Warm week with rain helps topsoil moisture improve

Wyoming

Unseasonably warm weather dominated the state during the week ending Sept. 17 with good rainfall in most areas, according to the Wyoming Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Sept. 18.

High temperatures were mostly in the upper 70s to low 90s. Low temperatures were mostly in the low 30s to upper 40s. Snow was reported over the weekend in the high country and killing frosts occurred in some areas. Accumulative precipitation for the year remained below normal in all areas except for Casper and Sundance.

Recent rains helped soil moisture and stock water supplies. Topsoil moisture was rated adequate in 41 percent of the state, up 15 points from last week and up from 34 percent last year. Stock water supplies were adequate in 40 percent of the state, up 5 points from two weeks ago. Almost half of the state remained very short on subsoil moisture.

An average of 5.5 days were suitable for fieldwork during the past week. Oats harvest was virtually complete with 96 percent harvested compared to the average of 91 percent. Rainfall in major counties slowed winter Wheat seeding and progress fell slightly behind with over three-quarters of the crop in the ground. More than half was emerged which was 14 points ahead of the average pace.

Almost three-quarters of the dry bean crop was windrowed and producers were almost half done with the combining. Progress remained ahead of the average pace. Condition of beans remained steady with 56 percent of the crop in good condition. Corn development continued behind the average pace with 75 percent reaching dough and 51 percent dented compared with the averages of 93 and 72 percent. About 10 percent of the crop was mature. Corn condition was unchanged with 54 percent rated in good or excellent condition. Corn silage harvest made big gains last week despite weather with 63 percent complete, 6 points ahead of the average pace. About two-thirds of the sugarbeet crop remained in good condition. Beet harvest had not yet begun. Producers getting a third cutting of alfalfa were 51 percent complete.

Rainfall during the week aided cool season grasses but was not enough to markedly improve rangeland and pasture condition. Only 5 percent was rated good, unchanged from last week, and 27 percent was fair, up 6 points from last week. Forty percent remained in very poor condition. Most of the grass cattle had already left and calves were starting to move.

Date: 9/19/06

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