Precipitation			
				 		 			
Dist.   Station	       Avg   DFN  High  Low  Totals  Since   DFN   Since 
	 	 	  	 	 	     Jan 1	   Jan 1
   
NW	Buffalo	     	33   10    62    14   0.60  1.12   0.30    0.60
									
NC	Aberdeen	30   14	   59	 2    0.23  0.86  -0.24	  -0.01
NC	Leola          	28   11	   56	-2    0.43  1.03  -0.07    0.36
NC	Mobridge	31   13	   55	 3    0.07  0.29  -0.35	  -0.28
NC	Roscoe		26   10	   56	-1    0.45  1.06   0.05    0.50
								
NE	Britton		28   12	   57	-9    0.11  1.35  -0.33	  -0.22
NE	Sisseton	27   11	   56	-3    0.16  1.35  -0.41	  -0.25
NE	Watertown_SD	28   12	   58	-1    0.18  1.08  -0.40   -0.22
NE	Webster		26   11	   55	-5    0.23  1.52  -0.36   -0.13
								
WC	Faith_AP	35   14	   64	18    0.03  0.74  -0.45	  -0.42
WC	Lead		34    8	   64	 9    0.93  2.55  -0.55	   0.38
WC	Philip_AP	39   15	   73	17    0.32  0.76  -0.05	   0.27
WC	Rapid_City	38   12	   72	16    0.02  0.22  -0.50	  -0.48
							
C	Chamberlain_Ag	34   11	   67	13    0.47  0.85   0.10    0.57
C	Highmore	33   13	   62	 9    0.10  0.40  -0.39	  -0.29
C	Huron		33   15	   63	 9    0.31  0.50  -0.37   -0.06
C	Pierre		38   16	   66	15    0.16  0.64  -0.32   -0.16
						
EC	Brookings_Ag	27   12	   55	 0    0.07  0.80  -0.35	  -0.28
EC	Madison_Resrch	29   12	   58	 5    0.11  0.30  -0.64   -0.53
EC	Mitchell_Ag	32   12	   65	10    0.48  0.90  -0.12	   0.36
EC	Sioux_Falls	31   12	   57	10    0.29  0.65  -0.35	  -0.06
							
SW	Custer		32    6    55	11    0.01  0.46  -0.55   -0.54
SW	Hot_Springs	38    8	   66	11    0.17  0.72  -0.23	  -0.06
SW	Porcupine	38   14	   71	14    0.45  1.02   0.11	   0.56
								
SC	Bonesteel	34   13    70	14    0.42  2.52  -0.23	   0.19
SC	Mission_14S	35   13	   70	12    0.60  0.95   0.60	   1.20
SC	Murdo		36   15	   66	16    0.42  2.05   0.00    0.42
SC	Winner		37   11	   66	15    0.28  0.56  -0.34   -0.06
									
SE	Armour		36   13	   66	12    0.70  1.08   0.01	   0.71
SE	Vermillion	35   12	   66	 7    0.25  0.49  -0.27	  -0.02
SE	Yankton		33   11	   67	 8    0.41  0.56  -0.07	   0.34
South Dakota county map showing snow depth

                                     
 
 
 
South Dakota county map showing topsoil moisture South Dakota county map showing subsoil moisture

Topsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
Black & White Crosshatched Topsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
Subsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
Black & White Crosshatched Subsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
 

Return to the List of 1999 Crop Weather Reports