Crop Progress - State Stories

IDAHO: The average temperatures in Idaho for the month of March varied from below normal to normal for most regions of the State. Accumulated precipitation remained slightly below to above normal for the water year. In northern Idaho, the area saw cooler than average temperatures throughout March. Winter cereals were not growing, and alfalfa had yet to break dormancy. In south south-central Idaho, conditions were cold with above average precipitation. There was little to no field activity in March. In southeastern Idaho, temperatures were below normal with heavy snowfall. Winter weather with additional snow accumulation caused planting and field work delays.

MONTANA: This report for Montana is for the month of March 2023, through March 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 4% very short, 19% short, 75% adequate, 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture 10% very short, 42% short, 46% adequate, 2% surplus. Winter wheat condition 6% poor, 63% fair, 20% good, 1% excellent. Winter wheat wind damage 64% none, 25% light, 11% moderate. Winter wheat freeze damage 80% none, 12% light, 8% moderate. Winter wheat protectiveness of snow cover 1% very poor, 32% poor, 34% fair, 24% good, 9% excellent. Pasture and range condition 18% very poor, 32% poor, 26% fair, 24% good. Livestock grazing accessibility 28% open, 24% difficult, 48% closed. Livestock receiving supplemental feed cattle and calves 97% fed. Cows calved 13%; 35% last year. Livestock receiving supplemental feed sheep and lambs 98% fed. Ewes lambed 8%; 30% last year. The month of March brought varying temperatures and snowy weather to the State of Montana, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), temperatures for the month of March ranged from 52 degrees to 9 degrees across the State. Drought conditions improved slightly in areas experiencing moderate, severe, and extreme drought; however, overall drought conditions continued to persist compared to the previous month. In Valley County, cold temperatures, heavy snowpack, and windy conditions were reported leading to stock losses and lower forage quality. Mineral, Missoula, and Ravalli Counties reported warmer days, colder nights, and moisture which led to some reports of pneumonia and scours in calves. Golden Valley and Musselshell County reported light snow and varying temperatures. Yellowstone County reports noted many inches of wet heavy snow of late. The States Winter wheat breaking dormancy was at 3 percent.

NEVADA: For the week ending March 26, 2023 - Days suitable for fieldwork 0.9. Topsoil moisture 5% short, 55% adequate, 40% surplus. Subsoil moisture 10% short, 85% adequate, 5% surplus. Pasture and range condition 10% very poor, 30% poor, 55% fair, 5% good. Statewide precipitation ranged between 0.5 and 4 inches. Precipitation was unusually high across the State. Fields remained too muddy for field work. Pasture needed warmer temperatures to progress. Snowpack in the mountains brought concerns about possible flooding when the temperatures start to rise.

OREGON: Moisture conditions throughout the State ranged from very wet to wet for March. However, the western part of Oregon received lower than normal amounts of precipitation. Temperatures ranged from below normal to around normal. Columbia, Multnomah, and Washington Counties reported below average temperatures and rainfall. Nurseries were doing okay from winter weather. Berries were hit by winter weather with concerns that cold pockets could cause some damage. Polk County reported unusually cold temperatures. Clatsop and Tillamook Counties reported cold temperatures, hail within the last half of the month, and severe weather warnings in places. Morrow County reported a smaller winter wheat crop than in previous years. Winter wheat struggled to emerge and grow with later than average planting dates and cold soil conditions. Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wheeler, and Wasco Counties reported subpar moisture content with below average temperatures. Baker and Grant Counties reported low temperatures and high moisture, with standing water in fields. The cold temperatures negatively impacted calving. Douglas, Jackson, and Josephine Counties reported high moisture and low temperatures which limited field work. Malheur County reported low temperatures with storms throughout the month. These storms led to above average snowpack. Streams began to fill and run off. Lake County reported very high precipitation compared to the median.

