NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Wheat harvest is moving through the Southern Plains and the South, but drought damage and uneven rainfall remain the main story for many producers. Corn and soybean planting are near normal or ahead in much of the country, while pasture conditions remain sharply divided between stronger Corn Belt forage and stressed cattle regions.
Heavy rain has improved drought in parts of Texas, the South, and the Mid-Atlantic, but dryness still pressures the Plains, Southwest, Northern Rockies, and parts of the Upper Midwest.
Great Plains
- Texas: Wheat harvest reached 23 percent, near the five-year average, but earlier drought and heat continue to show in crop condition and yield potential. Corn and sorghum planting remain near normal, while cotton planting reached 56 percent. Pasture and range improved in some areas after rain, but one-third of the state still rated poor to very poor.
- Oklahoma: Wheat harvest accelerated to 23 percent, well ahead of average, after fields matured quickly under stress. The crop remains weak, with only 13 percent rated good to excellent. Pasture conditions improved where rain fell, but western dryness continues to pressure cattle forage and water planning.
- Kansas: Wheat is nearly fully headed, but harvest has not yet started in the USDA table. The crop remains under drought stress, with only 15 percent rated good to excellent. Corn and soybean planting advanced, while ranchers continue watching limited pasture recovery after recent heat and spotty moisture.
- Nebraska: Corn and soybean planting are nearly complete, but drought remains severe for winter wheat and grazing. Winter wheat rated only 5 percent good to excellent, and pasture and range rated only 5 percent good. Livestock producers face continued forage concerns despite some eastern precipitation.
- Colorado: Corn planting reached 97 percent, while sorghum and sunflower planting remained active. Winter wheat stayed under heavy pressure, with only 7 percent rated good and none excellent. Pasture and range were only 15 percent good, keeping livestock water and summer grazing in focus.
- Wyoming: Pasture and range remain weak, with 59 percent rated poor to very poor. Dryness continues to affect forage development and livestock carrying capacity. Producers will need timely summer moisture to avoid deeper hay and grazing pressure.
Midwest
- Illinois: Corn reached 91 percent planted, and soybeans reached 89 percent, with crop development close to normal. Winter wheat remained strong, with 70 percent rated good to excellent. Short-term dryness has begun to appear in northern areas, but overall crop and pasture conditions remain workable.
- Iowa: Corn planting reached 97 percent, and soybeans reached 95 percent, with emergence moving ahead. Corn and soybean conditions were both strong, supported by generally adequate moisture. Pasture rated 75 percent good to excellent, helping livestock and hay prospects.
- Indiana: Corn and soybean planting continued near normal, with corn at 85 percent and soybeans at 82 percent. Winter wheat rated 69 percent good to excellent. Northern dryness bears watching, but southern moisture has supported crops and forage.
- Missouri: Corn planting reached 96 percent, and soybeans reached 74 percent. Winter wheat was nearly fully headed and remained 68 percent good to excellent. Pasture conditions were supportive, while fieldwork continues between rain events.
- Ohio: Corn and soybean planting remain behind average, with wet conditions slowing field access in some areas. Winter wheat rated 60 percent good to excellent. Recent heavy rain improved drought but created localized standing water and management delays.
Delta & South
- Arkansas: Soybean and rice planting are nearly complete, and winter wheat harvest reached 10 percent. Rice conditions remain mostly favorable, while soybean emergence is well ahead of average. Heavy rain has reduced drought, but could slow fieldwork and raise wheat quality concerns.
- Louisiana: Soybeans and rice are nearly fully planted, and rice emergence is well advanced. Pasture and range rated 61 percent good to excellent, providing livestock producers with better forage conditions than inmany neighboring states. Wet fields may slow some crop protection and fertilizer work.
- Mississippi: Soybean and rice planting are nearly complete, while cotton planting reached 83 percent. Heavy rain improved drought conditions but also limited fieldwork in some areas. Pasture conditions remain mixed, with more improvement needed for livestock and hay producers.
- Tennessee: Corn, soybeans, and cotton are moving ahead quickly, and winter wheat harvest has begun in early areas. Recent rain improved moisture, but wet conditions may slow hay work and field access. Pasture remains mixed, with 42 percent rated good to excellent.
