Crop Progress - State Stories

IDAHO: Average temperatures in Idaho for the month of March varied from near normal to below normal. Accumulated precipitation for the 2022 water year also remained below normal in most regions of the State. The last week in March was warmer than average, which allowed farmers to work fields in preparation for spring planting. Northern Idaho reported decent topsoil moisture at the present time. More timely rains were need for the growing season. In southwestern Idaho, pastures started to green up. Conditions overall remained dry. Calving and lambing were both edging closer to completion. Conditions remained very good for calving and lambing with moderate temperatures and mostly dry conditions. Water supply was below normal in southwestern Idaho. In south central Idaho, field work ramped up during the last three weeks. Major activities included tillage, hauling manure, planting some cereal grains, burning ditches, and getting irrigation systems ready to go. Dry conditions continued in south central Idaho. There were a few rainstorms over the last month, however, water accumulation was minimal. Some discussion was reported concerning irrigation companies starting water deliveries later than normal and at a reduced amount. Range and pastures greened up and grass started to grow, but more rain was needed. In eastern Idaho, snow cover was mostly gone in Bonneville County. Soils were still too wet to work. Calving season progressed nicely. Bear Lake County still had several inches of snow on the ground. Warmer days caused snow to melt quickly, and large puddles of water formed in the fields. No farm progress was reported. Calving progress was behind other areas. Snow still covered most fields in Teton County. Bannock and Bingham Counties received much needed moisture in the latter half of the month. Preparations were made for spring planting. Calving and lambing neared completion. 

MONTANA: This report for Montana is for the month of March 2022. Topsoil moisture 64% very short, 32% short, 4% adequate. Subsoil moisture 57% very short, 32% short, 11% adequate. Winter wheat - condition 14% very poor, 25% poor, 50% fair, 11% good. Winter wheat – wind damage 61% none, 28% light, 9% moderate, 2% heavy. Winter wheat – freeze and drought damage 61% none, 30% light, 8% moderate, 1% heavy. Winter wheat – protectiveness of snow cover 53% very poor, 45% poor, 1% fair, 0% good, 1% excellent. Pasture and range - condition 73% very poor, 21% poor, 5% fair, 1% good. Livestock grazing accessibility – 59% open, 14% difficult, 27% closed. Livestock receiving supplemental feed – cattle and calves 97% fed. Cows calved 35%; 35% last year. Livestock receiving supplemental feed – sheep and lambs 99% fed. Ewes lambed 30%; 26% last year. Montana received minimal moisture during the month of March. Counties along the western border received 1 to 4 inches of moisture for the month. Most of the State remained exceptionally dry, with precipitation totals less than half an inch for the month. Precipitation totals for the year are 2.0 inches below normal. Temperatures for the month were mild. Average daily temperatures ranged from 1 degree below to 2 degrees above average for this time of year. According to the United States Drought Monitor for March 24, 2022, zero percent of the State is experiencing exceptional drought conditions. The amount of land rated as abnormally dry was 2.0 percent, a slight decrease from 3.0 percent at the end of February. Moderate drought was present across 2.9 percent of the State, compared to 3.0 percent at the end of February. Severe drought decreased from 37.0 percent at the end of February to 30.0 percent of the State. Extreme drought conditions are present across 52.5 percent of the State. Overall, 87.4 percent of the State continues to experience drought conditions, compared to 91.9 percent of the State at the end of February. 

NEVADA: For the week ending March 27, 2022. Days suitable for fieldwork 6.9. Topsoil moisture 30% very short, 10% short, 60% adequate. Subsoil moisture 30% very short, 30% short, 40% adequate. Pasture and range condition 10% very poor, 15% poor, 10% fair, 65% good. Temperatures for March 1 to 28 averaged 44.1 degrees, 0.8 degree above normal. Statewide average precipitation was 0.395 inch, compared to 0.719 inch in a normal year. In many areas, minimal rain was received and soils were dryer than usual. Current snowpack was well below normal. Producers in the Northwest of the State started to burn irrigation ditches. 

OREGON: The Statewide temperatures in Oregon for the month of March ranged from below normal to above normal in the southern part of the State. The precipitation ranged from above normal in pockets, to an area in the south that was below normal. In northwest Oregon, crop conditions were generally good with some mixed evidence of cold injury to berries. Nursery stock was in good shape. Precipitation was above the forty-year average for the water year. Soil moisture was good. In Benton and Lincoln Counties, spring lambing and calving passed. Pastures were growing quickly and in good condition with regular rains and warmer weather. In Clatsop and Tillamook Counties, there was steady rain. The grass was growing, and temperatures were warmer. No cuttings or field applications were made. In north central Oregon, crops held up well over the winter. Temperatures warmed up slightly with some freezing nights. Producers were not able to get in the fields to spray and fertilize due to wind. Moisture conditions were better than last year. In Baker and Grant Counties, snow left the ground a few weeks ago and ground was being prepared as fast as possible. There was some warm weather last week to get crops growing. In Umatilla and Wallowa Counties, conditions were dry. In southwest Oregon, precipitation saturated the soil. In Malheur County, dry weather was good for planting and field work. Onion planting was in full swing. Dry weather was a concern due to low reservoir levels and below average snowpack. Rangeland conditions were also a concern with potential reduced grazing. 

