Spring planting is making slow progress with only 2.1 days suitable for fieldwork in the past seven days. Cool temperatures continue to delay germination of grains that have been seeded and the percent emerged is still well behind last year and the five year averages. Farm activities included preparing equipment for planting, fertilizing, caring for livestock, calving and lambing.
This report was based on information from county extension educators, Farm Service Agency county directors, and other reporters across the state.
Conditions improved slightly across the state last week as precipitation was lighter and temperatures were slightly warmer allowing some small progress in field work.
Average temperatures were in the 40°s to low 50°s statewide, according to the State climate Office of South Dakota. This was an improvement over previous weeks, but still below average. Most of the state was 1-5° F below average. Daily temperatures did reach the 70°s F while the coldest temperatures fell below freezing again. Winner and Academy had the highest temperature of the week at 78° F; Custer had the low at 21° F. Growing degree day accumulations are still well below average at all locations across the state.
Precipitation totals across the state were fairly light (generally less than 0.5 inches) except for a few locations across the east.
Only a few stations received above average precipitation for the week. Vermillion had the highest total for the week at 1.22 inches; Mission and Philip received the least with no recorded precipitation. Another 24 stations received less than 0.25 inches for the week.
Soil temperatures at the 4 inch depth continued slow improvement. Most of the state stayed in the 40°s F with a few 50°s F in more central areas. Cottonwood had the warmest soil temperature at 51° F; South Shore remained the lowest at 43° F.
Despite last week's cool temperatures, small grains all made slight advances in the percent planted over the last week, but are still well behind last year's progress.
Spring wheat planting is estimated at 22 percent for the state, compared to 74 percent last year and 68 percent for the five-year average.
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