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Soil moisture levels improve as Wheat progresses
Wyoming
Temperatures averaged below normal at nearly all stations during the week ending June 20, while most reporting stations received precipitation with above normal amounts reported in the south and below normal amounts reported in the north, according to the Wyoming Agricultural Statistics Service, June 21.
As of June 20, topsoil moisture supplies were short or very short in 53 percent of the state. This is 12 points higher than last week but 6 points lower than the five-year average pace. The biggest improvements came in south central and southeast Wyoming. Water supplies are still a concern and according to the U.S. Geological Survey, "Stream flow yield is expected to be well below average across the state. Most probable yield for the state is forecast to be about 45 percent of average."
There were 5.4 days suitable for field work during the past week. Barley progress was about the same pace as last year while remaining ahead of the five-year average pace. Oats and spring Wheat progress remained well ahead of the average pace. Condition of oats and spring Wheat declined for the second week with over 37 percent of oats and 13 percent of spring Wheat in good or excellent condition. Conditions were particularly poor in the northeast. Barley condition remained virtually unchanged with 67 percent rated good.
Nearly all of the winter Wheat crop was headed, 38 percent was turning color, and some had began to mature. Progress remained well ahead of last year and average. Condition of the winter Wheat crop remained mostly poor to fair.
Condition of the sugarbeet and dry bean crops was mostly good while corn was mostly fair to good. The average height of the corn crop was 11 inches, near last year and the five-year average pace. Dry beans were 91 percent emerged, ahead of last year and the five-year average.
The first cutting of alfalfa was 29 percent harvested while other hay was 7 percent harvested. Both were a little ahead of the five-year average paces.
Irrigation water supplies were rated adequate in 40 percent of the state, down 4 points from two weeks ago. This is much worse than last year when 66 percent of the state had adequate water supplies.
At week's end, 84 percent of cattle and 80 percent of sheep had been moved to summer pastures. Pasture and range conditions improved slightly with 61 percent of the state rated poor or very poor compared with 64 percent last week. Last year at this time, only 19 percent was rated poor or very poor. Some producers have already begun to sell their calves due to poor pasture conditions and lack of water.
Date: 6/23/04
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