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Winter wheat harvest begins
Wyoming During the week ending July 8, temperatures continued to average above normal, and pasture conditions are declining, according the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Wyoming Field Office, July 9. Rain was very sparse across Wyoming last week. This combined with above normal temperatures continued to take a toll on crops and pastures. Irrigation water supplies are tight. The temperature averages ranged from 3.9 degrees to 10.6 degrees above normal. High temperatures were mostly in the 90's with seven of the stations reporting temperatures above 100 degrees last week. Low temperatures were mostly in the 50s. Thirty-seven percent of the topsoil moisture levels were adequate or better, down 3 points from last week. Sub soil moisture and stock water supplies in the adequate category dropped 18 points from two weeks ago to 24 and 61 percent, respectively. Days suitable for field work averaged 6.8 days. Row crop conditions were mostly unchanged from a week ago while the condition of small grains slipped slightly. The hot conditions were causing the small grains to turn color and mature ahead of normal. Over half of the winter wheat was mature, 17 points ahead of normal, and harvest was underway at 3 percent. Barley and spring wheat had completed the joint stage and oats were nearing completion at 91 percent jointed. Spring wheat eased ahead of normal in the boot stage with 89 percent complete. Fifty-five percent was headed and 20 percent had turned color. Eighty-five percent the barley crop was in the boot stage, 66 percent had headed, and 33 percent had turned color. A little over three-fourths of oats were in the boot stage, over half had headed and a quarter had turned color. All three crops were beginning to reach maturity. The average height of corn was 33 inches. corn had just started to tassel. Twenty-four percent of the dry beans were in bloom. Pasture and range conditions fell slightly but were still in mostly fair or good condition. Fears of grasses turning brown and fires were reported. Alfalfa and other hay cuttings were both ahead of the five-year average. Eighty-four percent of the first cut of alfalfa hay was complete and the second cutting was just beginning. Other hay harvest was 32 percent complete. Date: 7/11/07
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