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Ag stats: Wyoming crop progress and condition report – week ending May 1, 2022

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Once again, portions of Wyoming received precipitation for the week ending May 1, 2022, with the heaviest amounts received in areas of the northeast, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Some isolated areas in northern Wyoming received totals up to 1.6 inches of moisture, while southern areas totals were below normal or near zero.

Drought conditions improved slightly. According to the United States Drought Monitor for April 28, 2022, the amount of land rated as abnormally dry was 5.9 percent, up from 2.3 percent last week. Moderate drought was found in 35.2 percent of the State, compared to 34.1 percent last week. Severe drought fell slightly to 40.6 percent, compared to 43.0 percent last week. Extreme drought fell to 18.3 percent, compared to 20.6 percent the previous week.

Moisture received in Lincoln County improved snowpack and irrigation water supplies. Low elevation rangelands also benefitted from the moisture.

Precipitation was also received in Weston County, but soil moisture remained a concern. Pasture conditions varied and pastures suffered where high winds took their toll. Wildlife and livestock were both active on feed grounds and caused damage to some pastures and fields.

Barley planted moved to 83 percent complete, compared to 79 percent last week. Barley emerged was 55 percent complete, up from 43 percent last week.

Corn planted was 2 percent complete compared to 8 percent last year.

Sugarbeets planted increased to 48 percent complete, compared to 37 percent last week. Sugarbeets emerged stood at 3 percent complete.

Hay and roughage supplies were 32 percent very short, 50 percent short, and 18 percent adequate, compared to 25 percent very short, 48 percent short, and 27 percent adequate last week.

Stock water supplies were 20 percent very short, 29 percent short, and 51 percent adequate, compared to 16 percent very short, 24 percent short, and 60 percent adequate last week.

Irrigation water supplies were rated 3 percent very poor, 31 percent poor, 43 percent fair, and 23 percent good, compared to 1 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 55 percent fair, and 16 percent good last week.

Cattle death loss was 8 percent heavy, 55 percent average, and 37 percent light.

Sheep death loss was 2 percent heavy, 57 percent average, and 41 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Barley 

    

Planted 

83 

79 

85 

81 

Emerged 

55 

43 

45 

44 

Corn 

    

Planted 

-- 

15 

Sugarbeets 

    

Planted 

48 

37 

48 

42 

Emerged 

NA 

NA 

NA 

Winter wheat 

    

Jointed 

12 

12 

Cattle and calves 

    

Cows calved 

84 

82 

83 

83 

Sheep and lambs 

    

Ewes lambed 

68 

64 

57 

62 

Sheep shorn 

71 

60 

71 

73 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork

5.9 

5.7 

5.6 

4.9 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

51 

42 

27 

Short 

25 

27 

26 

17 

Adequate 

24 

31 

47 

74 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

52 

43 

29 

Short 

34 

35 

34 

20 

Adequate 

14 

22 

37 

68 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

-- 

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

39 

36 

19 

Poor 

19 

22 

29 

13 

Fair 

29 

28 

34 

31 

Good 

13 

14 

18 

47 

Excellent 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

43 

35 

Fair 

40 

51 

78 

41 

Good 

17 

42 

Excellent 

-- 

-- 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

18 

13 

29 

18 

Good 

77 

84 

65 

76 

Excellent