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Ag stats: Wyoming crop progress and condition report – week ending September 5, 2021

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Wyoming experienced mixed precipitation totals and temperatures this week, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Most of Wyoming received a quarter inch or more of rainfall this week. Niobrara and Platte counties, however, reported localized areas received over an inch of rain. Counties along the northern border missed out on this week’s moisture, with rainfall totals barely measurable at 0.01 inch.

Temperatures varied throughout the State this week. Average low temperatures for counties in the northwestern corner were 2 to 4 degrees below average for this time of year, while average low temperatures for the remainder of the State reached 2 to 4 degrees above average. Daily high temperatures ranged from average to 2 degrees above average for this time of year.

Although much of the State received rainfall, the amounts were not substantial enough to relieve drought conditions. According to the United States Drought Monitor for September 2, 2021, the amount of land rated as abnormally dry was 3.8 percent, compared to 4.9 percent last week. Moderate drought was present across 35.5 percent of the State, a slight increase from 35.0 percent last week. Severe drought covered 33.6 percent of the State, roughly a 14.3 percent increase from 29.4 percent last week. Extreme drought conditions decreased from 30.5 percent last week to 26.9 percent of the State this week. Overall, 99.8 percent of the State is experiencing drought conditions, unchanged from last week. 

There were continued reports this week from Weston County of producers reducing herd sizes due to minimal pasture grass and increased hay prices. Pastures are depleted throughout the county and there has not been much late season grass growth.

There were similar comments in Goshen County of overgrazed pastures. Reports from Goshen County indicated the third cutting of hay is being grown mostly for tonnage, with quality reported as poor.

Platte county reported harvest of dry edible beans has started. Barley harvest is nearing completion as harvest was reported at 93 percent complete this week, compared to 90 percent this time last year. Corn harvested for silage was reported at 11 percent this week, compared to 12 percent this time last year.

Dry edible bean and sugarbeet harvest began this week as well, with harvest reported at 7 percent and 2 percent, respectively.

Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 33 percent very short, 41 percent short, 25 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus, compared to 32 percent very short, 43 percent short, 24 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus last week. Irrigation water supplies were rated 23 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 24 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 

    

3rd cutting harvested 

35 

25 

40 

31 

Barley 

    

Harvested 

93 

80 

90 

89 

Corn 

    

Doughed 

97 

80 

NA 

NA 

Dented 

30 

22 

37 

29 

Mature 

NA 

NA 

NA 

Harvested for silage 

11 

-- 

12 

10 

Dry edible beans 

    

Turning color 

68 

55 

67 

74 

Cut 

33 

17 

37 

23 

Harvested 

NA 

NA 

NA 

Sugarbeets 

    

Harvested 

NA 

NA 

NA 

Winter Wheat 

    

Planted 

10 

17 

17 

Emerged 

NA 

NA 

NA 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

6.8 

6.9 

6.8 

6.7 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

30 

25 

49 

27 

Short 

40 

42 

30 

37 

Adequate 

30 

32 

21 

34 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

38 

29 

49 

27 

Short 

34 

38 

32 

36 

Adequate 

28 

32 

19 

36 

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 

17 

14 

Poor 

14 

17 

29 

10 

Fair 

18 

19 

15 

16 

Good 

46 

45 

53 

65 

Excellent 

-- 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

21 

16 

Good 

88 

91 

71 

79 

Excellent 

-- 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

18 

18 

22 

14 

Good 

79 

79 

77 

82 

Excellent 

-- 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

33 

31 

43 

15 

Poor 

32 

37 

34 

20 

Fair 

21 

22 

17 

33 

Good 

13 

28 

Excellent 

-- 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

26 

18 

13 

Good 

62 

80 

97 

81 

Excellent 

-- 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

40 

39 

30 

17 

Good 

51 

52 

65 

78 

Excellent 

--