Precipitation levels varied across the State for the week ending September 25, 2022, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Areas of the northwest and southeast received above average amounts of moisture, while the remainder of Wyoming saw totals at or below normal. Portions of the northwest received up to 0.8 inches of rain, while areas in the southeast saw totals reaching no more than about 0.5 inches. The remainder of the State saw totals in a range from trace to 0.3 inches at the most.

Temperatures ran above normal for all of Wyoming, with isolated portions of the south seeing temperatures as much as 5 degrees above average.

According to the US Drought Monitor for September 22, 2022, the amount of land rated drought free increased to 14.5 percent, up from 13.3 percent the previous week. The amount of land rated abnormally dry fell slightly to 32.3 percent, down from 32.6 percent the previous week. Moderate drought was found in 32.0 percent of the State, compared to 32.9 percent last week. Severe drought conditions also fell, now sitting at 17.5 percent, a decrease of 2.1 percentage points. Extreme drought conditions, however, were found in 3.7 percent of Wyoming, an increase from 1.6 percent the previous week.

Moisture arrived too late in Big Horn County for pastures to see good fall growth.

In Goshen County, rain showers were variable and slowed dry edible bean and alfalfa hay harvest. Cooler temperatures were in the forecast which was also expected to slow progress. Continuing drought kept winter wheat growers from planting due to the low soil moisture levels. Many livestock producers had already finished grazing their livestock on winter pastures and had begun feeding hay. Corn harvest began early because of the drought.

Lincoln County also received some moisture and nights were cool with temperatures at freezing levels or lower.

The warm and dry conditions in Platte County made for good field access and silage harvest moved forward. Grasses still looked worse than what is usually seen for the start of the fall season. Without adequate moisture the grazing season was wrapping up. Winds picked up at week’s end which further dried out pastures and fields.

Irrigation water supplies across the State were rated 27 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 20 percent fair, and 36 percent good, compared to 23 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 23 percent fair, and 37 percent good last week.

Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 15 percent very short, 37 percent short, and 48 percent adequate, compared to 13 percent very short, 33 percent short, and 54 percent adequate last week.