Most of state remains dry

While some locations in the eastern half of the state received much-needed rainfall for the week ending May 20, the weather pattern across most of New Mexico remained bone-dry as has been the case recently, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Mountain Regional Field Office, New Mexico. Despite the precipitation, little improvement was evident in pasture grass condition or soil moisture levels. Fire danger remained high in areas where last year’s growth has not been grazed. The United States Drought Monitor released on May 17 showed that exceptional drought (D4) had expanded to cover 20.3 percent of the State. In addition, severe to extreme drought (D2-D3) was reportedly covering 69.9 percent of the state. Overall, conditions rated abnormally dry or worse now blanketed 100 percent of New Mexico. Topsoil moisture levels were reported as 15 percent adequate to surplus, compared with 8 percent last week, 45 percent last year, and a 5-year average of 36 percent. Spring fieldwork was ongoing, with row crops being planted as conditions allowed. Comments from Dona Ana County noted that 100 percent of the wheat for silage acreage had been harvested.