Spring wheat harvest is moving along rapidly and has now reached 74 percent completion nationwide - only three points behind its five-year average. South Dakota is almost wrapped up with 97 percent now cut. Montana moved up to 85 percent completion along with Minnesota.
Pasture conditions in the Plains were mainly lower again over the past week. In the southern Plains, only Texas saw a modest increase of one percentage point. Oddly enough, neighboring Oklahoma reported a 12-point decline in its rating while Nebraska conditions went backwards by nine points. In the Rockies and Southwest, New Mexico improved by 14 points and Montana bounced back by 11 points.
In the topsoil moisture deficit report (generally considered to measure the top four inches of soil representing the seed planting and sprouting zone), Texas remains in the top (driest) spot with 95 percent of its acres in the short to very short categories - two points worse than a week ago. Louisiana occupies the second position with 88 percent and New Mexico comes in third driest with 86 percent.
In the subsoil moisture deficit report (considered to measure deep soil moisture down to a few feet where the crop roots would extend downward), Louisiana has overtaken Texas at the top of the list with 89 percent of its acres determined to be short to very short on moisture. That fact is bolstered by all the wildfires taking place in Louisiana. Texas is second driest with 87 percent and New Mexico is third with 84 percent.
USDA Crop Progress 230905.pdf
