Crop Progress - State Stories

IDAHO: The average temperatures for January were primarily below normal for the entire State. Accumulated precipitation was below normal for most of the State as well. Owyhee County reported mainly dry and cold conditions in the southwestern regions of Idaho. Calving conditions were good, and calving itself progressed well. Hay stocks were satisfactory, with all classes of hay available. Elmore County reported that the lack of moisture and the temperatures impacted livestock forage availability, resulting in additional resources, like hay, needed by local operations. Jerome and Twin Falls Counties reported that snowpacks had started becoming a concern. However, the open winter was good for livestock, and calving was underway. Bonneville County reported adequate snow cover over winter wheat. The Snow Water Equivalent was close to normal in the basins supplying local irrigation water. 

MONTANA: This report for Montana is for the entire month of January 2025. Topsoil moisture 28% very short, 34% short, 35% adequate, 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture 33% very short, 35% short, 30% adequate, 2% surplus. Winter wheat condition 2% very poor, 5% poor, 22% fair, 70% good, 1% excellent. Winter wheat – wind damage was 80% none, 11% light, 7% moderate, 2% heavy. Winter wheat – freeze and drought damage 86% none, 8% light, 4% moderate, 2% heavy. Winter wheat – protectiveness of snow cover 11% very poor, 10% poor, 22% fair, 56% good, 1% excellent. Pasture and range condition 34% very poor, 28% poor, 34% fair, 4% good. Livestock grazing accessibility 36% open, 50% difficult, 14% closed. Cattle receiving supplemental feed 94% fed, 92% last year. Sheep receiving supplemental feed 90% fed, 95% last year. Cows calved 1%; 4% last year. Ewes lambed 1%, 3% last year. January brought a mixed weather pattern to Montana, with varying average temperatures and wide-ranging precipitation totals when compared with monthly normal. According to High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC) data, the northeastern corner of the State recorded temperatures more than 6 degrees above average, while much of southwestern Montana felt temperatures up to 6 degrees below average. National Weather Prediction Service (NWPS) data indicated that several locations across the State accumulated precipitation totaling more than 5 inches (snow water equivalent), while some areas remained dry or received only traces of moisture. The heavier accumulations were noted in western and central counties. Survey reports from Valley County indicated limited snow cover at this point of the season. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor published for January 28, roughly 4 percent of the State was drought free, compared with 6 percent on December 31. Other drought categorizations included abnormally dry (D0) at 43 percent; moderate drought (D1) at 29 percent; severe drought (D2) at 19 percent; and extreme drought (D3) at 5 percent. 

NEVADA: For the week ending February 2, 2025. Days suitable for fieldwork 7.0. Topsoil moisture 10% very short, 65% short, 20% adequate, and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture 5% very short, 65% short, and 30% adequate. Pasture and range condition 5% very poor, 50% poor, 40% fair, and 5% good. January is usually a month of significant precipitation for the State, however there was little to zero precipitation during the month. Temperatures remained normal. 

OREGON: Temperatures ranged from average to below average across most of the State. Marion and Yamhill Counties experienced a relatively dry month with colder than average temperatures. What started as a wet month in Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, and Columbia Counties ended January with little moisture. Ornamental tree harvest conditions were favorable and finished ahead of years past. Grass seed and winter grain crops remained in positive condition despite the low levels of precipitation. Benton and Lincoln Counties reported dry conditions with cold temperatures. Sunny days lent way to nighttime frost. Clatsop and Tillamook Counties welcomed a few days of precipitation but remained unseasonably dry for most of the month. Temperatures remained relatively low. Field activities consisted of manure and lime applications. Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, and Wasco Counties avoided weather extremes and freezes until the latter part of the month. Signs of green pastures were a welcomed trend following a 2024 summer with significant fire damage. Crops remained relatively dormant due to the relatively dry month of January. Calving began without much trouble due to the mild temperatures. Umatilla County also remained dry and cold, with mostly clear skies. Freezing nighttime temperatures helped snowpack at high elevations. Snowpack was also ample in Malheur County. Calves were born, and irrigation systems were readied for the growing season. Lake County received significant snowfall as the month ended, although most of the month was dry, like much of the State. Calves were dropping in Wheeler County as pastures began to turn green after significant fire damage in 2024. 

