Image
PROMO 64J1 Agriculture - Statistics Stats Farmer Field Technology - iStock - William_Potter

Ag stats: Wyoming crop progress and condition report – week ending April 24, 2022

© iStock - William_Potter

Portions of Wyoming received precipitation for the week ending April 24, 2022, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Areas of the west and south-east received little to no precipitation, though isolated areas of north-eastern Wyoming received levels approaching 2 inches.

Temperatures ran above average in the southern portions of the state while in northern areas temperatures were below average.

According to the United States Drought Monitor for April 21, 2022, the amount of land rated as abnormally dry was 2.3 percent, compared to 2.4 percent last week. Moderate drought was found in 34.1 percent of the state, compared to 37.7 percent last week. Severe drought increased to 43.0 percent, up from 39.3 percent last week. Extreme drought was unchanged from the previous week at 20.6 percent.

Laramie County had a week with wind and zero moisture. The wind further evaporated soil moisture and inhibited grasses and crop growth.

In Crook County, some areas received rain and snow, but high winds also depleted soil moisture.

Precipitation received in Big Horn County was not enough to benefit farmers and ranchers.

In Lincoln County, the moisture situation was improving with higher mountain snow-pack levels. More snowpack was still needed, however, to fill reservoirs. Lower elevations were also receiving precipitation, but the amounts were not substantial. Producers were working in fields as conditions allowed.

Wheat fields were turning green in Weston County until high winds decreased moisture levels in topsoil and turned fields brown. A thunderstorm late in the week brought rain and hail. Snow and drifting snow followed, and some livestock was lost due to the bad weather.

Barley planted was 79 percent complete, compared to 69 percent last week. Barley emerged stood at 43 percent, up from 27 percent last week.

Sugarbeets planted increased to 37 percent complete, compared to 10 percent last week.

Hay and roughage supplies were 25 percent very short, 48 percent short, and 27 percent adequate, compared to 16 percent very short, 51 percent short, 31 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus last week.

Stock water supplies were 16 percent very short, 24 percent short, and 60 percent adequate, compared to 10 percent very short, 22 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus last week.

Irrigation water supplies were rated 1 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 55 percent fair, and 16 percent good, compared to 1 percent very poor, 37 percent poor, 46 percent fair, and 16 percent good last week.

Cattle death loss was 2 percent heavy, 59 percent average, and 39 percent light.

Sheep death loss was 1 percent heavy, 66 percent average, and 33 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Barley 

    

Planted 

79 

69 

78 

72 

Emerged 

43 

27 

28 

27 

Sugarbeets 

    

Planted 

37 

10 

32 

26 

Winter wheat 

    

Jointed 

Cattle and calves 

    

Cows calved 

82 

70 

78 

76 

Sheep and lambs 

    

Ewes lambed 

64 

60 

53 

56 

Sheep shorn 

60 

45 

67 

68 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork

5.7 

5.4 

5.2 

4.8 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

42 

33 

25 

Short 

27 

34 

30 

16 

Adequate 

31 

32 

43 

74 

Surplus 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

43 

34 

31 

Short 

35 

40 

32 

17 

Adequate 

22 

26 

36 

70 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

36 

27 

21 

Poor 

22 

21 

31 

14 

Fair 

28 

33 

33 

32 

Good 

14 

17 

14 

46 

Excellent 

-- 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

35 

32 

Fair 

51 

49 

73 

41 

Good 

11 

14 

41 

Excellent 

-- 

-- 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

13 

11 

24 

18 

Good 

84 

83 

70 

78 

Excellent