Crop Progress - State Stories

IDAHO: The average temperatures in Idaho for February varied from below normal in most regions of the State to above normal in parts of north and central Idaho. Accumulated precipitation remained below normal in northern Idaho and above normal in southeast Idaho for the water year. In northern Idaho, the area saw cooler than average temperatures throughout February. In southwest Idaho, temperatures were above freezing, with good precipitation. Hay stocks looked good. The groundwork for cropland began. In south-central Idaho, conditions were mild with above average moisture. The feed supply appeared adequate. Soils were too wet or frozen for any early fieldwork. Manure hauling was the primary activity. In eastern Idaho, temperatures were below normal, with heavy snowfall. Snow coverage protected fall crops from extremely cold temperatures. Teton, Fremont, and Madison Counties experienced heavy snowfall, followed by extremely cold temperatures. High winds made livestock care challenging. Bannock, Bingham, and Butte Counties received good precipitation from snow. Calving and lambing season continued on-schedule.

MONTANA: This report for Montana is for the month of February 2023, through February 26. Responses were based on the entire month, with consideration for any weather-related impacts that are forecast between now and month’s end. Topsoil moisture 6% very short, 32% short, 59% adequate, 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture 10% very short, 50% short, 37% adequate, 3% surplus. Winter wheat condition 1% very poor, 8% poor, 70% fair, 21% good. Winter wheat wind damage 62% none, 26% light, 11% moderate, 1% heavy. Winter wheat freeze and drought damage 77% none, 10% light, 11% moderate, 2% heavy. Winter wheat protectiveness of snow cover 1% very poor, 5% poor, 33% fair, 60% good, 1% excellent. Pasture and range condition 14% very poor, 31% poor, 31% fair, 24% good. Livestock grazing accessibility 27% open, 30% difficult, 43% closed. Livestock receiving supplemental feed cattle and calves 99% fed. Cows calved 11%; 5% last year. Livestock receiving supplemental feed sheep and lambs 98% fed. Ewes lambed 7%; 5% last year. The month of February brought below zero temperatures and snowy weather with varying precipitation totals to the State. Temperatures for the month of February ranged from 10 degrees below average to six degrees above average. Along the northern border and eastern half of the State, precipitation remained scarce and totaled 1 inch or less. The southern border and western portion received more precipitation with totals over 1 inch to more than 5 inches at higher elevations. Drought conditions improved slightly in areas experiencing moderate, severe, and extreme drought, however, overall drought conditions continued to persist compared to last month. Snow Water Equivalent totals for the State’s basins remained close to or above average. Of the 13 basins, 7 of them remain above average. In Blaine County, cold temperatures were reported with increased need for supplemental livestock feed. Mineral, Missoula, and Ravalli Counties reported unseasonably cold and snowy conditions at the end of February. Area temperatures in late February were well below zero and frostbite was noted in newborn livestock. Extreme temperature swings stressed mothers and newborn livestock. Golden Valley and Musselshell County reports noted beneficial wet and heavy snow was received during February, but conditions were windy. Yellowstone County reports noted winter weather caused challenging calving and lambing conditions. In Broadwater County, there were concerns fall seeded winter wheat and hay crops experienced freeze damage due to ice. Extent of the damage was not yet known.

NEVADA: For the week ending February 26, 2023 - Days suitable for fieldwork 3.9. Topsoil moisture 20% very short, 40% short, 40% adequate. Subsoil moisture 20% very short, 10% short, 65% adequate, 5% surplus. Pasture and range condition 25% very poor, 5% poor, 15% fair, 20% good, 35% excellent. Most of the State received less than an inch of precipitation during the month. Conditions were windy and the ground remained frozen in northern parts of the State. Only 6 percent of the State was in D3 drought, while almost 53% of the State was in D2 drought.

