Crop Progress - State Stories

IDAHO: The average temperatures for March were normal to slightly above normal for the State. Warmer than average temperatures in the latter part of the month allowed early spring crop plantings to begin in the southwestern part of the State. Snowpack levels remained above normal in southern Idaho, with near-average levels in the north and eastern parts of the State. Rain during the latter part of the month stalled early spring plantings in northern Idaho. Spring tillage, potato and cereal crop plantings, and manure hauling occurred in southern Idaho. Pastures were greening up and growing. Alfalfa broke dormancy. In the eastern part of the State, field conditions remained too wet or cold to work fields, although lower elevations began drying out. Hay stocks were sufficient to last until pasture became available in the east. 

MONTANA: This report for Montana is for the entire month of March 2025. Topsoil moisture 22% very short, 24% short, 53% adequate, 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture 25% very short, 24% short, 51% adequate. Winter wheat condition 1% very poor, 9% poor, 32% fair, 58% good. Winter wheat wind damage 72% none, 21% light, 6% moderate, 1% heavy. Winter wheat freeze and drought damage 70% none, 20% light, 9% moderate, 1% heavy. Winter wheat protectiveness of snow cover 63% very poor, 15% poor, 11% fair, 11% good. Pasture and range condition 25% very poor, 37% poor, 37% fair, 1% good. Livestock grazing accessibility 87% open, 8% difficult, 5% closed. Cattle receiving supplemental feed 96% fed, 97% last year. Sheep receiving supplemental feed 94% fed, 99% last year. Cows calved 10%, 15% last year. Ewes lambed 5%, 12% last year. Barley planted 1%. Oats planted 1%. Winter wheat breaking dormancy 3%. March brought mostly above normal temperatures and limited precipitation. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor published for March 25, roughly 41 percent of the State was drought free, compared with 41 percent on February 27. Other drought categorizations included abnormally dry (D0) at 24 percent, moderate drought (D1) at 23 percent, severe drought (D2) at 10 percent, and extreme drought (D3) at 2 percent. Survey reports from Valley County indicated limited moisture at this point of the season. Survey reports from Wibaux County indicated very dry and windy along with limited snow cover. 

NEVADA: For the week ending March 30, 2025, days suitable for fieldwork 7.0. Topsoil moisture 5% very short, 80% short, 10% adequate, and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture 5% very short, 25% short, 65% adequate, and 5% surplus. Pasture and range condition 15% very poor, 60% poor, 15% fair, 5% good, and 5% excellent. As of March 25, the US Drought Monitor showed that 66% of the State was not in a drought. There was some precipitation during the month, but not enough to fully recover from the dry spell at the beginning of the year. Temperatures were slightly higher than average at the end of the month. Despite the dry weather, fields were starting to green up. The Irrigation District announced full water allocations for this year and water orders have begun. 

OREGON: Rain was significant throughout the State. Clatsop and Tillamook Counties reported significant rain. Manure applications occurred under less than desirable conditions. There was no observed field planting. There was a lot of rain in Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, Wheeler, and Gilliam Counties. Pastures that burned last year started to green up fast. Wheat still looked small. Spraying was behind due to the rain. In Umatilla County, the outlook for most crops was reported as favorable. In Malheur County, field operations took place on a widespread basis. Onions, sugar beets, spring cereals, and potatoes were planted. Wheat was fertilized, and hayfields were harrowed or corrugated. Reservoirs were full or nearly full. Ranchers with spring calving herds reported average to below average mortality. Many began branding new calves. Some ranchers impacted by wildfires last summer looked for pastures to graze animals. 

