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Released: March 29, 1999 -- 3:00 p.m. For March 1999 Volume 48 Issue 03

GENERAL
The month of March continued the mild weather patterns of the previous month, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricul tural Statistics Service. A couple early-month snow storms around the state reminded producers that winter was still here. By month's end, moderate temperatures and little precipitation dominated the region. Many producers took advantage of the mild temperatures to start fieldwork, seeding, discing, spreading fertilizer, and hauling grain. The reported average date fieldwork will start is March 29, if the mild spring weather con tinues.

Based on information from county extension educators and farm service agency county directors.


CROPS
With the exception of a couple of isolated snow storms, March was mild and sunny. At month's end, winter wheat condition was rated as 15 percent excellent, 69 percent good, 15 percent fair, and 1 percent poor. Winter rye condition was rated as 7 percent excellent, 53 percent good, and 40 percent fair. Many producers reported that winter wheat was greening up nicely with the lack of snow cover and the mild temperatures. As March ended, snow cover protection for alfalfa was rated 1 percent excellent, 5 per cent adequate, and 94 percent poor. Snow cover for winter wheat was 2 percent adequate and 98 percent poor. Winter rye snow cover was 3 percent adequate and 97 percent poor. There have been isolated reports of some winter wheat and alfalfa loss due to the shortage of snow cover. However, many producers report the lack of severe cold prevented a lot of winterkill. There are still reports of high winds and lack of moisture causing some soil erosion.


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
The mild temperatures benefitted producers and livestock. Lack of heavy snow storms has livestock showing little to no stress and has producers using less of their feed stocks. There are reports of surplus hay around the state, with some producers selling surplus hay out of state. Cattle and sheep remain in good to excellent condition. Calving and lambing season is well underway, with 44 percent lambing completed and 25 percent calving completed. There were reports of large numbers of lamb deaths in the DeSmet area, with unknown causes. During March, calf death losses were rated as 31 percent below normal, 68 percent normal, and 1 percent above normal. Cattle death losses were rated 34 percent below normal, 65 percent normal, and 1 percent above normal. Sheep and lamb death losses were rated 25 percent below normal, 74 percent normal, and 1 percent above normal. Hay and rough age supplies are 4 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Stock water supplies are 2 percent short, 80 per cent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. 


             


   CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
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Item    V Poor Poor Fair Good Excel
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Percent
Winter Wht   0  1    15   69    15
Winter Rye   0  0    40   53     7
Cattle       0  0     8   67    25
Sheep        0  0     9   70    21
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                  AIR
              TEMPERATURE               PRECIPITATION
    STATION  AVG   DFN  HI  LO TOTAL Since  DFN  Since 
   				      Jan         Jan   
NW  Buffalo   36    5   78  18  0.10  1.20 -0.43 -0.13

NC  Aberdeen  34    6   62  14  0.93  1.79 -0.29 -0.53
NC  Leola     34    7   63  10  0.99  2.02 -0.06 -0.13
NC  Mobridge  37    7   68  14  0.21  0.50 -0.83 -1.18
NC  Roscoe    32    4   64  12  0.85  1.91 -0.19 -0.14
                                         
NE  Britton   34    6   61  10  1.29  2.64  0.59  0.26
NE  Sisseton  32    3   59   6  1.40  2.75  0.25 -0.16
NE  Watertown 32    4   56  10  0.79  1.87 -0.18 -0.40
NE  Webster   32    3   58   8  0.47  1.99 -0.82 -0.95
                                         
WC  Faith     37    6   74  18  0.16  0.90 -0.80 -1.22
WC  Lead      36    5   69   8  1.58  4.13 -0.58 -0.20
WC  Philip    38    5   75  12   0.3  1.06 -0.63 -0.36
WC  Rapid Cit 36    4   74  11  0.88  1.10 -0.05 -0.53
                                         
C   Chamberla 35    2   75  14  0.92  1.77 -0.16  0.41
C   Highmore  36    6   68   9  0.60  1.00 -0.47 -0.76
C   Huron     36    5   64  12  0.33  0.83 -1.21 -1.27
C   Pierre    39    7   73  17  0.46  1.10 -0.57 -0.73
                                         
EC  Brookings 30    2   57   4  1.22  2.02  0.09 -0.19
EC  Madison   31    4   59   4  0.46  0.76 -1.24 -1.77
EC  Mitchell  34    3   68  15  1.47  2.37  0.00  0.36
EC  Sioux Fal 33    2   58   5  1.15  1.80 -0.35 -0.41                                   
                                         
SW  Custer    33    3   65   9  0.34  0.80 -0.54 -1.08
SW  Hot Sprin 39    3   74  14  0.82  1.54  0.14  0.08
SW  Porcupine 37    4   74  10  0.73  1.75 -0.10  0.46
                                         
SC  Bonesteel 35    3   73  14  1.30  2.25 -0.35 -0.16
SC  Mission   14    6   14  76  0.52  1.47 -0.64  0.56
SC  Murdo     37    6   74  15  1.04  3.09 -0.35 -0.77
SC  Winner    39    3   80  14  0.78  1.34 -0.78 -0.84
                                         
SE  Armour    37    3   74  15  0.78  1.86 -0.68  0.03
SE  Vermillio 36    2   69  13  0.53  1.02 -0.98 -1.00
SE  Yankton   35    3   71  11  0.92  1.48 -0.61 -0.27
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
 

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