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Spring-like weather helps improve field conditionsSouth Dakota Weather conditions helped to facilitate the drying of South Dakota fields during the week ending April 20, allowing an acceleration of fieldwork and crop progress, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, South Dakota Field Office, April 21. There were 3.2 days suitable for fieldwork in the past week. Farm activities focused on application of fertilizer, seeding of small grain, calving and lambing activities, and general care of livestock. Some spring-like weather finally spread over the whole state improving conditions for fieldwork during the week, according to the State Climate Office of South Dakota. Little precipitation occurred during the week across the state. A large portion of south central to northeast South Dakota received no precipitation during the week. Most areas that reported precipitation in the northeast quarter of the state and the far southeast were quite modest, only up to a couple tenths. There were a couple locations that did receive over four-tenths during the week. With the lack of precipitation, warmer than average temperatures, and windy conditions for most of the week, there was a good amount of surface drying. Soil temperatures also rebounded everywhere, moving well into the 40s over the whole state by the weekend. The lack of precipitation was helpful for soil temperature recovery, but not so much for precipitation deficits. Note the precipitation deviations in the short term and long term. Nearly the whole state is below average precipitation for April. Longer term deficits continue throughout much of the western part of the state, particularly the northwest, where deficits range to over 2 inches since October 1. Mostly dry weather, warmer temperatures and windy conditions led to dryer and increased soil temperatures across the state. The lowest 4-inch soil temperature was recorded in Redfield at 39 F, and the highest was recorded in Oacoma and Pierre, at 52 F. The U.S. Drought Monitor currently rates 11.6 percent of South Dakota in severe drought conditions covering an area in the northwest corner and the extreme southwest corner of the state. Minimal precipitation and windy conditions across the state allowed increased progress in spring fieldwork across South Dakota. Topsoil moisture, now rated at 87 percent adequate to surplus, decreased slightly from last weeks rating of 90 percent. Subsoil moisture also decreased from last week, this week rated at 78 percent adequate to surplus, down from last weeks 80 percent. Winter wheat breaking dormancy advanced 20 percentage points from last week, now up to 92 percent. There have been a few reports of army cutworms in the winter wheat crop, while it is not yet decided if it warrants additional pesticide applications from producers. Winter wheat conditions are now rated at 64 percent good to excellent, compared to 58 percent last week. Barley, oats, and spring wheat seedings made significant progress from last week, now estimated at 17 percent, 31 percent, and 34 percent, respectively. Feed supplies remain stable, this week rated at 86 percent adequate to surplus, ahead of last year's estimate at 68 percent adequate to surplus and ahead of the five-year average at 70 percent. Stock water supplies are rated at 77 percent adequate to surplus, also ahead of last year and the five-year average. Range and pasture conditions have improved slightly to 47 percent good to excellent, up 2 percentage points from last week. Calving has progressed to 70 percent complete, just 2 percentage points behind both last year and the five-year average. Calf death losses are rated at 16 percent below average, 79 percent average and 5 percent above average. Nine percent of cattle have been moved out to pasture, up 4 percentage points from last week. Lambing is estimated at 82 percent complete and sheep and lamb death losses are rated at 28 percent below average, 71 percent average and 1 percent above average. 4/28/08 Date: 4/30/08
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