REGIONAL – Some areas received needed moisture while others dried out, allowing producers access to their fields as harvest activities neared a conclusion for the 2018 growing season.

Colder than normal temperatures covered much of the Tri-State region this week, with snow across southwestern Nebraska, southeastern Wyoming and areas south. Projections were for 2 to 3 inches across much of the region with greater amounts anticipated further east in the North Platte to Hastings, Neb. area.

The colder air moved in out of the Alberta, Canada, area earlier in the week, said meteorologist Bill Mokry from the National Weather Service forecast office in Cheyenne, Wyo. The cold fronts are expected to continue east into the weekend, making way for warmer, dryer conditions.

“We’re just waiting for the next motion, for the next system to move things out,” Mokry said. “Get a little bit of relief from these 20-degree temperatures we’ve been seeing in the mornings.”

The Tri-State forecast calls for relatively dry conditions across much of the region going into the weekend. Temperatures are expected to remain on the chilly side Friday night into Saturday, with lows near to below freezing, warming into the 40s during daylight hours.

Rain, snow hamper harvest in places

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Fall harvest and fieldwork made gains over the previous week where conditions allowed, but received moisture continued to hamper progress in some areas, according to the regular Crop Progress and Condition Report from the USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service office in Lakewood for the week ending Nov. 4.

Some western counties received significant snowfall at week’s end. In northeastern counties, corn harvest was in full swing but moisture content was still high for many producers. Calves continued to be weaned but livestock producers were waiting to move cows off grass until corn stalks were available. 

In east central counties, welcome moisture was received, but wet conditions continued to delay harvest of sorghum, sunflowers, and corn last week. In the San Luis Valley, fall fieldwork continued and a reporter noted rain and snow improved soil moisture supplies. Hay supplies were still noted to be very short and some producers were bringing in hay from outside the area. 

In southeastern counties, more rain delayed grain and hay harvest last week, according to a county reporter. Field conditions were noted as very wet. Harvested corn quality was noted as varying between very poor in some areas to better in others. 

Statewide, pasture and range conditions were rated 23 percent good to excellent, compared with 58 percent rated good to excellent last year. Stored feed supplies were rated 15 percent very short, 25 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. 

Sheep death loss was 67 percent average and 33 percent light. Cattle death loss was 4 percent heavy, 74 percent average, and 22 percent light. Across the state, livestock were reported at 69 percent good to 8 percent excellent condition for the week.

Reports indicated 72 percent adequate topsoil moisture and just 20 percent of reports indicating shortages. Subsoil moisture was reported at 43 percent very short to short, with 54 percent adequate and just 3 percent surplus.

Colorado winter wheat rated 60 percent in the good to excellent range, a slight decrease from the previous week but slightly better than the five-year average.

Conditions good as harvest nears wrap

LINCOLN, Neb. – Field work proceeded apace last week, with farmers able to get into the fields almost six of the seven days, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 4 short, 80 adequate, and 15 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 6 short, 84 adequate, and 9 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Corn harvested was 65 percent, equal to last year, and behind 72 for the five-year average.

Soybeans harvested was 90 percent, near 94 last year, and behind 96 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 2 percent very poor, 6 poor, 22 fair, 50 good, and 20 excellent. Winter wheat emerged was 93 percent, near 92 last year and 96 average.

Sorghum harvested was 73 percent, ahead of 63 last year, but near 76 average.

Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 19 fair, 63 good, and 14 excellent.

Data for this news release were provided at the county level by USDA Farm Service Agency, UNL Extension Service, and other reporters across the State.

Temps dip below normal in Cowboy State

CHEYENNE – Wyoming experienced below normal temperatures for the week, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. 

Twenty of the 34 reporting stations reported below average temperatures for the week. The high temperature of 76 degrees was recorded at Old Fort Laramie and a low of 9 degrees was recorded at Big Piney. Below normal moisture was reported at 22 of the 34 reporting stations. Six stations reported no moisture. Yellowstone reported the most moisture with 0.67 inches. 

A reporter from North Central Wyoming indicated it has been a mixed fall with the northern area getting moisture as needed while to the south it was dry. To add to the problems, a hail storm reportedly damaged pasture, followed by a late-season grasshopper infestation.

A reporter from Western Wyoming reported the first snow storm that did not melt out. Daytime cold temperatures dropping into the low teens at night kept the snow on the ground.

A reporter from Southeastern Wyoming noted dry fall conditions persist. Irrigation water supply across Wyoming was rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 9 percent fair, and 87 percent good. Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 20 percent short and 80 percent adequate.

Sugarbeet harvest in Wyoming neared completion last week, with 97 percent reported harvested compared to 88 percent on the five-year average. Corn harvest was reported at 53 percent complete, slightly behind last year’s 58 percent for the same period but ahead of the five-year average 42 percent.

The 2018 corn crop was reported at 10 percent fair and 90 percent good. Pasture and range land rated 18 percent poor to very poor, 39 percent fair, 36 percent good and 7 percent excellent.

The winter wheat crop was ranked 99 percent good to excellent and livestock in the state were rated 85 percent good and 6 percent excellent, with just 9 percent of the livestock in Wyoming ranked poor to fair.