Crop Progress and Pasture Conditions

South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS – For the week ending April 1, 2018, there were 0.2 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 6 percent very short, 22 short, 69 adequate, and 3 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 13 percent very short, 32 short, 54 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 15 poor, 67 fair, 17 good, and 0 excellent.

North Dakota

FARGO, N.D. – For the week ending April 1, 2018, there were 0.1 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 9 percent very short, 34 short, 53 adequate, and 4 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 13 percent very short, 37 short, 49 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Winter wheat condition rated 4 percent very poor, 10 poor, 54 fair, 30 good, and 2 excellent.

Livestock Report: Cattle and calf conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 2 poor, 21 fair, 71 good, and 5 excellent. Cattle and calf death loss rated 5 percent heavy, 58 average, and 37 light. Calving progress was 39 percent complete, near 40 last year and 35 for the five-year average.

Sheep and lamb conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 3 poor, 19 fair, 69 good, and 9 excellent. Sheep and lamb death loss rated 2 percent heavy, 51 average, and 47 light. Lambing progress was 62 percent complete, near 59 last year, and ahead of 49 average.

Hay and roughage supplies rated 9 percent very short, 30 short, 60 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Stock water supplies rated 4 percent very short, 23 short, 72 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Minnesota

Limited field activities occurred across Minnesota with only 0.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 1, 2018, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Precipitation and cool soil temperatures were reported across the state. Reported field activities for the week were minimal with some farmers spreading manure when the ground was solid enough to support the machines. Farmers were also working on preparing equipment for the spring planting season.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 36 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 4 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus.

Respondents reported widespread snow cover as well as most areas still having considerable frost in the soil. Cattle producers continued spring calving.

Iowa

A cold, wet week prevented fieldwork across most of Iowa during the week ending April 1, 2018, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there was just 0.4 day suitable for fieldwork.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 3 percent very short, 9 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 4 percent very short, 14 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Northwest Iowa reported the highest surplus subsoil moisture level at 22 percent while parts of south central and southeast Iowa remain in abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions according to the March 27, 2018, U.S. Drought Monitor.

Two percent of oats have been planted, 4 days behind last year’s progress at this time and 3 days behind the 5-year average.

Livestock conditions varied across the State. Heavy snow and muddy lots have both presented challenges for calving in many areas.

Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. – For the week ending April 1, 2018, there were 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 18 short, 73 adequate, and 7 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 23 short, 73 adequate, and 2 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 43 fair, 39 good, and 12 excellent.

Oats planted was 10 percent, behind 25 last year and 20 for the five-year average.