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Released: May 3, 1999 -- 3:00 p.m For Week Ending May 2, 1999 Volume 48 Issue 8

GENERAL
Rain showers early in the week slowed fieldwork and corn planting progress for many areas of the state, according to the USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Many producers were unable to return to fields until late in the week and, even then, reports of water standing in low areas were abundant. Corn seeding progress was 7 percent complete as of week's end. Producers are looking for several days of warm, dry conditions in order to complete small grain planting. Reports indicate rapid greening of pastures, which has resulted in a large movement of cattle from cattle yards. Statewide there were 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork.

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

SOIL MOISTURE
Soil moisture across the state is reported to be mostly adequate, while areas in the southeast corner of the state are still reporting surplus topsoil and subsoil moisture condi tions. 



   


 SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION COMPARISON - APRIL 30 

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

                       Percent
Very 
 Short      0     0    1     0     0     0
Short       3     0    8     1     1     6
Adeq.      65    69   69    67    64    70
Surplus    32    31   22    32    35    24


CROPS
Planting of corn progressed this week, despite continued wet conditions across the state, with 7 percent seeded. Spring wheat and oat seeding both increased 16 points from last week, with 73 percent of spring wheat planted and 54 percent of oats. Barley seeding progressed to 51 percent seeded. Spring wheat is reported at 31 percent emerged, 18 points ahead of last week, yet 12 points behind last year's average. Producers report barley and oats emerged are 20 points behind last year's average. 




   CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - MAY 2

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   0       0     12      61     27
Winter Rye     0       1     17      65     17
Alfalfa        0       1     14      57     28
Barley         0       1     32      48     19
Oats           0       0     26      55     19
Spring wheat   0       1     30      51     18
Cattle         0       0      7      69     24
Sheep          0       0      9      61     30
Range & 
   Pasture     0       1     16      63     20


LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE
Producers continue moving cattle to pasture. Calving is reported at 80 percent complete and lambing at 83 percent. Calving and lambing were both at 83% last year. Cattle and sheep are reported to be in fair to excellent condition. Alfalfa hay conditions are 85 percent good to excellent, 14 percent fair, and 1 percent rated poor.

WEATHER
Temperatures averaged above normal for the majority of the state last week, ranging from 1 to 6 degrees above normal. Only four sites recorded temperatures below normal. Sisseton reported the highest temperature at 76 degrees. The lowest temperature was 31 degrees in Custer. Minimal rainfall was recorded across the state, with the most precipitation, 1.12 inches, falling in Brookings. 


             



  CROP PROGRESS - MAY 2
                                                                                     
                This   Last   Last   5-Yr.
ITEM            Week   Week   Year    Ave
  
  
                         Percent
Barley  
 seeded          51     37     82     38   
 emerged         16      4     36     13   
Spring wheat
 seeded          73     57     86     46   
 emerged         31     13     43     17   
Oats       
 seeded          54     38     84     44  
 emerged         21      8     41     16    
Corn    
 planted          7      1     21     10
 emerged          0      0      3      1
Flaxseed
 seeded           9      0     21      6
 emerged          3      0     36      8
Winter wheat
 boot            50     35     24      5 
Winter rye  
 boot             8      0      6      1     
____________________________________________
  

              SOIL TEMPERATURES
          FOR WEEK ENDING MAY 2, 1999
                             (4-Inch Depth) 

LOCATION       TEMP           LOCATION    TEMP

Beresford     49.3          Gettysburg    53.1
Brookings     49.0          Nisland       51.3
Caputa        52.0          Pierre        52.8
Chamberlain   54.8          Redfield      51.1
Cottonwood    51.4          Watertown     53.0



   AIR  
                  TEMP        PRECIPITATION     JAN  APR  GDD BASE 
      STATION AVG DFN  HI  LO WEEKLYTOTALTOTAL  DFN   DFN TOTADFN
                                               
NW   Buffalo   52   3  71  39  0.31 3.53 2.31  0.82  0.78  31 -12

NC   Aberdeen  55   5  72  39  0.46 3.61 1.82 -0.66 -0.27  59  -3
     Leola     55   5  72  39  0.83 4.89 2.87  0.34  0.47  49  -5
     Mobridge  53   4  71  40  0.21 1.85 1.35 -2.30 -0.90  54   1
     Roscoe    53   2  70  38  0.60 5.02 3.10  0.66  0.66  30 -24

NE   Britton   55   5  74  36   0.2 3.88 1.24  0.19 -0.74  67   2
     Sisseton  56   5  76  37  0.27 4.59 1.84 -0.28 -0.60  54 -14
     Watertown 55   6  72  42  0.30 3.76 1.13 -0.53 -0.87  57   1
     Webster   54   3  71  38  0.54  3.1 1.55 -1.78  -0.8  53   0

WC   Faith     51   0  71  39  0.36 3.30 2.40 -0.61  0.30  46 -14
     Lead      50   5  63  36  0.04 8.76 4.46 -0.66  0.27  10 -11
     Philip    53   0  71  38  0.55 3.78 2.72  0.26  0.84  62 -10
     Rapid Cit 52   3  66  38  0.46 3.49 2.39 -0.49  0.35  45   1

C    Chamberla 53  -1  72  41  0.41 5.44 3.67  1.46  1.46  52 -33
     Highmore  53   2  70  39  0.40 3.38 2.38 -1.17 -0.10  51 -12
     Huron     56   5  72  42  0.44 4.07 3.24 -0.93  0.99  89  22
     Pierre    55   3  74  38  0.34 4.42 3.32  0.14  1.08  93  22

EC   Brookings 53   4  72  36  1.12 6.25 4.23  2.04  2.00  35 -10
     Madison   53   2  71  35  0.79 5.61 4.85 -0.03  2.32  45 -10
     Mitchell  54   2  73  38  0.44 9.18 6.81  3.93  4.19  68 -12
     Sioux Fal 53   1  71  35  0.68 6.46 4.66  0.97  1.96  55 -14

SW   Custer    43  -2  58  31  0.62 3.52 2.72  -0.4     1   5 -14
     Hot Sprin 52   0  70  34   0.1 5.82 4.24  2.54  2.45  40 -36
     Porcupine 52   2  70  33  0.54 5.41 3.66  2.11  1.84  48  -4

SC   Bonesteel 53   2  70  41  0.03 6.78 2.96     1 -0.06  53  -6
     Mission   50   0  70  37  0.33 5.73 4.26  1.58  2.13  45  -2
     Murdo     52   2  71  39  0.46 5.83 2.74  1.23   0.4  54  -1
     Winner    53  -3  70  37  0.38 5.79 4.23  0.02  1.29  68 -35

SE   Armour    55   2  72  42  0.56 6.66  4.8  1.26  2.28  86 -10
     Vermillio 55  -2  72  35  0.44  6.5 5.48  1.29   2.9  92 -29
     Yankton   55   2  74  38  0.24 7.08  5.6  2.29  3.32  73 -12
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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