Crop Progress - State Stories

IDAHO: The average temperatures for February ranged from below normal to slightly above normal for the State. Northern Idaho experienced warm temperatures as a reprieve from heavy snowfall, which caused excessive soil moisture. Crop growth started again, and spring calving started. Warmer than average temperatures melted the snow away in lower to mid elevation fields. Rain and melt events caused rill erosion in susceptible areas. Southwest Idaho received significant precipitation, and snowpack levels were above normal. Hay stocks were sufficient as calving and lambing progressed. There were some reports of lingering snow in fields resulting from multiple snowstorms. Southeast Idaho reported lingering water from significant precipitation throughout the month. Hay supplies remained plentiful. Calving and lambing were in full swing as the weather warmed, following a trend of significant precipitation. Producers also prepared equipment for the spring season. 

MONTANA: This report for Montana is for the entire month of February 2025. Topsoil moisture 17% very short, 29% short, 52% adequate, 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture 22% very short, 38% short, 39% adequate, 1% surplus. Winter wheat condition 1% very poor, 11% poor, 21% fair, 67% good. Winter wheat, wind damage was 70% none, 22% light, 5% moderate, 3% heavy. Winter wheat, freeze and drought damage 75% none, 16% light, 8% moderate, 1% heavy. Winter wheat, protectiveness of snow cover 18% very poor, 40% poor, 9% fair, 10% good, 23% excellent. Pasture and range condition 26% very poor, 45% poor, 22% fair, 6% good, 1% excellent. Livestock grazing accessibility 62% open, 25% difficult, 13% closed. Cattle receiving supplemental feed 97% fed, 97% last year. Sheep receiving supplemental feed 94% fed, 96% last year. Cows calved 4%, 13% last year. Ewes lambed 3%, 9% last year. February brought cooler temperatures and snowstorms. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor published for February 27, roughly 41 percent of the State was drought free, compared with 4 percent on January 28. Other drought categorizations included abnormally dry (D0) at 24 percent, moderate drought (D1) at 21 percent, severe drought (D2) at 10 percent, and extreme drought (D3) at 4 percent. 

NEVADA: For the week ending March 2, 2025, days suitable for fieldwork 7.0. Topsoil moisture 50% very short, 15% short, 25% adequate, and 10% surplus. Subsoil moisture 10% very short, 70% short, 15% adequate, and 5% surplus. Pasture and range condition 15% very poor, 50% poor, 20% fair, 10% good, and 5% excellent. As of February 25, the US Drought Monitor showed 78% of the State was not in a drought. Dry conditions continued during February, with little precipitation. Temperatures remained normal. Alfalfa was still dormant. Annual weeds started to germinate. 

OREGON: Temperatures ranged from average to below average across most of the State. Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah, and Washington Counties reported sporadic severe weather with wind damage and some local flooding. Erosion manifested in fields with inadequate cover. The weather also significantly pushed pasture and crop growth along with weed competition. These conditions encouraged fertilizing and weed control activities. Benton and Lincoln Counties also experienced a dichotomy of pleasant warm weather and several large storms that brought high winds, downed trees, power outages, and some flooding. Clatsop and Tillamook Counties followed suit with heavy rainstorms and high winds, which caused some structural damage. The grass was greening, and field conditions were saturated as rivers saw bank spillover. Fields in Morrow County had high moisture but were short of being saturated. Deep snow was reported in nearby higher elevations. Lake County experienced a continued trend of heavy precipitations along with freezing temperatures. Livestock producers reported higher than normal mortality rates for newborn livestock due to severe winter weather conditions. 

UTAH: This report for Utah is for the entire month of February 2025. Topsoil moisture 29% short and 71% adequate. Subsoil moisture 41% short and 59% adequate. Pasture and range condition 4% poor, 7% fair, 74% good, 15% excellent. Winter wheat condition 9% poor, 28% fair, 63% good. Hay and roughage supplies 53% adequate and 47% surplus. Stock water supplies 10% short, 57% adequate, and 33% surplus. Cattle and calves condition 94% good and 6% excellent. Sheep and lambs condition 93% good and 7% excellent. Livestock receiving supplemental feed for cattle 85%. Livestock receiving supplemental feed for sheep 97%. Cows calved 14%. Ewes lambed-farm flock 4%. Ewes lambed-range flock 8%. As of March 2, 2025, snowpack in Utah was 85 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. Grand County reported very dry, with little snow and warm conditions. Beaver County reported very poor snowpack, but livestock are doing well, and farmers are starting field work. 

WASHINGTON: The Statewide temperatures for February were mostly below normal to normal for this time of year. Producers in central Washington received much needed precipitation in the form of snow. Crop activity was low, with some acres of orchards and hopyards torn out since the last cropping season. The northeastern region experienced cold weather. The rain melted the valley snow, which helped with soil moisture. Calving had officially begun. The east-central region reported that their winter wheat crop remained in good to excellent condition. February weather was favorable, apart from soil moisture loss due to frozen soil. The southeast region received some precipitation. Most precipitation went into the ground, but some runoff was due to frozen ground conditions. 

WYOMING: This report for Wyoming is for the entire month of February 2025. Cows calved 11%. Ewes lambed 8%. Sheep shorn 14%. Topsoil moisture 30% very short, 34% short, 27% adequate, 9% surplus. Subsoil moisture 33% very short, 37% short, 26% adequate, 4% surplus. Winter wheat condition 16% very poor, 24% poor, 49% fair, 10% good, 1% excellent. Hay and roughage supplies 1% very short, 10% short, 73% adequate, 16% surplus. Livestock condition 1% very poor, 2% poor, 19% fair, 73% good, 5% excellent. Stock water supplies 1% very short, 10% short, 81% adequate, 8% surplus. Pasture and range condition 9% very poor, 17% poor, 41% fair, 29% good, 4% excellent. Wyoming received some relief from the ongoing drought conditions during the month of February. Rainfall was scattered and total accumulations varied widely across the State, ranging from a trace to 15 inches across the State during the month of February, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Temperatures varied widely across the State during the month, ranging from 15 degrees below average to near normal in the northern half of the State, while the southern half of the State saw temperatures ranging from 3 degrees below average to 6 degrees above average during the month, according to the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC) climate maps for the month of February. Drought conditions improved in Wyoming during February according to the United States Drought Monitor report published for February 25, 2025. The amount of land rated drought free was 4 percent, up 3 percent from the report published January 28, 2025. The amount of land rated abnormally dry covered 20 percent of Wyoming compared to 16 percent January 28. Moderate drought was found in 26 percent of Wyoming, compared to 24 percent on January 28. Severe drought improved to 34 percent, compared to 37 percent on January 28. Extreme conditions improved to 16 percent, compared to 22 percent on January 28. Reports from Platte County indicated receiving little moisture along with high winds during the month, keeping the ground dry which was great for calving and lambing but ruinous for spring planting and winter wheat. Goshen County reporters noted having not received any significant amount of moisture with ongoing severe drought conditions during the month of February. Reports from Lincoln County indicated near median levels of snowpack, temperatures near zero at night and slightly above freezing daytime temperatures, local rivers frozen over and overland flooding, while local ranchers were just starting to calving and lambing.