A significant portion of the High Plains received ice and snow beginning Jan. 3 and wheat farmers will be anxious to see what impact it will have on a crop that planted in the fall.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released its crop progress and condition report that was dated for the week ending on Jan. 5.
Here is a snapshot of states from the High Plains region.
Kansas
The winter wheat crop condition was rated 5% very poor, 11% was poor, 37% was fair, 40% was good, and 7% was excellent, according to the report.
The topsoil moisture supplies were rated 9% were very short, 27% were short, 60% were adequate, and 4% were surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 12% very short, 30% were short, 56% were adequate, and 2% were surplus.
Oklahoma
The wheat crop was rated 3% very poor, 15% was poor, 37% was fair, 42% was good and 3% was excellent.
Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were rated adequate to short. Pasture and range conditions were rated at 74% good to fair.
Missouri
The wheat crop was rated as 1% poor, 30% was fair, 61% was good and 8% was excellent.
The topsoil moisture supply was rated 1% very short, 5% was short, 78% was adequate, and 16% swas urplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated 2% very short, 16% was short, 77% was adequate, and 5% was surplus.
Nebraska
The winter wheat condition rated 6% very poor, 20% was poor, 47% was fair, 26% was good, and 1% was excellent.
Topsoil moisture supplies rated 17% very short, 41% were short, 41% were adequate, and 1% were surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 27% very short, 37% were short, 35% were adequate, and 1% were surplus.
South Dakota
The winter wheat condition was rated 12% very poor, 18% was poor, 48% was fair, 22% was good, and 0% was excellent.
Topsoil moisture supplies rated 34% very short, 45% were short, 21% were adequate, and 0% were surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 33% very short, 46% were short, 21% were adequate, and 0% were surplus.
Montana
Winter wheat was 1% very poor, 5% was poor, 52% was fair, 39% was good and 3% was excellent.
The month of December brought above average temperatures and mostly below normal precipitation to Montana, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Colorado
Statewide, winter wheat condition improved slightly from the previous month, with 70% of the crop rated good to excellent, compared with 68% good to excellent from the previous report a month ago and 61% good to excellent last year.
Above average temperatures and below average precipitation were prevalent across the state during the month of December, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor report published on Jan. 1, almost 25% of the state was abnormally dry or in a state of drought.
Wyoming
The condition of the winter wheat crop was 12% very poor, 24% was poor, 59% was fair, 4% was good and 1% was excellent.
Wyoming received little relief from the ongoing drought conditions during the month of December, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Rainfall was scattered and total accumulations varied widely across the state, ranging from a trace to 2 inches across most of the state during the month of December.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
