Soil moisture supplies decline

Soil moisture supplies declined during the month of February due to dry, windy weather and both warm and cold temperature extremes, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Mountain Regional Field Office, Colorado. Statewide, continued dry conditions were very concerning for pasture and winter wheat conditions. Nearly all counties in the state experienced at least abnormally dry conditions. Reporters in eastern counties noted little snow cover on winter wheat along with cold, windy weather which caused some fields to blow were troubling for the crop. They also noted small snow storms were beneficial, but much more moisture is needed going into spring. In the San Luis Valley, dry conditions were prevalent with supplemental feeding of livestock increasing due to pasture conditions. Reporters in southwestern counties noted some good moisture was received late in the month, but many areas continued to suffer from severe to extreme drought. The winter wheat crop in Montezuma county was reported to be in extremely poor condition with high rates of failure. Statewide, calving and lambing was underway with livestock noted to be in mostly good condition. As of Feb. 23, snowpack in Colorado was at 73 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. The next report will be released on March 26 and will be the first of weekly reports for the 2018 season.