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Pasture Quality Rises 07/15 11:11
Recent Rainfall Improves Pasture Conditions Across Most States, While
Western Drought Persists
Recent rainfall has improved pasture conditions across many states with
Missouri reaching 92% good-to-excellent ratings. However, drought persists in
Montana, Arizona, and Nevada where 65% to 90% of pastures remain in poor
condition, while Nebraska saw an 8-point increase in drought-affected areas.
By DTN Staff
OMAHA (DTN) -- Rains across the country led to continual improvements in
pasture and range conditions across many states, although localized drought
persists, according to the National Ag Statistics Service weekly crop progress
report.
Several states saw improvement in pasture and range conditions this week.
Missouri improved 4 points in the good-to-excellent category to 92%. Iowa also
saw a 4-point improvement to 75% of pastures rated good to excellent. While
Wyoming saw a 10-point jump, only 37% of the state's pastures are considered
good to excellent.
Decreases of 6, 4 and 7 points were seen in good-to-excellent condition
pastures in Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma, respectively. Texas saw no changes
in this category.
Very poor to poor pasture and range conditions continue to be seen in
Montana, Arizona and Nevada, where they ranked 65%, 80% and 90%, respectively.
New Mexico saw a 13-point increase in the very-poor-to-poor category, reaching
39%. Nebraska also continues to be a drought-stricken state with 8 points more
considered very poor to poor at 37%.
DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick said, "Conditions for pastures continue
to be pretty darn good for the southern half of the Plains up through the
Midwest. Multiple systems, fronts, and disturbances have led to more widespread
rainfall throughout these regions over the last week."
A drying trend is expected for the Southern Plains this week, though.
Baranick said while there will be some showers with a front sagging across the
region through Thursday, it should start to get a bit drier this weekend and
especially next week.
"An upper-level ridge will be developing and moving into the region, which
typically means hotter and drier conditions. However, for the Northern Plains
and Midwest, the ridge will not make it that far north and a somewhat
persistent trough across Canada will mean more active weather from Montana to
the East Coast through most of next week," he added.
Areas with adequate soil moisture should continue to maintain pasture
conditions or perhaps improve them in some areas where the soil moisture isn't
as good like Montana, Nebraska, northern Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, he
concluded.
See the accompanying maps for more on the changes in various states.
**
National Pasture and Range Conditions (48 states)
Very poor Poor Fair Good Excellent
48 States 11 17 26 33 13
Previous week 11 16 28 32 13
Previous year 12 17 30 34 7
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