UTAH: This report for Utah is for the entire month of January 2025. Topsoil moisture 7% very short, 29% short, 54% adequate, 10% surplus. Subsoil moisture 11% very short, 36% short, 43% adequate, 10% surplus. Pasture and range condition 3% very poor, 8% poor, 40% fair, 40% good, 9% excellent. Winter wheat condition 2% very poor, 19% poor, 35% fair, 39% good, 5% excellent. Hay and roughage supplies 1% very short, 5% short, 82% adequate, 12% surplus. Stock water supplies 3% very short, 5% short, 82% adequate, 10% surplus. Cattle and calves condition 2% very poor, 9% poor, 22% fair, 60% good, 7% excellent. Sheep and lambs condition 2% very poor, 9% poor, 23% fair, 62% good, 4% excellent. Livestock receiving supplemental feed for cattle 72%. Livestock receiving supplemental feed for sheep 46%. Cows calved 2%. Ewes lambed-farm flock 3%. Ewes lambed-range flock 2%. As of February 2, 2025, snowpack in Utah was 80 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah Counties reported above normal temperatures along with limited precipitation. Grand County noted freezing temperatures for first half of January with warmer temperatures and limited precipitation for the past two weeks. Washington County reported very dry conditions with not enough moisture for fall small grains emergence. 

WASHINGTON: The Statewide temperatures for January were mostly below normal to normal for this time of year, with an area in central Washington having above normal temperatures. Producers in the western region reported freezing temperatures helping raspberry and blueberry plants progress into dormancy. In the central part of the State, little activity was reported in the crop production areas. The northeastern region experienced an extended cold spell. The lack of snow cover on crops was a concern due to potential winter kill. Calving started in some areas of the region. The east-central region reported limited snowfall and warmer than average temperatures. Winter wheat remained in good condition across the region. The southeastern region had average looking crops and did not receive much precipitation. 

WYOMING: This report for Wyoming is for the entire month of January 2025. Cows calved 1 percent. Ewes lambed 1 percent. Topsoil moisture 45% very short, 36% short, 19% adequate. Subsoil moisture 60% very short, 36% short, 4% adequate. Winter wheat condition 13% very poor, 24% poor, 62% fair, 1 percent good. Hay and roughage supplies 6% short, 89% adequate, 5% surplus. Livestock condition 10% poor, 33% fair, 57% good. Stock water supplies 3% very short, 41% short, 56% adequate. Pasture and range condition 46% very poor, 16% poor, 25% fair, 13% good. Wyoming received some relief from the ongoing drought conditions during the month of January. Rainfall was scattered and total accumulations varied widely across the State, ranging from a trace to 5 inches across most of the State during the month of January, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Some areas received no measurable rainfall. Temperatures ran below normal across the State, ranging from 10 degrees below average to near normal during the month, according to the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC) climate maps for the month of January. Drought conditions improved in Wyoming during January according to the United States Drought Monitor report published for January 28, 2025. The amount of land rated drought free was 1 percent, up from the report published December 31, 2024. The amount of land rated abnormally dry covered 16 percent of Wyoming compared to 7 percent December 31. Moderate drought was found in 24 percent of Wyoming, compared to 21 percent on December 31. Severe drought improved to 37 percent, compared to 46 percent on December 31. Extreme conditions improved to 22 percent, compared to 26 percent on December 31. Reports from Weston County indicated isolated snowfall in the northeast corner of the County, while the wildlife has been feeding on livestock feed grounds and coming in for water. Goshen County reporters noted having not received any significant amount of moisture during the month of January. Reports from Lincoln County indicated favorable winter conditions with below medium levels of snowpack and tolerable temperatures with few days well below zero, and adequate hay roughage.