This week brought little relief to conditions in Wyoming, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Much of the State received minimal precipitation, with totals between 0.1 and 0.3 inches. The southwestern corner of the State remained exceptionally dry, with no significant moisture reported this week. Lincoln and Niobrara counties reported very little moisture, with Niobrara reporting continuing extremely dry conditions.

Isolated areas in the State did receive much needed moisture. Portions of Converse County received over half an inch of rainfall and Teton and Park counties received over an inch of moisture.

Daily temperatures ranged from average to 3 degrees below average for much of the State this week. Counties along the western border experienced average minimum temperatures below freezing and Lincoln County reported temperatures dipping below freezing at night. The exception was the northeastern corner of the State, with daily temperatures 1 to 4 degrees above average for this time of year.

The lack of precipitation kept drought conditions mostly unchanged. According to the United States Drought Monitor for September 23, 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 3.2 percent and 32.9 percent, respectively. Severe drought increased to cover 38.7 percent of the State, compared to 37.0 percent last week. Extreme drought conditions decreased from 26.9 percent last week to 25.2 percent of the State this week. 

Weston County reported that rangeland conditions remain unchanged, with minimal late season grass growth reported. There were comments this week of wildlife moving to winter pastures and continued reports of producers selling down livestock herds.

Lincoln County reported hay is extremely short and producers are considering selling parts of their main herds due to the lack of hay.

Goshen county reported producers are harvesting a fourth cutting of alfalfa hay. Overall, alfalfa hay harvest is slightly behind with the third cutting reported at 63 percent harvested this week, compared to 71 percent this time last year.

Harvest of corn for silage continues to progress, with harvest reported at 75 percent complete this week, compared to 73 percent complete this time last year.

Dry edible beans progressed significantly this week. The crop was reported as 74 percent cut and 55 percent harvested, compared to 46 percent cut and 30 percent harvested last week, and 81 percent cut, and 63 percent harvested this time last year.

Winter wheat planting is comparable to last year, with planting reported at 63 percent complete this week, compared to 60 percent complete this time last year.

Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 34 percent very short, 54 percent short, and 12 percent adequate, compared to 36 percent very short, 51 percent short, and 13 percent adequate last week.

Irrigation water supplies were rated 20 percent very poor, 42 percent poor, 18 percent fair, and 20 percent good.