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Released: April 5, 1999 -- 3:00 p.m. For Week Ending April 4, 1999 Volume 48 Issue 4

GENERAL
An early-month snow storm brought several inches of snow to the western, northwest, and north-central parts of the state, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service, while the south-central area of the state received some much needed rains. The wet weather slowed, and in parts of the state, halted any fieldwork that was being done. Many producers took advantage of the mild temperatures early in the week to continue with fieldwork, seeding, discing, spreading fertilizer, and hauling grain. Producers report the average date fieldwork started is March 31. Statewide, there were 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork. .

Based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors and other reporters around the state.

SOIL MOISTURE
With the latest storms moving across the state, soil conditions are reported to be mostly adequate. Some areas in the extreme northeast part of the state are reporting surplus topsoil and subsoil moisture. 




SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON - APRIL 2 

               TOPSOIL         SUBSOIL
          This  Last Last  This  Last  Last
RATING    Week  Week Year  Week  Week  Year

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      2    NA    0     0    NA     1
Short      15    NA    3     8    NA     5
Adeq.      66    NA   57    70    NA    66
Surplus    17    NA   40    22    NA    28


CROPS
Last week provided the state with a variety of weather, from heavy snow in the west to rain in the southeast. Winter wheat condition was rated as 25 percent excellent, 55 percent good, 17 percent fair, and 3 percent poor. Winter rye condition was rated as 10 percent excellent, 54 percent good, 34 percent fair, and 2 percent poor. Many producers report winter wheat is greening up nicely, with very little to no winterkill. Statewide, 88 percent of the winter wheat has broken dormancy, along with 46 percent of winter rye. Spring wheat seeding has started in some areas of the state, with 17 percent seeded. Oats seeded is 12 percent and barley seeded is 10 percent, all well ahead of last year and the five-year average. There are reports of producers replanting early-seeded spring wheat due to the high winds blowing soil. 




CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - APRIL 4

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   0       3     17      55     25
Winter Rye     0       2     34      54     10
Cattle         0       0      8      66     26
Sheep          0       1      8      63     28
Range & 
   Pasture     1       5     22      56     16


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
The winter storm that hit the western and north-central parts of the state put some stress on newborn calves. Cattle and sheep conditions remain good to excellent, in spite of the winter weather. Calving and lambing season continues, with 52 percent lambing completed and 38 percent calving completed. There are some reports of twin calves. Lamb deaths from unknown causes were reported around the state. Newborn lamb deaths were 35 percent below average, 64 percent average, and 1 percent above average. Newborn calf deaths were 40 percent below average, 59 percent average, and 1 percent above average. Due to the mild winter and lack of snowfall, producers have been able to move 10 percent of the cattle to pasture. Feed supplies are 5 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus. Stock water supplies are 2 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus.

WEATHER
Average temperatures generally ranged from 32 to 51 degrees statewide. Pierre and Philip had the highest temperature of 84 degrees. The lowest temperature was 12 degrees at Rapid City. A late week snowstorm hit the west, northwest, and north-central areas of the state, with the rest of the state receiving rain, raising the precipitation levels. Roscoe received the highest average precipitation for the week with 1.7 inches. 


             


           CROP PROGRESS - APRIL 4
                                                                                 
                This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM            Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
  
                         Percent
Barley  
 seeded          10     NA      1      0   
Spring wheat
 seeded          17     NA      3      1   
Oats       
 seeded          12     NA      2      1   
__________________________________________


                SOIL TEMPERATURES
           FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 4, 1999
                 (4-Inch Depth) 

LOCATION       TEMP           LOCATION    TEMP

Beresford     43.9          Gettysburg    42.9
Brookings     37.5          Nisland       42.5
Caputa        43.4          Pierre        44.5
Chamberlain   46.0          Redfield      40.1
Cottonwood    42.5          Watertown     38.4



		GROWING DEGREE DAYS, TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION
		      WEEK ENDING SUNDAY, April 4, 1999              


	               AIR         PRECIPITATION
        	   TEMPERATURE    

                                      Since Since  Since   DFN Since
    STATION    AVG  DFN   HI  LO  TOTAL Jan1 April 1 Jan 1  Apr 1
                                                  
NW  Buffalo     34   -5   69  13  0.65  1.86  0.64   0.56   0.52

NC  Aberdeen    41    4   73  23  0.59  2.35  0.56  -0.07   0.32
NC  Leola       41    5   70  21  1.67  3.69  1.67   1.30   1.43
NC  Mobridge    40    3   73  18  0.45  0.95  0.45  -1.19   0.21
NC  Roscoe      39    2   73  21  1.70  3.61  1.69   1.43   1.43

NE  Britton     43    6   70  25  0.54  3.18  0.54   1.28   0.35
NE  Sisseton    43    5   72  26  0.69  3.44  0.69   0.77   0.45
NE  Watertown   44    7   69  23  0.38  1.88  0.33  -0.89   0.09
NE  Webster     40    3   69  26  0.72  3.03  0.40   0.54   0.20

WC  Faith       37   -3   78  17  0.53  1.43  0.53  -0.58   0.33
WC  Lead        32   -5   65  14  1.69  5.99  1.69   0.32   1.25
WC  Philip      41    0   84  16  0.27  1.33  0.27  -0.49   0.09
WC  Rapid City  37   -3   78  12  0.64  1.74  0.64  -0.40   0.44

C   Chamberlain 45    4   79  24  0.07  1.84  0.07  -0.16  -0.16
C   Highmore    43    4   77  20  0.06  1.06  0.06  -1.27  -0.20
C   Huron       46    7   77  22  0.22  1.02  0.19  -1.97  -0.05
C   Pierre      44    4   84  21  0.16  1.26  0.16  -1.01  -0.07

EC  Brookings   45    8   73  25  0.20  2.22  0.20   0.00  -0.04
EC  Madison     44    7   73  21  0.18  0.93  0.17  -2.46  -0.11
EC  Mitchell    48    7   77  23  0.07  2.44  0.07  -0.47  -0.21
EC  Sioux Falls 47    8   73  22  0.07  1.87  0.07  -1.21  -0.22

SW  Custer      33   -4   66  13  0.53  1.33  0.53  -0.73   0.35
SW  Hot Springs 40   -3   78  14  0.96  2.49  0.91   0.84   0.75
SW  Porcupine   39   -1   82  14  0.33  2.08  0.33   0.44   0.17

SC  Bonesteel   45    6   73  24  0.05  3.87  0.05   0.80  -0.26
SC  Mission     41    3   76  21  0.09  1.56  0.09  -0.66  -0.11
SC  Murdo       41    2   80  22  0.16  3.25  0.16   0.74  -0.09
SC  Winner      47    4   76  22  0.12  1.68  0.12  -1.45  -0.18

SE  Armour      48    6   76  27  0.16  2.02  0.16  -1.14  -0.12
SE  Vermillio   51    8   76  23  0.00  1.02  0.00  -1.89  -0.28
SE  Yankton     49    8   77  24  0.13  1.61  0.13  -1.14  -0.11
bar chart showing crop progress compared to the last 10 years

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

Topsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
Subsoil image in 'TIF' format for publishers
 

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