Pasture Quality Rises         07/15 11:11

   Recent Rainfall Improves Pasture Conditions Across Most States, While 
Western Drought Persists

   Recent rainfall has improved pasture conditions across many states with 
Missouri reaching 92% good-to-excellent ratings. However, drought persists in 
Montana, Arizona, and Nevada where 65% to 90% of pastures remain in poor 
condition, while Nebraska saw an 8-point increase in drought-affected areas.

By DTN Staff

   OMAHA (DTN) -- Rains across the country led to continual improvements in 
pasture and range conditions across many states, although localized drought 
persists, according to the National Ag Statistics Service weekly crop progress 
report.

   Several states saw improvement in pasture and range conditions this week. 
Missouri improved 4 points in the good-to-excellent category to 92%. Iowa also 
saw a 4-point improvement to 75% of pastures rated good to excellent. While 
Wyoming saw a 10-point jump, only 37% of the state's pastures are considered 
good to excellent.

   Decreases of 6, 4 and 7 points were seen in good-to-excellent condition 
pastures in Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma, respectively. Texas saw no changes 
in this category.

   Very poor to poor pasture and range conditions continue to be seen in 
Montana, Arizona and Nevada, where they ranked 65%, 80% and 90%, respectively. 
New Mexico saw a 13-point increase in the very-poor-to-poor category, reaching 
39%. Nebraska also continues to be a drought-stricken state with 8 points more 
considered very poor to poor at 37%.

   DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick said, "Conditions for pastures continue 
to be pretty darn good for the southern half of the Plains up through the 
Midwest. Multiple systems, fronts, and disturbances have led to more widespread 
rainfall throughout these regions over the last week."

   A drying trend is expected for the Southern Plains this week, though. 
Baranick said while there will be some showers with a front sagging across the 
region through Thursday, it should start to get a bit drier this weekend and 
especially next week.

   "An upper-level ridge will be developing and moving into the region, which 
typically means hotter and drier conditions. However, for the Northern Plains 
and Midwest, the ridge will not make it that far north and a somewhat 
persistent trough across Canada will mean more active weather from Montana to 
the East Coast through most of next week," he added.

   Areas with adequate soil moisture should continue to maintain pasture 
conditions or perhaps improve them in some areas where the soil moisture isn't 
as good like Montana, Nebraska, northern Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, he 
concluded.

   See the accompanying maps for more on the changes in various states.

   **

   National Pasture and Range Conditions (48 states)

                       Very poor       Poor    Fair    Good    Excellent
48 States              11              17      26      33      13
Previous week          11              16      28      32      13
Previous year          12              17      30      34      7




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