UTAH: This report for Utah is for the entire month of February 2023. Topsoil moisture 1% short, 77% adequate, 22% surplus. Subsoil moisture 1% short, 99% adequate. Pasture and range condition 2% very poor, 10% poor, 59% fair, 29% good. Winter wheat condition 6% poor, 28% fair, 66% good. Hay and roughage supplies 2% very short, 39% short, 59% adequate. Stock water supplies 8% short, 92% adequate. Cattle and calves condition 8% poor, 50% fair, 42% good. Sheep and lambs condition 6% poor, 53% fair, 41% good. Livestock receiving supplemental feed for cattle 87%. Livestock receiving supplemental feed for sheep 84%. Cows calved 8%. Ewes lambed-farm flock 12%. Cold winter temperatures along with isolated snowstorms occurred throughout the State for the month of February. As of February 26, 2023, snowpack in Utah was 153 percent measured as percent of median snowfall Box Elder County reports livestock producers continued feeding cattle due to the cold weather. Beaver County and Box Elder County report livestock producers were dealing with calving issues due to the cold weather.

WASHINGTON: In south-central Washington, it was an extremely dry February. There were small skiffs of snow and wind in recent weeks, with lows dipping to the single digits. Weather was not ideal for crops or livestock, but calving had begun around the region. In Yakima County, nearly all the precipitation came in the first week of February and measured less than half an inch. Producers made significant pruning progress on orchards and vineyards during the warmer times of the month. Northeast Washington had mild weather until mid-February. In Stevens County, blizzard-like conditions were experienced, and temperatures dropped well below zero with the windchill. In east-central Washington, February weather was fair. One week of high winds produced windchill that caused a few calf losses. Winter wheat was in mostly good condition after an assessment of the crop showed minimal damage. In western Douglas County, some areas were still under snow cover, which marked over 100 consecutive days of snow cover. Snow mold, pink and gray, started to damage susceptible winter wheat varieties. In southeast Washington, February conditions were dry with cold temperatures, causing possible livestock losses in the extreme cold and heavy winds.

WYOMING: This report for Wyoming is for the entire month of February 2023. Topsoil moisture 20% short, 65% adequate, 15% surplus. Subsoil moisture 1% very short, 34% short, 60% adequate, 5% surplus. Winter wheat condition 4% very poor, 18% poor, 58% fair, 20% good. Hay and roughage supplies 23% very short, 16% short, 61% adequate. Livestock condition 1% very poor, 1% poor, 13% fair, 84% good, 1% excellent. Stock water supplies 1% very short, 10% short, 88% adequate, 1% surplus. Pasture and range condition 1% very poor, 36% poor, 33% fair, 29% good, 1% surplus. Cows calved 4%. Ewes lambed 3%. Sheep shorn 10%. Wyoming saw continued relief from drought conditions in February, with most of the State receiving above normal amounts of moisture. Isolated areas of south-central and north-central Wyoming received precipitation levels as much as 2 inches above average. Some parts of the west, south, and east, however, received below average levels of moisture. Temperatures ran below normal for all of Wyoming in February. Western and central portions of the State were hit the hardest with frigid weather. Areas of Fremont County experienced temperatures in a range of 9-15 degrees below normal. According to the United States Drought Monitor report published on February 23, 2023, the amount of land rated drought free increased to 36.6 percent, compared to 29.8 percent as published on January 26, 2023. The amount of land rated abnormally dry stood at 19.6 percent, compared to 25.4 percent at the end of January. Moderate drought was found in 34.1 percent of Wyoming, a significant increase from 24.0 percent last month. Severe drought fell to 8.7 percent, compared to 17.7 percent last month. Extreme drought improved to 1.3 percent, compared to 3.1 percent at the end of January. In Carbon County, some producers reported that the severe winter conditions required purchasing supplemental feed and clearing grounds of snow to bring feed to livestock. A report from Goshen County indicated that soil moisture levels were improving. The bitter cold, however, was hard on livestock and hay supplies were low. Snow covered much of Laramie County. Grasses were expected to improve as warmer weather approached, but it was difficult to assess field conditions at this time. Heavy snowpack was found in Lincoln County, with southern areas seeing the highest amounts of snow. With the higher levels of snow and continued stormy weather, future overland flooding remained a concern with spring on the way. Farmers and ranchers were looking forward to the end of the cold season. Platte County experienced a lot of wind in February. Combined with the snow, producers were seeing very high snow drifts. Though heavy snow systems brought good amounts of moisture, winds were pulling some of that moisture out of pastures and fields. Producers were concerned that soil moisture levels remained low as a result, and more snow or rain was needed.