USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) South Dakota State Executive Director Craig Schaunaman encourages farmers and ranchers to enroll in the 2013 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program (DCP) or the Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE) before the June 3, 2013 deadline.

“We understand that producers are busy planting this spring, but they can’t forget to visit their county office and sign up for DCP or ACRE,” said Schaunaman. “Just as farmers and ranchers plan their spring plantings, producers should plan to schedule an appointment to visit their USDA Service Center at the earliest possible time. It’s best to set up an appointment now rather than wait until the day before the deadline,” advised Schaunaman.

The sign-up for both programs began Feb. 19, 2013. The deadline to sign up for ACRE is June 3, 2013. The DCP sign up period ends Aug. 2, 2013.

The 2013 DCP and ACRE program provisions are unchanged from 2012, except that all eligible participants in 2013 may choose to enroll in either DCP or ACRE for the 2013 crop year. This means that eligible producers who were enrolled in ACRE in 2012 may elect to enroll in DCP in 2013, or may re-enroll in ACRE in 2013 (and vice versa).

SIOUX FALLS, SD May 20, 2013 – For the week ending May 19,  2013, above normal temperatures and drier soil accelerated spring planting progress, with 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, South Dakota Field Office.  Most areas of the state received an inch or more of rain, though dry conditions continued for some areas in the western part of the state.  Topsoil moisture supplies rated 70 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies remained smaller at 20 percent very short, 41 percent short, 38 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.  Warmerweather and needed moisture have improved pasture conditions; however, some livestock producers are still feeding hay and are beginning to run short of forage supplies.

Winter wheat conditions are rated 31 percent very  poor, 28 percent poor,  33 percent fair, 8 percent good, and 0 percent excellent. Winter wheat jointed was at 9 percent. Winter wheat headed was 1 percent,behind 35 percent last year and 7 percent average.

Spring wheat seeding rated 91 percent complete, behind last year’s 100 percent but near 94 percent average. Spring wheat emerged was 53 percent complete, also behind last year at 99 percent and 74 percent average.

Corn planting rated 75 percent complete, behind last year at 91 percent but ahead of 69 percent average. Sixteen percent of corn has emerged, behind last year at 60 percent and 24 percent average.

Soybean planting rated 28 percent  complete, behind last year at 60 percent and  equal to 28 percent average. Soybeans were 1 percent emerged, behind last year at 18 percent and 5 percent average.

FARGO, ND May 20, 2013 – Warm, dry weather conditions across ND early this week allowed producers to make good planting progress, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office.  However, starting Thursday and lasting through the weekend, most of the state received significant rainfall amounts which halted fieldwork activities.

According to reports, the amount of precipitation received ranged anywhere from 1 to 6 inches with most reports being in the 1 to 4 inch range.  Even though the moisture has been a detriment to planting progress, it has been beneficial to livestock.  The rains have helped pasture growth and produced runoff into stock dams.

Temperatures across most of the state last week ranged from 6 to 10 degrees above normal.

Progress of the various crops is listed below:

Spring wheat seeding was 50 percent complete, behind last year at 98 percent and 67 percent average. Spring wheat was  10 percent emerged, behind last year at 87 percent and 42 percent.

Durum wheat seeding was 35 percent complete, behind 91 percent for 2012 and 52 percent average. Durum wheat was 5 percent emerged, behind last year at 69 percent and 28 percent average.

Canola seeding was 28 percent complete, behind last year at 94 percent and 57 percent for the average. Canola was 4 percent emerged, behind last year at 55 percent and 23 percent average.

Sugarbeet planting  was 84 percent  complete, behind last year at 100 percent and 82 percent average.  Emergence was 1 percent, behind 79 percent a year ago and 40 percent average.

Corn planting advanced 43 percentage points with 61 percent complete, behind 92 percent last year and 62 percent average. Corn emerged was 3 percent, behind 61 percent last year and 22 percent average.

Soybean planting was 19 percent complete, behind last year at 79 percent and 36 percent average.

Potato planting was 25 percent complete, behind last year at 88 percent and 52 percent average.

Dry edible bean planting was 2 percent complete, behind last year at 54 percent and 20 percent average.

Sunflower planting was 9 percent complete, behind last year at 33 percent and 15 percent average.