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Ag stats: Wyoming crop progress and condition report – week ending August 22, 2021

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This week brought much needed precipitation and cooler temperatures to most of Wyoming, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Most of the State received 0.4 inches or more of rainfall this week. Counties along the western border received substantial moisture, with some areas reporting over an inch of rainfall.

Albany, Goshen, and Platte counties all reported significant rainfall this week. Big Horn County reported significant rainfall as well, but not enough moisture was received to improve grazing conditions or stock water supplies.

Much of the State experienced below average temperatures for this time of year. Daily temperatures for most of the central and western portions of the State were 2 to 3 degrees below average. However, daily temperatures for counties along the eastern border of the State ranged from average to 3 degrees above average for this time of year.

According to the United States Drought Monitor for August 19, 2021, 99.6 percent of the State is experiencing drought conditions, compared to 98.1 percent last week. The amount of land rated as abnormally dry was 5.3 percent, a slight increase from 5.0 percent last week. Moderate drought was present across 34.4 percent of the State, a 6.5 percent increase from 32.3 percent last week. Severe drought covered 29.4 percent of the State, compared to 30.6 percent last week. Extreme drought conditions increased slightly from 30.2 percent last week to 30.5 percent of the State this week. 

Despite the much-needed moisture received this week, there were multiple reports that the rainfall was too late to help this year’s crops.

Reporters from Lincoln County noted that the rain improved rangeland conditions but did not improve crop conditions. There were similar comments from Niobrara County of welcomed rain, but not enough to make up for the lack of rainfall received this year.

Albany county reported that most of the hay is now harvested, and pastures remain in good condition.

Platte county reported that the rain improved pasture conditions and will help with winter wheat planting. The third cutting of alfalfa hay was reported at 12 percent harvested this week, compared to 21 percent harvested this time last year.

Barley harvest is continuing ahead of last year, with harvest reported at 71 percent complete this week, compared to 62 percent harvested this time last year. Winter wheat planting is underway, with planting reported at 3 percent complete.

Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 30 percent very short, 40 percent short, 29 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus, compared to 37 percent very short, 42 percent short, and 21 percent adequate last week.

Irrigation water supplies were rated 39 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 20 percent good, and 8 percent excellent.

 CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS 

Commodity 

Current week 

Previous week 

Previous year 

5-year average 

 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Alfalfa 

    

2nd cutting harvested 

84 

81 

94 

86 

3rd cutting harvested 

12 

21 

Barley 

    

Mature 

95 

83 

86 

86 

Harvested 

71 

65 

62 

67 

Corn 

    

Silked 

97 

85 

100 

97 

Doughed 

58 

41 

82 

58 

Dented 

NA 

14 

Dry edible beans 

    

Setting pods 

96 

75 

95 

84 

Turning color 

38 

24 

37 

32 

Cut 

NA 

Winter Wheat 

    

Planted 

NA 

-- 

-- 

 DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION 

 

Current week 

Previous week 

Previous year 

5-year average 

Days suitable for fieldwork 

5.7 

7.0 

7.0 

6.8 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short 

33 

28 

57 

25 

Short 

36 

50 

26 

33 

Adequate 

28 

22 

17 

40 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

34 

34 

54 

24 

Short 

35 

35 

32 

36 

Adequate 

30 

31 

14 

39 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION 

Commodity 

Current week 

Previous week 

Previous year 

5-year average 

 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Alfalfa hay 

    

Very poor 

13 

18 

-- 

Poor 

11 

20 

16 

Fair 

19 

10 

18 

13 

Good 

52 

47 

66 

73 

Excellent 

-- 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

25 

15 

Good 

90 

91 

66 

80 

Excellent 

-- 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

18 

18 

13 

12 

Good 

79 

79 

87 

84 

Excellent 

-- 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

32 

27 

31 

11 

Poor 

31 

38 

41 

18 

Fair 

25 

24 

27 

35 

Good 

11 

10 

32 

Excellent 

-- 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

Fair 

27 

27 

15 

Good 

61 

61 

94 

80 

Excellent 

-- 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

34 

37 

21 

13 

Good 

61 

57 

76 

80 

Excellent 

--