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Small grain harvest wrapping up
Wyoming
A killing freeze was reported in the Southwest, although temperatures averaged above normal in most of the state during the week ending Sept. 19, and during that week a trace or more of precipitation was reported statewide, according to the Wyoming Agricultural Statistics Service, Sept. 20.
As of Sept. 19, topsoil moisture supplies were adequate in 31 percent of the state, unchanged from last week and 2 points higher than the average. Subsoil moisture supplies remained unchanged from two weeks ago when 26 percent of the state was adequate.
An average of 6.2 days were suitable for field work during the week. Spring Wheat harvest was 86 percent complete at week's end and oats harvest was 89 percent complete, behind last year and the five-year average pace. Producers had planted 69 percent of the winter Wheat crop and 31 percent had emerged. Seeding progress was about a week behind last year and the five-year average pace. Emergence was also well behind the average.
Both corn and dry beans progress remained behind. Eighty-eight percent of the corn crop was in or through the dough stage, while over half of the crop had made the dent stage two weeks behind the average for this date. Only 1 percent was mature as compared to last year's 66 percent. Corn silage harvesting was 55 percent complete at week's end, behind last year's 67 percent and the five-year average of 66 percent. About 96 percent of the dry beans were turning color and 41 percent had been windrowed. Producers had also combined 17 percent of the dry bean crop. Dry beans and corn were both in fair to good condition, while sugarbeets were in mostly good condition.
The second cutting of alfalfa was 97 percent complete, comparable to last year and the average. The third cutting of alfalfa, where available, was 21 percent complete, as compared to the average of over 50 percent.
Range and pasture conditions were rated good or excellent in 13 percent of Wyoming, up 1 point from last week. This is worse than last year at this time when supplies were rated good in 18 percent of the state. Twenty-three percent of cattle and 37 percent of the sheep had been moved from summer pastures. Even with the recent moisture, only 30 percent of the state reported adequate stock water supplies compared with about 40 percent last year and the average.
Date: 9/22/04
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