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Fieldwork interrupted by snowsSouth Dakota Field work progressed quickly for the first part of the week ending April 27, but it was interrupted in eastern South Dakota due to winterlike snow storm late in the week, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, South Dakota Field Office, April 28. There were 3.5 days suitable for fieldwork in the past week. Farm activities focused on preparing equipment, seeding of small grain, calving and lambing activities, and general care of livestock. A relatively warm early part of the week ended abruptly late in the week as another spring snow storm hit much of the eastern third of the state, according to the State Climate Office of South Dakota. Most of the storm area received at least a few inches of snowfall. A swath of heavier snows extended from Charles Mix County to the northeast corner of the state with more than a foot of wet snow occurring in the core of this area, setting many daily and monthly records for total snow and lateness of major snow accumulation. The additional moisture slowed field work and dropped soil temperatures back into the lower 40s. As is usual with late spring storms, the snow cover was quickly disappearing. Overall temperatures ended the week at 3 F to 12 F below average. This continues a stretch of overall colder than average temperatures starting to manifest itself in below average GDD accumulation since April 1. Most of the state received some precipitation, but outside the major snow area, precipitation totals were light, generally less than 0.5 inch. This, again, left the very dry western areas with little relief from drought conditions. A spring storm led to a decrease in soil temperature in some areas. The highest soil temperature was recorded in Oacoma at 52 F. The lowest temperature of 43 F was recorded in Aberdeen, Brookings, Bowdle, and South Shore. The U.S. Drought Monitor continues to rate 11.6 percent of South Dakota in severe drought conditions. Spring fieldwork and crop progress advanced normally for the beginning of the week, but growers in eastern South Dakota experienced a significant set-back due to inclement weather in the latter part of the week. Reporters expressed concerns that the snowfall may keep many operators out of the field for most of the upcoming week. Winter wheat breaking dormancy advanced 5 percentage points from last week, now up to 97 percent. Winter wheat conditions are now rated at 57 percent good to excellent, compared to 64 percent last week. Barley, oats, and spring wheat seedings progressed to 34 percent, 47 percent, and 50 percent seeded, respectively. Small grain seeding progress is generally ahead of last year at this time, but well behind the five-year average. Feed supplies, rated at 84 percent adequate to surplus, were ahead of last year's estimate at 70 percent adequate to surplus and ahead of the five-year average at 71 percent. Stock water supplies are rated at 74 percent adequate to surplus, matching last year's average but ahead of the five-year average. Range and pasture conditions are rated at 48 percent good to excellent, up one percentage point from last week. Calving has progressed to 79 percent complete, matching last year and only 1 percentage point behind the five-year average. Calf death losses are rated at 14 percent below average, 80 percent average, and 6 percent above average. Reporters conveyed that the weekend snow storm was putting stress on young calves. Thirteen percent of cattle have been moved out to pasture, up 4 percentage points from last week. Lambing is estimated at 86 percent complete, and sheep and lamb death losses are rated at 25 percent below average, 73 percent average and 2 percent above average. 5/5/08 Date: 4/30/08
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