The season for weekly crop progress reports issued by USDA's National Ag Statistics Service is complete for 2014, but some individual state offices continue to release monthly data through the winter, usually on the first Monday of the month.
The following are highlights from individual state reports available Monday.
CLICK HERE to view the full reports from each state
MONTANA
Range and pasture conditions are below last year with 42 percent good to excellent compared to 52 percent due to snowfall. Cattle are being moved off summer ranges slightly ahead of last year with 95 percent moved to winter grazing. Supplemental feeding of livestock is well underway due below average temperatures and snow cover with 68 percent of cattle and 71 percent of sheep being fed which is well above last year’s rates.
Harvest of corn for grain is nearly complete with 95 percent harvested which is well ahead of last year’s 86 percent complete at this time. Reporters noted that it was an excellent fall for field work and fields are now under snow cover. Winter wheat condition is above last year with 73 percent rated good to excellent compared to 56 percent last November.
Soil moisture conditions remain above this time last year due to adequate precipitation, largely in the form of snow. Topsoil moisture rated adequate and surplus is 77 percent compared with 76 percent last year. Subsoil moisture was rated 80 percent adequate and surplus compared to 73 percent last year.
NORTH DAKOTA
Bitterly cold temperatures halted most fieldwork this past week, although some farmers did manage to harvest corn in the southern parts of the state. In the western region, several inches of snow covered emerging winter wheat, but the lack of ground cover during sub-zero temperatures has spurred some winterkill concerns for the rest of the state's producers. Overall, producers had only 2.5 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} very short, 17{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} short, 76{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} adequate, and 6{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} very short, 10{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} short, 81{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} adequate, and 8{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} surplus. The state's corn crop is 95{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} harvested, up from 91{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} last year and 87{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} on average. The winter wheat crop was rated 67{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} in good to excellent condition.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Below normal temperatures visited the eastern side of the state, while western regions saw above-normal temperatures this past week. Overall, farmers had five days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 4{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} very short, 19{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} short, 76{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} adequate and 1{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 4{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} very short, 19{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} short, 76{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} adequate, and 1{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} surplus. Sunflowers were 95{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} harvested, up from 93{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} last year and down from 97{28d451f77a4de8a52cd2586be6cc1800527fe70ea84e8b3f90098495d088e086} on average.
WYOMING
Campbell County reported moisture needed, wind not so much. Johnson County reported snow cover and very cold temperatures this past week. Soil moisture content will change little until next spring when it thaws out. Lincoln County reports that winter is here in full force. Most ranchers are feeding hay by now and snow is starting to pile up. Converse County reported that winter conditions persist. Weather allowed for 3.7 days of fieldwork for the week.
Corn harvest continued despite poor weather conditions with 86 percent of the acreage harvested. Irrigation water supplies were reported at 4 percent very poor, 2 percent fair, 81 percent good, and 13 percent excellent.
Source: USDA
Posted by Jami Howell