UTAH: This report is for the month of March 2025. Topsoil moisture 18% very short, 31% short, 50% adequate, 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture 4% very short, 36% short, 60% adequate. Barley planted 1%. Winter wheat condition 9% very poor, 11% poor, 34% fair, 44% good, 2% excellent. Cows calved 20%, 23% 2024. Cattle receiving supplemental feed 85%, 75% 2024. Cattle condition 1% poor, 6% fair, 88% good, 5% excellent. Farm flock ewes lambed 14%, 21% 2024. Range flock ewes lambed 5%, 8% 2024. Sheep receiving supplemental feed 69%, 84% 2024. Sheep and lambs condition 1% poor, 13% fair, 85% good, 1% excellent. Hay and roughage supplies 1% very short, 7% short, 49% adequate, 43% surplus. Stock water supplies 1% very short, 11% short, 67% adequate, 21% surplus. March brought mild temperatures and above average precipitation to northern Utah, while most of the southern and eastern areas saw lower precipitation and mild temperatures. Topsoil moisture conditions increased from last month, with 51 percent rated adequate to surplus, compared with 71 percent adequate in February’s report. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for March 25, the State remains free from exceptional drought (D4) conditions. Extreme drought (D3) conditions were estimated at slightly above 4 percent, severe drought (D2) conditions were at 35 percent, moderate drought (D1) conditions were 38 percent, and abnormally dry (D0) conditions covered about 21 percent of Utah. Drought-free conditions calculated to about 2 percent. As of March 31, 2025, snowpack in Utah was 89 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. Beaver County reported some recent snow, but overall, still dry. Range conditions are fair to poor, but livestock are doing well. Box Elder County reported that planting continues, and some growers started fertilizer ahead of this week’s storm events. Fruit trees continue to be pruned, and with last week’s warmer weather, apricot trees started to bloom. Orchardists are concerned while the chance of frost remains for another month. Calving and lambing are progressing. Duchesne County reported unusually warm and dry weather which has producers worried about summer crops, but livestock is doing well with little supplement needed as they grazed on pasture most of the winter. Grand County reported as abnormally dry, and most cows have calved. Summit County reported a very mild winter, with some snow in the higher mountains, but the valleys are wet, and farmers started prepping fields. Calving is more than halfway done, and sheep shearing will begin soon. Washington County reported little rain or snow, and dry conditions persist with most stock ponds dry. 

WASHINGTON: The Statewide temperatures for March fluctuated between cooler temperatures with storms during the middle of the month and warmer temperatures toward the end of the month. Producers in central Washington saw little precipitation in the cropping areas of Yakima County. Orchard pruning occurred along with mowing and applying pest sprays. Apricots and peaches were in full bloom, while most cherries began blooming. Vegetable fields were tilled in preparation for planting. Hop yards were cleaned and tilled, and ground cover was seeded. Irrigation ditches were cleared of debris and weeds. The northeast region experienced cooler nights with some precipitation. Snow remained in the surrounding mountains. Snow mold was a concern in winter wheat. Calving continued in many areas. The southeast region received spring rains at a steady pace. This limited spring fieldwork, but the moisture was needed. 

WYOMING: This report for Wyoming is for the entire month of March 2025. Barley planted 15%. Cows calved 19%. Cattle death loss was rated 1% heavy, 30% average, 69% light. Ewes lambed 19%. Sheep shorn 19%. Sheep death loss was rated 21% average, 79% light. Topsoil moisture 37% very short, 31% short, 28% adequate, 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture 47% very short, 31% short, 21% adequate, 1 percent surplus. Winter wheat condition 21% very poor, 38% poor, 37% fair, 3% good, 1% excellent. Hay and roughage supplies 3% very short, 21% short, 68% adequate, 8% surplus. Livestock condition 9% poor, 20% fair, 66% good, 5% excellent. Stock water supplies 2% very short, 20% short, 75% adequate, 3% surplus. Pasture and range condition 29% very poor, 20% poor, 33% fair, 16% good, 2% excellent. Wyoming received relief from the ongoing drought conditions during the month of March. Precipitation was scattered and total accumulations varied, ranging from a trace to 10 inches across the State during the month of March, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Temperatures across the State were warmer than normal, ranging from 1 degree below average to 5 degrees above average during the month, according to the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC) climate maps for the month of March. Drought conditions improved in Wyoming during March according to the United States Drought Monitor report published for March 25, 2025. The amount of land rated drought free was 14 percent, up 10 percent from the report published February 25, 2025. The amount of land rated abnormally dry covered 20 percent of Wyoming, unchanged from February 25. Moderate drought was found in 34 percent of Wyoming, compared to 26 percent on February 25. Severe drought improved to 19 percent, compared to 34 percent on February 25. Extreme conditions improved to 13 percent, compared to 16 percent on February 25. Reports from Goshen and Niobrara Counties indicated dry conditions. Niobrara County reports noted having received some moisture over the weekend. Reports from Weston County indicated receiving some moisture recently, causing pastureland to start turning green with observed growth present.