- Alabama: Cotton planting reached 83 percent, and peanut planting reached 71 percent. U.S. Wheat Associates reports soft red winter wheat harvest is advancing, with Alabama among the early leaders. Rain improved drought and pasture conditions, with forage now much stronger than earlier in the season.
- Georgia: Cotton and peanut planting remain behind average after a difficult moisture pattern. Rain helped, but entrenched drought still limits pasture and crop recovery in some areas. Pasture rated only 27 percent good to excellent, keeping cattle forage in a weak position.
- Florida: Peanut planting reached 82 percent, but pasture remains stressed after prolonged dryness. Only 28 percent of pastureland and rangeland was rated good to excellent. Rainfall will be important for forage recovery, specialty crops, and livestock water.
- Kentucky: Corn planting reached 99 percent, and soybeans reached 82 percent, both ahead of normal. U.S. Wheat Associates reports soft red winter wheat harvest has started in the state. Heavy rain helped with moisture but may delay harvest, haymaking, and final fieldwork.
- North Carolina: Corn planting is nearly complete, soybeans reached 86 percent, and peanuts reached 88 percent. Winter wheat harvest reached 4 percent, but the crop remains variable. Pasture conditions are severe, with nearly three-fourths rated poor to very poor.
- South Carolina: Cotton planting reached 76 percent, and peanuts reached 80 percent. Recent rain improved moisture, but pasture conditions remain mixed after the earlier drought. Producers still need steady rainfall to rebuild forage and support summer crop development.
- Virginia: Cotton planting reached 68 percent, and peanuts reached 80 percent, both behind average. U.S. Wheat Associates reports soft red winter wheat harvest is underway. Pasture conditions remain very weak, with 58 percent poor to very poor, keeping livestock forage and hay supply concerns elevated.
West & Southwest
- California: Cotton planting is nearly complete, rice planting reached 90 percent, and winter wheat harvest reached 5 percent. Crop and pasture conditions remain strong compared with many other western states. Irrigation supplies and summer heat remain the key watch points.
- Arizona: Cotton planting is nearly complete, but pasture and range remain under extreme stress. Seventy-five percent of pasture is rated poor to very poor. Livestock producers continue facing dry forage, water pressure and heat risk.
- New Mexico: Drought remains the dominant issue for agriculture. More than half of pasture and range is rated poor to very poor, and only 15 percent was rated good to excellent. Ranchers continue managing limited grazing and water availability.
- Utah: Pasture and range remain sharply stressed, with 58 percent rated poor to very poor. Dryness is limiting forage recovery as summer grazing demand increases. Irrigation and water management remain central concerns.
- Nevada: Pasture conditions are mixed, with most acres rated fair and only one-fourth good to excellent. Dryness continues to affect forage and range outlooks. Producers will be watching summer precipitation closely.
Northwest & Northern Rockies
- Idaho: Spring wheat and barley planting are nearly complete, and winter wheat is rated 81 percent good to excellent. Pasture also remains supportive, with 69 percent good to excellent. Localized dryness bears watching, but statewide crop conditions remain favorable.
- Washington: Spring wheat and barley are nearly fully planted, and winter wheat is rated 77 percent good to excellent. Pasture rated 52 percent good to excellent. Some areas remain dry, but conditions are stronger than in the central and southern Plains.
- Oregon: Winter wheat is well ahead in development and rated 55 percent good to excellent. Pasture rated 66 percent good to excellent. Moisture remains mixed, but the state is in better condition than many drought-hit livestock regions.
- Montana: Spring wheat and barley planting are near completion, but crop and pasture conditions remain weak. Spring wheat rated only 1 percent good and none excellent, while winter wheat rated 21 percent good to excellent. Pasture was 59 percent poor to very poor, keeping cattle forage and dryland crop establishment under pressure.
Northeast
- Pennsylvania: Corn planting lagged normal at 59 percent, but pasture remained strong at 56 percent good to excellent. Recent rain helped southern areas and improved moisture. Field access remains the key issue for remaining planting and hay work.
