Once again, portions of Wyoming received precipitation for the week ending May 1, 2022, with the heaviest amounts received in areas of the northeast, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Some isolated areas in northern Wyoming received totals up to 1.6 inches of moisture, while southern areas totals were below normal or near zero.

Drought conditions improved slightly. According to the United States Drought Monitor for April 28, 2022, the amount of land rated as abnormally dry was 5.9 percent, up from 2.3 percent last week. Moderate drought was found in 35.2 percent of the State, compared to 34.1 percent last week. Severe drought fell slightly to 40.6 percent, compared to 43.0 percent last week. Extreme drought fell to 18.3 percent, compared to 20.6 percent the previous week.

Moisture received in Lincoln County improved snowpack and irrigation water supplies. Low elevation rangelands also benefitted from the moisture.

Precipitation was also received in Weston County, but soil moisture remained a concern. Pasture conditions varied and pastures suffered where high winds took their toll. Wildlife and livestock were both active on feed grounds and caused damage to some pastures and fields.

Barley planted moved to 83 percent complete, compared to 79 percent last week. Barley emerged was 55 percent complete, up from 43 percent last week.

Corn planted was 2 percent complete compared to 8 percent last year.

Sugarbeets planted increased to 48 percent complete, compared to 37 percent last week. Sugarbeets emerged stood at 3 percent complete.

Hay and roughage supplies were 32 percent very short, 50 percent short, and 18 percent adequate, compared to 25 percent very short, 48 percent short, and 27 percent adequate last week.

Stock water supplies were 20 percent very short, 29 percent short, and 51 percent adequate, compared to 16 percent very short, 24 percent short, and 60 percent adequate last week.

Irrigation water supplies were rated 3 percent very poor, 31 percent poor, 43 percent fair, and 23 percent good, compared to 1 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 55 percent fair, and 16 percent good last week.

Cattle death loss was 8 percent heavy, 55 percent average, and 37 percent light.

Sheep death loss was 2 percent heavy, 57 percent average, and 41 percent light.