>State Statisticsl Report R:rf

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Released: January 3, 2000 -- 3:00 p. For December 1999 Volume 48 Issue 37

GENERAL: The month of December 1999 brought mild temperatures and little snow to South Dakota, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Warm days and dry condi tions prevailed throughout the month, except for one mid-month snow that soon melted. Condi tions have been good for livestock but not fall crops. Producers have been able to tackle many projects for which there is little time in normal years. Major activities include fall field work, preparing cattle yards and pens for winter, preparing for spring lambing/calving, getting a jump on spring tillage, and end of year financial planning. Based on information from county extension educators, farm service agency county directors, and other reporters around the state.
CROPS: The warm, dry conditions during December allowed for additional fall tillage and fertilizer applications but have farmers very concerned for winter crops. Dry conditions have severely impacted fall planted winter wheat stands, causing poor germination and spotty stands. Many late seeded fields have not emerged, and emerged stands are stressed. Crops will deteriorate further if cold weather arrives with no snow cover to protect them. There were no reports of dormancy problems or crop damage yet, but dry conditions have slowed crop devel opment. There were several reports of dormant seeding of small grains and spring wheat.



   CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS - NOV. 14

ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL

                          Percent
Winter Wheat   0      12     40      44      4
Winter Rye     1      13     56      29      1
Cattle         0       0      7      63     30
Sheep          0       0      5      63     42

LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE: Exceptionally mild weather during December allowed ranchers to continue grazing cattle on bean stubble and corn stalks, as well as utilizing pastures. There have been many reports of rapid weight gain on cattle, while producers used little of existing feed stocks. Hay and roughage supplies are rated 1 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 32 percent surplus. Stock dams are down, but the ice is thin and water is still accessible. Stock water supplies are rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Cattle and sheep benefitted from the mild temperatures during December and are in mostly good to excellent condition (93 and 95 percent, respec tively). The mid-month snow did not alleviate dry conditions which have prompted a few reports of coughing problems and dust pneumonia in cattle herds. The extreme fluctuations of day to night temperatures were blamed for several reports of respiratory problems in younger calves. How ever, calf and lamb deaths during December were reported 32 percent below normal and 67 percent normal, with only 1 percent experiencing above normal deaths.


             

                                             
                 AIR                         
             TEMPERATURE      PRECIPITATION  
STATION     HI  LO AVG DFN  TOTAL    DFN 
-------     --  --  --  --  -----   ---- 
Buffalo     56   1  31 +12   0.22  -0.17 
Aberdeen    59 -14  27 +12   0.15  -0.26 
Leola       56 -10  26 +12   0.11  -0.32 
Mobridge    55  -7  29 +13   0.00  -0.47 
Roscoe      55  -8  26 +11   0.13  -0.24 
Britton     59 -12  26 +12   0.13  -0.26 
Sisseton    59 -10  26 +10   0.24  -0.31 
Webster     54 -11  25 +11   0.00  -0.54 
Watertown   53 -13  25 +10   0.05  -0.45 
Faith       58   1  33 +14   0.05  -0.31 
Lead        58   1  31  +7   1.85  +0.32 
Philip      62   2  33 +11   0.15  -0.21 
Rapid City  64   6  35 +11   0.17  -0.30 
Chamberlain 62   0  31 +11   0.08  -0.31 
Highmore    59  -4  27 +10   0.10  -0.32 
Huron       59  -9  29 +11   0.03  -0.44 
Pierre      60  -1  33 +13   0.27  -0.28 
Brookings   53 -19  23  +9   0.16  -0.17 
Madison     55 -10  25 +10   0.18  -0.60 
Mitchell    58  -5  29 +10   0.05  -0.55 
Sioux Falls 56 -12  27  +9   0.07  -0.63 
Custer      58   0  31  +7   0.00  -0.56 
Hot Springs 63   7  34  +8   0.01  -0.35 
Porcupine   67  -4  32 +11   0.23  -0.14 
Bonesteel   63  -1  31 +10   0.16  -0.37 
Mission     63   2  32 +11   0.29  -0.17 
Murdo       60   2  32 +12   0.34  -0.21 
Winner      62   5  34 +10   0.46  -0.15 
Armour      61  -3  30  +9   0.21  -0.51 
Vermillion  60  -9  29  +8   0.60  -0.07 
Yankton     62  -5  28  +8   0.35  -0.19 



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bar chart showing crop progress compared to the last 10 years

South Dakota county map showing topsoil moisture

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

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