UTAH: This report for Utah is for the month of March 2023. Topsoil moisture 48% adequate, 52% surplus. Subsoil moisture 2% short, 70% adequate, 28% surplus. Pasture and range condition 1% very poor, 25% poor, 42% fair, 28% good, 4% excellent. Winter wheat condition 11% poor, 66% fair, 22% good, 1% excellent. Hay and roughage supplies 7% very short, 34% short, 52% adequate, 7% surplus. Stock water supplies 2% short, 90% adequate, 8% surplus. Cattle and calves condition 16% poor, 38% fair, 45% good, 1% excellent. Sheep and lambs condition 20% poor, 47% fair, 32% good, 1% excellent. Livestock receiving supplemental feed for cattle 92%. Livestock receiving supplemental feed for sheep 86%. Cows calved 26%. Ewes lambed-farm flock 23%. Ewes lambed-range flock 7%. Sheep shorn-farm flock 16%. Sheep shorn-range flock 1%. Cold winter temperatures along with isolated snowstorms has delayed fieldwork throughout the State for the month of March. As of March 26,2023, snowpack according to NRCS in Utah was 194 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. Box Elder County reports livestock producers continued feeding cattle due to the cold winter weather. Beaver County and Box Elder County report livestock producers were dealing with calving issues due to the wet winter weather.

WASHINGTON: In southcentral Washington, weather was colder and dryer than usual. Producers could have started farming because the fields were dry enough. However, the weather was too cold. Producers were waiting for weeds to emerge to spray, but they hadn’t started growing yet. Weather was not ideal for crops or livestock, but calving had begun around the region. Yakima County received some moisture in March, mostly as rain. Many fruit orchards and vineyards were pruned or worked on training plants, so they were ready for the season. Hop growers started stringing up their trellis systems, planting cover crops, and laying out irrigation hose. Perennial alfalfa fields were beginning to green up. Northeast Washington was warmer with some rain. In east central Washington, some spring seeding started. In the drier areas of Walla Walla County spring planting started. In other areas fields were still under snow. Parts of Douglas County remained under snow cover and snow mold was forecast to be an issue for producers. Farming started in the southern end of Lincoln County. Winter wheat was in mostly fair condition. Soil moisture was in short to adequate supply, but not excessive. In southeast Washington, the nights remained cold and precipitation continued.

WYOMING: This report for Wyoming is for the entire month of March 2023. Topsoil moisture 1% very short, 11% short, 85% adequate, 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture 5% very short, 25% short, 69% adequate, 1% surplus. Winter wheat condition 4% very poor, 18% poor, 59% fair, 18% good, 1% excellent. Hay and roughage supplies 18% very short, 24% short, 57% adequate, 1% surplus. Livestock condition 1% very poor, 1% poor, 14% fair, 79% good, 5% excellent. Stock water supplies 3% very short, 9% short, 87% adequate, 1% surplus. Pasture and range condition 5% very poor, 19% poor, 20% fair, 53% good, 3% surplus. Barley planted 1%. Cows calved 16%. Cattle and calves death loss 5% heavy, 39% average, 56% light. Ewes lambed 4%. Sheep shorn 19%. Sheep and lambs death loss 3% heavy, 43% average, 54% light. The majority of Wyoming experienced below normal temperatures during March according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC) maps for the period February 25, 2023, to March 26, 2023, indicate that much of the northwest and east saw temperatures at or 4 to 8 degrees below normal for the month. Portions of southwest and west-central Wyoming experienced temperatures as much as 16 to 20 degrees below normal. Precipitation levels were also at or below normal for much of the State according to the HPRCC for the same period. In most of northern, central, and eastern Wyoming, much of the moisture received was on average about 25 to 90 percent of normal. Portions of west and south-central Wyoming, however, fared better. Precipitation levels in these areas were in a range of about 110 to 150 percent or higher above normal according to the HPRCC. Isolated portions of the west and south received as much as 4 to 6 inches of moisture. In face of the colder temperatures and less than favorable precipitation for much of the State, drought conditions improved according to the United States Drought Monitor report published on March 23, 2023. The amount of land rated drought free increased to 43.5 percent, compared to 36.3 percent as published on February 23, 2023. The amount of land experiencing abnormal dryness stood at 18.4 percent, down slightly from 19.6 percent as published on February 23. Moderate drought decreased to 29.2 percent, compared to 34.1 percent on the previous report. Severe drought fell slightly to 7.6 percent compared to 8.7 percent last month. Extreme drought was unchanged at 1.3 percent. With morning temperatures running below zero, Lincoln County was having a late spring. Day time temperatures were also mostly below freezing. Farmers and ranchers looked forward to spring. Lower elevation snow was not melting, with much remaining on the ground. Field activities had not yet begun. Ranching conditions ranked among the harshest in decades. Ranchers were having difficulties with calving and lambing as a result. In Goshen County, soil conditions improved with the intermittent moisture. Winds, however, dried topsoil.