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Released: April 19, 1999 -- 3:00 p. For Week Ending April 18, 1999 Volume 48 Issue 6

GENERAL
Continued precipitation, mainly in the form of rain, limited fieldwork across the state, according to the USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. The added moisture produced muddy cattle yards, resulting in movement of cattle to pasture. Producers anxiously await warmer, dryer weather conditions enabling further field preparation and planting. Statewide, there were 1.8 days suitable for fieldwork. A few activities producers have engaged in, in spite of unfavorable weather conditions, include fixing equipment and fences, and spraying fertilizer.

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

SOIL MOISTURE
Soil conditions across the state are reported to be mostly adequate, with areas of surplus topsoil and subsoil moisture in the extreme southeast part of the state. 



   


 SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON - APRIL 16 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      0     0    0     0     0     0
Short       0     2    7     0     3     3
Adeq.      64    68   74    68    70    74
Surplus    36    30   19    32    27    23


CROPS
Despite more moisture moving across the area, seeding of small grains was still accomplished last week. Spring wheat, at 31 percent seeded, is 9 points ahead of last week; while the oat crop is 28 percent seeded and barley is 17 percent seeded. Winter wheat condition was rated as 24 percent excellent, 64 percent good, 11 percent fair, and 1 percent poor. Winter rye condition was rated as 25 percent excellent, 59 percent good, and 16 percent fair. Statewide, 97 percent of the winter wheat and 90 percent of winter rye have broken dormancy. 




    CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - APRIL 18

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   0       1     11      64     24
Winter Rye     0       0     16      59     25
Cattle         0       0      7      70     23
Sheep          0       0     10      64     26
Range & 
   Pasture     1       4     14      63     18


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Although coolertemperatures and rainfall continued throughout the state, cattle remained in good to excellent condition. Sheep were rated as 10 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 26 percent in excellent condition. Calving and lambing season continues, with 62 percent calving completed and 70 percent lambing completed. Some stress on newborn calves has been noted, with a few reports of scours brought on by the fluctuation in temperatures and moisture. Newborn calf deaths were 28 percent below average, 69 percent average, and 3 percent above average. Newborn lamb deaths were 27 percent below average, 72 percent average, and 1 percent above average. Operators have moved 13 percent of the cattle out to pasture. Feed supplies are 3 percent short, 85 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. Stock water supplies are 1 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 28 percent surplus. Some reports indicate presence of army cutworms in alfalfa.

WEATHER
Average temperatures across the state were below normal, with a range of 35 to 46 degrees. Pierre reported the highest temperature of 77 degrees. The lowest temperature was 12 degrees in Porcupine. Yankton received the most precipitation for the week, totaling 2.05 inches. 


             



  CROP PROGRESS - APRIL 18
                                                                                     
                This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM            Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
  
                         Percent
Barley  
 seeded          17     13     26     10   
Spring wheat
 seeded          31     22     35     13   
Oats       
 seeded          28     25     26     14   
____________________________________________
  

              SOIL TEMPERATURES
        FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 18, 1999
                (4-Inch Depth) 

LOCATION       TEMP           LOCATION    TEMP

Beresford     43.9          Gettysburg    46.8
Brookings     42.0          Nisland       44.0
Caputa        44.8          Pierre        46.3
Chamberlain   47.3          Redfield      42.6
Cottonwood    44.4          Watertown     41.4



                  AIR  
                  TEMP        PRECIPITATION     JAN  APR  GDD BASE 
      STATION AVG DFN  HI  LO WEEKLYTOTALTOTAL  DFN   DFN TOTADFN
                                               
NW   Buffalo   40  -5  65  20  0.01 2.12 0.90  0.23  0.19   1 -12

NC   Aberdeen  42  -4  69  23  0.11 2.73 0.94 -0.56 -0.17  11  -7
     Leola     44  -1  67  24  0.08 3.93 1.91  0.50  0.63  10  -5
     Mobridge  43  -3  72  19  0.00 1.13 0.63 -1.95 -0.55  16   2
     Roscoe    40  -5  71  22  0.00 3.77 1.85  0.53  0.53   5 -10

NE   Britton   43  -3  68  23  0.06 3.64 1.00  0.93  0.00  12  -6
     Sisseton  42  -5  68  23  0.07 4.25 1.50  0.55  0.23   7 -11
     Watertown 42  -3  67  25  0.00 3.36 0.73  0.07 -0.27   9  -6
     Webster   41  -4  66  20  0.03 2.56 1.01 -1.19 -0.21  13  -1

WC   Faith     43  -3  69  21  0.02 1.95 1.05 -0.90  0.01  14  -4
     Lead      38  -3  61  20  0.34 7.63 3.33  0.17  1.10   0  -7
     Philip    43  -5  73  19  0.02 2.59 1.53  0.02  0.60  19  -2
     Rapid Cit 42  -4  70  21  0.18 2.31 1.21 -0.67  0.17   9  -4

C    Chamberla 42  -7  72  22  0.03 4.31 2.54  1.41  1.41  15 -11
     Highmore  44  -3  71  16  0.05 2.36 1.36 -1.03  0.04  14  -3
     Huron     45  -3  70  25  0.20 3.05 2.22 -0.90  1.02  28   8
     Pierre    46  -2  77  22  0.19 3.23 2.13  0.04  0.98  32  12

EC   Brookings 41  -4  66  24  0.69 4.91 2.89  1.75  1.71   6  -6
     Madison   42  -4  67  21  0.69 4.58 3.82  0.07  2.42  10  -4
     Mitchell  44  -4  71  27  0.55 8.21 5.84  4.20  4.46  21  -1
     Sioux Fal 43  -5  69  21  0.32 5.58 3.78  1.35  2.34  16  -3

SW   Custer    35  -6  61  14  0.20 2.03 1.23 -0.82  0.26   2  -3
     Hot Sprin 44  -4  71  15  0.04 3.96 2.38  1.63  1.54   8 -19
     Porcupine 42  -4  73  12  0.09 4.25 2.50  1.89  1.62   7  -7

SC   Bonesteel 42  -5  71  24  0.05 6.35 2.53  2.07  1.01  16   1
     Mission   42  -3  72  21  0.04 4.03 2.56  0.98  1.53  13   0
     Murdo     44  -3  74  23  0.07 4.91 1.82  1.42  0.59  15   1
     Winner    44  -6  73  22  0.00 4.71 3.15  0.38  1.65  27  -5

SE   Armour    46  -4  71  26  0.14 5.71 3.85   1.5  2.52  27  -3
     Vermillio 45  -6  68  24  1.08 5.88 4.86  1.93  3.54  31  -9
     Yankton   45  -4  71  29  2.05 6.74 5.26  3.09  4.12  21  -4
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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