Below Normal Temps Provide Few Days for Fieldwork

SIOUX FALLS - Below normal temperatures have limited the ability for snow to melt and kept soil temperatures at or below freezing across South Dakota.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its weekly crop report that farmers and ranchers had 1.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities included applying fertilizer to wheat, alfalfa and pastures.

Winter wheat conditions were rated 20 percent very poor, 56 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 2 percent good and 0 percent excellent.

Calving was 39 percent, while lambing was 64 percent complete. Two percent of cattle have been reported as moved to pasture.

Cattle and calf conditions were rated 4 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 64 percent good and 6 percent excellent.

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