KIMBALL – Farmers and ranchers across much of the tri-state region were smiling a bit Tuesday morning as a slow moving cold front delivered much-needed precipitation. It wasn’t a lot of rain in most locations, but every little bit will help redress the present soil moisture deficit.
Over the previous week spring continued to develop with warmish temperatures and new plant growth. Sedges and cool season grasses were greening, winter annual grasses were really taking off, and even warm season grasses were showing a tinge of emerald.
Winter wheat fields continued to flourish and were rapidly approaching boot stage. Forbs and weeds were also greening up, and many producers were venturing into the field to begin
spring fieldwork.
Across grasslands and pastures new calves were growing like weeds and cows were relishing newly green grasses after months of dry grasses and hay.

Regional Forecast and Conditions
As this is written on Tuesday morning (March 28) a cold front has moved into the region bringing coolish, drizzly conditions with occasional rain showers. Overnight at Kimball about 0.25 inches of rain fell. These conditions were expected to hold through Wednesday and be followed by clear skies and sunshine on Thursday. Forecasters were calling for the arrival of another slow moving weather front on Friday, however, which was expected to bring additional coolness, moisture, and perhaps even a bit of snow through Saturday. The forecast anticipates a return to warmth and sunshine on Sunday, and these conditions are tentatively expected to hold through Wednesday. Daytime temperatures through Wednesday should top out in the 50’s, with overnight lows falling into the mid-30’s to as low as the freezing mark. Skies are expected to be mostly cloudy to partly cloudy, with roughly an 80 percent chance of rain across the region today (Friday) and tomorrow.
Air temperatures cooled somewhat across the region last week. At Kimball the March 21-27 daytime high averaged 61.71 degrees, about 10 degrees cooler than the previous week. The weekly high temperature was 73 degrees on March 23. Overnight lows averaged 30.57 degrees, about 7 degrees cooler than the previous week. The weekly low temperature was 28 degrees on March 25 and 27. The weekly mean temperature was 46.14 degrees, about 8 degrees cooler than the previous week and about 10 degrees warmer than the March average of 36.0 degrees. The long term average high and low temperatures for March at Kimball are 49.8 and 22.2, respectively.
Twelve of 13 Panhandle stations reported precipitation over the March 21-27 period, ranging from 0.45 inches at Lodgepole to 0.01 inches at Hemingford. Chadron reported zero precipitation for the week. Panhandle precipitation averaged 0.20 inches for the week, compared to the 30-year average of 0.29 inches. Since April 1, 2016, Panhandle precipitation stands at 94 percent of the 30-year average, ranging from 125 percent at Alliance to 58 percent at Sidney 3 S. Since October 1, 2016, Panhandle precipitation stands at 85 percent of the 30-year average, ranging from 115 percent at Alliance to 41 percent at Sidney 3 S.
Soil temperatures rose 0.4-3.3 degrees across the Panhandle for the March 21-27 period (last week/this week/change): Alliance 44.0/46.9 (+2.9) degrees; Gordon 44.6/47.0 (+2.4) degrees; Mitchell 46.9/50.0 (+3.1) degrees; Scottsbluff 45.9/49.2 (+3.3) degrees; and Sidney 49.6/50.3 (+0.4) degrees.
Winds near Kimball averaged east-southeasterly and occasionally brisk over the March 21-27 period. Gusts for the week averaged 30.42 mph. High gust for the week was 40 mph on
March 23.

U.S. Drought Monitor
(March 28) Central and southern Plains: Drier- and warmer-than-normal weather persisted, maintaining or worsening the region’s drought. Across southern Nebraska and much of Kansas, 7-day average temperatures up to 7 degrees above normal coupled with increasingly dry conditions noted out to 60 days (locally less than 25 percent of normal, deficits of 1 to 3 inches) led to widespread expansion of Abnormal Dryness (D0). In eastern Kansas, 90-day precipitation less than 50 percent of normal (locally less than 30 percent) continued to deplete soil moisture, resulting in the expansion of Moderate Drought (D1). In Colorado, unseasonable warmth (7-day average temperatures up to 18 degrees above normal) and protracted dryness (6-month precipitation averaging 30 to 50 percent of normal) led to the expansion of Severe Drought (D2) in north-central portions of the state; rain will be need soon everywhere east of the Rockies to prevent a rapid intensification of drought as winter wheat continues to break dormancy and soil moisture requirements increase. The same held true in Oklahoma, where weekly average temperatures up to 10 degrees above normal (locally higher in the Panhandle) and persistent dryness (6-month rainfall averaging 50 to 70 percent of normal) led to an increase in D2.
National Summary: A late-winter cold snap over the eastern half of the nation contrasted with warmer-than-normal conditions from the Plains to the Pacific Coast, save for lingering chilly weather in the Northwest. The eastern cold spell was accompanied by mixed precipitation across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, resulting in widespread drought reductions. Much of the south experienced drier-than-normal weather, which coupled with recent dryness led to widespread expansion of drought. Drought conditions across the west remained unchanged, though renewed Pacific storminess was taking aim at the region at the end of the period.