UTAH: This report for Utah is for the month of March 2022. Topsoil moisture 4% very short, 34% short, 60% adequate, 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture 5% very short, 38% short, 56% adequate, 1% surplus. Pasture and range condition 3% very poor, 25% poor, 54% fair, 18% good. Winter wheat condition 9% poor, 60% fair, 30% good, 1% surplus. Barley planted 3%. Hay and roughage supplies 27% very short, 41% short, 30% adequate, 2% surplus. Stock water supplies 2% very short, 26% short, 69% adequate, 3% surplus. Cattle and calves condition 6% poor, 34% fair, 56% good, 4% excellent. Sheep and lambs condition 7% poor, 40% fair, 47% good, 6% excellent. Livestock receiving supplemental feed for cattle 73%. Livestock receiving supplemental feed for sheep 63%. Cows calved 42%. Ewes lambed-farm flock 35%. Ewes lambed-range flock 11%. Sheep shorn-farm flock 30%. Sheep shorn-range flock 8%. Mild temperatures along with limited precipitation occurred throughout the State for the month of March. As of March 27,2022, snowpack in Utah was 75 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. Spring planting was under away in Beaver, Box Elder, Carbon, and Millard counties due to the mild winter. Box Elder and Millard counties report livestock producers are busy with calving. Beaver County reports livestock are doing well, but it has been a mild winter with low snowpack. Box Elder County reports producers are hauling water to sheep due to a lack of snow. 

WASHINGTON: Statewide temperatures in Washington for the month of March were normal to above normal. In western Washington, there was heavy rainfall over the last couple of weeks. Some fields had significant amounts of standing water. Drier upland soils began to warm as pasture regrowth started. Field plantings for barley were rough due to wet conditions throughout the area. In Skagit County, tulips were behind due to flooded fields and labor strikes. In Chelan County, winter wheat made it through the winter in good shape. In central Washington, little rainfall was received, but all orchard trees were in dormancy. Yakima County reported apricots were in full bloom. Peaches were showing pink buds, while cherries were showing white buds. Apple trees were in full swing between green tip and half inch green. Pear tree buds were swelling due to producers applying kaolin clay and oils to their trees to combat sucking insects like pear psylla and aphids. In late March, vegetable growers prepared and tilled their fields. In east central Washington, Spring was quickly approaching, and farmers were in fields across the county. Overall, conditions throughout the county remained dry, and above average precipitation was needed to help the growing season. In southeast Washington, seeding had started, but the area still experienced drought conditions. In Garfield County, spring wheat and dry peas were planted in the dry areas of the county. Winter wheat looked good, but still needed additional moisture. 

WYOMING: This report for Wyoming is for the entire month of March 2022. Topsoil moisture 26% very short, 42% short, 32% adequate. Subsoil moisture 25% very short, 54% short, 21% adequate. Barley 7% planted. Winter wheat condition 9% ver y poor, 32% poor, 45% fair, 14% good. Calving progress 11% cows calved. Cattle and calves death loss 2% heavy, 73% average, 25% light. Lamb progress 8% ewes lambed. Sheep and lambs shorn 11%. Sheep and lambs death loss 78% average, 22% light. Livestock con dition 1% poor, 6% fair, 92% good, 1% excellent. Stock water supplies 5% very short, 38% short, 56% adequate, 1% surplus. Hay and roughage supplies 23% very short, 30% short, 47% adequate. Pasture and range condition 7% very poor, 34% poor, 43% fair, 16% g ood. The majority of Wyoming experienced below average temperatures in March, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. In isolated areas, temperatures were as much as 10 degrees below normal. Precipit was also below normal for most of the State. According to the United States Drought Monitor released on March 2022, the amount of land rated as abnormally dry was 2.8 percent, up from 2.4 ation 24, percent in February. Moderate drought was present across 3 6.6 percent of the State, an increase from 30.8 the State, down from 54.1 percent last month. Severe drought covered 40.6 percent last month, and extreme drought conditions covered 20.0 percent of percent of the State, up from 12.7 percent last month. In G activities. In Lincoln oshen County, soil moisture was aided by variable moisture. Farmers had begun field County, more mountain snow was needed to replenish irrigation supplies. Snow cover kept farmers from their fields, but conditions were good for lambi ng. Pastures were greening in Platte was needed as moisture levels received over the winter were lower than in most years.