- New York: Pasture rated 81 percent good to excellent, giving dairy and livestock producers solid forage prospects. Moisture has supported grass growth, but wet conditions can slow haymaking. Crop progress will depend on field access as temperatures warm.
- Maine: Pasture rated 66 percent good to excellent. Moisture remains mostly supportive for forage growth. Growers will watch for workable windows for hay, vegetable, and other seasonal fieldwork.
- New Hampshire: Pasture conditions are strong, with nearly half rated excellent. Forage growth remains favorable after recent moisture. Livestock producers are in a better position than drought-hit regions farther south and west.
- Vermont: Pasture rated 91 percent good to excellent, one of the strongest readings in the country. Dairy and livestock producers are benefiting from strong forage growth. Wet fields may still complicate early hay timing.
- Massachusetts: Pasture rated 50 percent good, with the balance mostly fair. Southeastern dryness remains a watch point. Producers need steady moisture without prolonged wet fields.
- Connecticut: Pasture rated half good and half fair. Moisture conditions remain variable across southern New England. Hay and forage quality will depend on the dry-cutting window.
- Rhode Island: Pasture rated 50 percent good and 50 percent fair. Drought conditions nearby in southeastern New England bear watching. Livestock and forage producers need consistent rainfall to maintain growth.
- New Jersey: Pasture remains mostly fair to good, with 42 percent good to excellent. Moisture has improved in some areas, but crop conditions remain uneven. Vegetable and hay producers will need timely field access.
- Delaware: Pasture remains mixed, with 36 percent poor to very poor and 38 percent good to excellent. Drought remains a concern for forage and planted crops. Producers need additional rainfall to stabilize summer growth.
- Maryland: Pasture improved sharply, with 75 percent rated good to excellent. Heavy rain helped recharge soil moisture, though longer-term drought indicators remain in parts of the state. Wheat, hay and fieldwork timing remain key near-term concerns.
- West Virginia: Pasture remains weak, with 48 percent poor to very poor. Recent rain improved moisture, but longer-term drought impacts still linger. Livestock producers continue watching forage recovery and hay potential.
Upper Midwest & Great Lakes
- Minnesota: Corn and soybean planting are nearly complete, while spring wheat and barley planting have advanced. Pasture rated only 39 percent good to excellent, with much of the state fair. Dryness in parts of the Upper Midwest bears watching as crops move into early growth.
- Wisconsin: Corn planting reached 93 percent, and soybeans reached 89 percent. Pasture rated 58 percent good to excellent, supporting dairy and livestock forage. Short-term dryness has appeared in southern areas, but statewide conditions remain mostly manageable.
- Michigan: Corn and soybean planting advanced, though corn emergence remains slightly behind normal. Winter wheat rated 61 percent good to excellent, and pasture rated 70 percent good to excellent. Moisture has generally supported forage and wheat development.
- North Dakota: Corn, soybeans, spring wheat, and barley planting moved ahead of average. Spring wheat rated 58 percent good to excellent, but western areas remain more vulnerable to dryness. Pasture rated 44 percent good to excellent, with conditions better than in Montana and Nebraska.
- South Dakota: Corn and soybean planting are well ahead, and sorghum planting reached the five-year average. Winter wheat remains mixed, with 28 percent good to excellent. Pasture and range remain under pressure, with 48 percent poor to very poor.
Far North, Hawaii & U.S. Territories
- Alaska: Drought Monitor reports cool, wet weather improved moisture, removing remaining abnormal dryness from the Kenai Peninsula and Katmai area. Seasonal forage and hay development will depend on continued favorable temperatures and field access. Livestock and specialty crop producers remain focused on short growing-season timing.
- Hawaii: Above-normal precipitation continued in parts of the state, but some abnormal dryness remains. Forage and specialty crop conditions remain highly localized. Water availability and rainfall distribution will remain the main agricultural concerns.
- Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories: Puerto Rico received enough rainfall to prevent further drought expansion, though southern areas remain abnormally dry. The U.S. Virgin Islands remained dry, with short-term abnormal dryness continuing. Specialty crops and livestock forage remain dependent on localized rainfall and groundwater conditions.
