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Ag stats: Wyoming crop progress and condition report – week ending October 10, 2021

© iStock - William_Potter

Precipitation totals varied and temperatures remained above average for Wyoming this week, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Much of the State received between 0.1 and 0.7 inches of moisture this week and Lincoln and Big Horn counties reported snowfall at higher elevations. The western border of the State received substantial moisture, with totals over one inch for some areas. Counties in the southeastern corner remained dry, with precipitation totals only reaching 0.02 inches in most places.

Goshen County reported another dry week, noting only trace amounts of precipitation received over the last month. Lincoln county reported significant moisture this week. The moisture was too late to help this year’s crops but will be helpful for next year’s runoff.

The State once again experienced unseasonably warm temperatures. The western border and southwestern corner of the State had average to 4 degrees above average temperatures, while counties in the central portion of the State were slightly warmer with temperatures 4 to 8 degrees above average. Counties along the eastern border and northeastern corner of the State were the hottest this week, with temperatures 8 to 12 degrees above average.

According to the United States Drought Monitor for October 7, 2021, 100.0 percent of the State continues to experience drought conditions. The amount of land experiencing abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions remained unchanged at 2.1 percent and 27.5 percent, respectively. Severe drought was present across 37.4 percent of the State, a decrease from 41.1 percent last week. Extreme drought conditions increased to cover 33.0 percent of the State, roughly a 12.6 percent increase from 29.3 percent last week. 

Platte County reported some moisture was received this week, but it is too late to improve pasture conditions. There were also reports from Platte County that sugarbeet harvest is now underway.

Reports from Lincoln County indicate sheep herds are being moved onto winter ranges. Harvest of fall crops continues. The third cutting of alfalfa hay was reported at 85 percent harvested this week. Harvest of corn for grain was reported at 10 percent complete this week and harvest of corn for silage was almost finished this week, with harvest reported at 99 percent complete.

Dry edible bean harvest is 91 percent complete and sugarbeet harvest is 50 percent complete. Winter wheat planting wrapped up this week, with planting reported at 99 percent.

Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 28 percent very short, 48 percent short, 23 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus compared to 37 percent very short, 49 percent short, and 14 percent adequate last week.

Irrigation water supplies were rated 13 percent very poor, 45 percent poor, 16 percent fair, and 26 percent good.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alfalfa 

    

3rd cutting harvested 

85 

70 

83 

80 

Corn 

    

Mature 

71 

42 

97 

84 

Harvested for grain 

10 

37 

15 

Harvested for silage 

99 

89 

NA 

NA 

Dry edible beans 

    

Harvested 

91 

84 

91 

84 

Sugarbeets 

    

Harvested 

50 

48 

41 

32 

Winter Wheat 

    

Planted 

99 

86 

NA 

NA 

Emerged 

79 

51 

77 

80 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

6.5 

7.0 

6.8 

5.6 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

38 

46 

37 

17 

Short 

42 

44 

50 

35 

Adequate 

19 

10 

13 

42 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

40 

49 

41 

19 

Short 

40 

38 

40 

38 

Adequate 

20 

13 

19 

41 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

-- 

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Corn 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

39 

19 

Good 

88 

88 

54 

77 

Excellent 

-- 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

32 

41 

32 

14 

Poor 

30 

33 

38 

18 

Fair 

26 

21 

29 

35 

Good 

11 

30 

Excellent 

-- 

-- 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

27 

27 

11 

Good 

61 

62 

96 

85 

Excellent 

-- 

-- 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

NA 

Poor 

NA 

16 

Fair 

63 

NA 

32 

30 

Good 

25 

NA 

39 

58 

Excellent 

NA 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

31 

33 

21 

16 

Good 

60 

58 

71 

76 

Excellent 

--