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Weather hinders field workSouth Dakota Mild temperatures and precipitation during the week ending April 22 limited fieldwork again, with only 2.9 days suitable for fieldwork throughout the state, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, South Dakota Field Office, April 23. Western areas in the state, however, were still able to make significant progress in small grain seeding, with some scattered areas in the east reporting early signs of corn planting. Major farm activities included preparing for fieldwork, seeding small grains, repairing fences, fertilizing, calving, and lambing. The first large-scale severe weather event occurred over the weekend with large hail, heavy rains, and a few tornadoes. Few crops have reached the stage to have much damage done. Some structural damage did occur with the large hail. The heavy rainfall (some more than two inches) in places in the eastern part of the state will slow field work and some fields returned to being under water. Most of the state saw precipitation through the week. Again, most of the western part of the state saw only light precipitation amounts. But a few locations such as Custer and Rapid City recorded over an inch late in the week. Temperatures rebounded during the week starting to dry out soils and add some growing degree days for planted crops. GDDs are actually above average at many locations around the state since April 1. Soil temperatures showed significant warming last week. Oacoma recorded the week's highest average soil temperature at 55 F, while South Shore and Brookings had the lowest at 42 F. Topsoil moisture is rated at 93 percent adequate to surplus, compared to last year's 89 percent. Meanwhile, subsoil moisture is rated at 69 percent adequate to surplus, below last year's 74 percent. Small grain seeding progress was made early last week, with rains later in the week bringing fieldwork to a standstill in several areas. Mixed temperatures continue to hinder winter wheat development and cause concern about winterkill, yet conditions improved to have 60 percent rated good to excellent. Small grain seeding advanced last week, yet both seeding progress and emergence remain behind normal. Barley seeding is 15 percent complete, with 2 percent emerged. Oats seeding advanced to 30 percent complete, with 7 percent emerged. Spring wheat is rated at 30 percent seeded, with 9 percent emerged, well behind the five-year averages of 68 percent seeded and 20 percent emerged. Recent rains were beneficial to stock water supplies, with feed supplies holding steady. Stock water supplies increased to 72 percent adequate to surplus, with feed supplies estimated at 67 percent adequate to surplus. livestock remain in mostly good to excellent condition, with range and pasture conditions decreasing slightly, to 34 percent rated good to excellent. Muddy ground may have slowed movement of cattle to pastures, with reports of some farmers and ranchers not wanting to damage grasses by returning livestock to pastures at this point. Seventeen percent of cattle have been moved to pastures, 1 percent behind last year's progress. Calving and lambing advanced to levels slightly ahead of the five-year averages, with calving 75 percent complete and lambing 81 percent complete. Calf and sheep and lamb deaths remain at mostly average or below average levels. B 6 4/30/07 6 Star Midwest Ag Date: 4/25/07
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