Western U.S. water forecast
La Niña continued to fade away during February, but a pool of anomalously cool water persisted across the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Regardless of February developments over the Pacific, storminess continued nearly unabated across the western U.S. In particular, frequent February precipitation along and north of a line from the Sierra Nevada to Wyoming maintained favorable water-supply prospects—even to the point of excess in some river basins—across the middle one-third of the West. The Sierra Nevada received an average of 40 inches of precipitation—well above its annual normal—during the first 2 months of 2017, pushing northern and central California into flood-control mode. In fact, drought concerns throughout the West have greatly diminished, except for lingering surface water and groundwater shortages across the region’s southern tier.

Snowpack and Precipitation
By March 20, 2017, most basins in the central one-third of the West—including the Sierra Nevada and the Wasatch Range—were reporting much above-normal snowpack for this time of year. In contrast, many Southwestern basins have lost much of their snow due to recent and ongoing warmth. Meanwhile, many Northwestern basins have experienced improvements in snowpack—at least into the normal range—in recent weeks.
Season-to-date precipitation (Oct. 1, 2016 – March 20, 2017) was near or above normal throughout the West. Amid an overall impressive Western winter wet season, precipitation totals have been truly exceptional (at least 150 to 200 percent of normal) in many watersheds stretching from the Sierra Nevada into western Wyoming.

Spring and Summer Streamflow Forecasts
By March 1, 2017, projections for spring and summer streamflow were indicating the likelihood of near- or above-normal runoff in most Western watersheds, except in a few northern and southeastern basins. In particular, runoff in excess of 180 percent of average can be expected in many basins from the Sierra Nevada to the Wasatch Range and environs. In contrast, runoff volumes of less than 90 percent of average should occur in scattered watersheds from the Cascades to the northern Rockies, as well as the southernmost Rockies.

Reservoir Storage
On March 1, 2017, reservoir storage as a percent of average for the date was near or above average in all Western States except New Mexico and Washington. New Mexico’s low storage was a combination of several factors, including the effects of a multi-decadal drought and overtaxed water supplies. Hydrologically, Washington has fewer concerns, and in fact continued to prepare for robust spring and summer runoff by keeping some reservoirs low. Meanwhile, California’s statewide storage reached 122 percent of average for the date by March 1, topping 120 percent for the first time since December 2011.

USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Reports

Nebraska
For the month of March 2017, temperatures averaged two degrees above normal across Nebraska. Snow fell at mid-month across many central counties. Rainfall occurred later in the month, but was limited to an inch or more over parts of southwest, central, and northeastern Nebraska.
Statewide, soil moisture supplies declined during the month. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 10 percent very short, 28 short, 59 adequate, and 3 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 12 percent very short, 30 short, 57 adequate and 1 surplus.
Spring calving and lambing have gone well. Fieldwork preparation for spring planting was active in many counties.
Winter wheat condition rated 2 percent very poor, 10 poor, 49 fair, 35 good, and 4 excellent.
Cattle and calf conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 19 fair, 69 good, and 11 excellent. Calving progress was 55 percent complete. Cattle and calf death loss rated 1 percent heavy, 66 average and 33 light.
Sheep and lamb conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 24 fair, 69 good, and 6 excellent. Sheep and lamb death loss rated 1 percent heavy, 78 average and 21 light.
Hay and roughage supplies rated 0 percent very short, 4 short, 91 adequate and 5 surplus.
Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 5 short, 93 adequate and 1 surplus.

Wyoming
Wet weather during March delayed the start of spring planting, and has caused poor calving and lambing conditions for livestock producers in some areas. Cattle and calves and sheep and lambs death loss showed an increase when compared with estimates from a year ago.
Warm temperatures melting a heavy snowpack led to flooding in certain locations, while other areas were in need of additional moisture to support the recent green up of native pastures and winter wheat.
Statewide, winter wheat condition was reported as 24 percent good to excellent, compared with 21 percent last month and 66 percent last year.
All reporting weather stations recorded some moisture during the month, with total accumulations varying from 0.07 inch at Rawlins to 1.98 inches at Big Horn. Eight of the 34 stations reported over one inch precipitation; however, year‑to‑date deficits currently exist at
15 stations.
Average temperatures varied from 2 to 11 degrees above average. Daytime highs ranged from 52 degrees at Jackson Hole to 84 degrees at Wheatland. Overnight lows varied from ‑12 degrees at Big Piney to 21 degrees at LaGrange.
Barley seeding was underway, but well behind progress from a year ago. While estimates show hay and roughage supplies to be 62 percent adequate to surplus Statewide, comments from Uinta County indicated that many livestock producers have fed substantially more feedstuffs over the winter, and their supplies were quickly dwindling and not easily replaced due to a short supply.
Stock water supplies were reported as 8 percent very short, 12 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus.

Colorado
The week began with continued abnormally dry and warm weather, but ended with welcome precipitation received in several counties, improving moisture conditions. Resulting fieldwork last week
was adequate.
Reporters note quality concerns still exist for winter wheat stands where moisture has been less than adequate for
several months.
Fall planted crops have come out of dormancy earlier than normal due to sustained warm temperatures, and depleted topsoil moisture is a concern for both crop and range conditions.
Recent precipitation in areas will help spur planting progress for some early planted crops.
Livestock remain in
good condition.
As of March 24, snowpack in Colorado was at 110 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. The Southwest and San Luis Valley were 128 and 115 percent,
respectively.
Stored feed supplies were rated 3 percent short, 85 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 29 percent average and 71 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 1 percent heavy, 73 percent average, and 26
percent light.

The regular weekly Crop and Weather Report from the National Ag Statistic Service resume April 3 for the 2017 growing season.