NASS Data: Pasture Quality Drops

OMAHA (DTN) -- As the season moves into late summer, pasture and range conditions start to see some movement in areas that have been positive since spring.

Rising temperatures, typically seen in August, and sporadic showers across the grazing regions have led to a decrease in the good-to-excellent category for many states, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report on Monday.

Colorado, Wyoming, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas have had a decrease of 12, 7, 7, 6 and 4 points, respectively. While Missouri still has 78% of pasture and range in the good-to-excellent category, that is down from 88% back in June. This has also led to 3 points more in the very-poor-to-poor category for Missouri.

The states that have suffered with drought conditions for most of the year in the Southwest continue to see this, but have held steady with these poor conditions. Nevada marks 90% of pasture and range at very poor to poor and Arizona is at 81%. Montana has seen improvement in this area by 9 points and noted 47% of pasture and range as very poor to poor. Montana also has 8 points more in the good to excellent pastures, with 21% in this category.

DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick said a front is expected to move through the country later this week to bring a relief in temperatures and more of a fall feel, while only having isolated showers.

"The Plains may end up with some good rainfall, though. Models have essentially removed a system that would move through the Corn Belt next week, though some showers may occur in the cooler air," he said.

The conditions have been favorable for corn and soybean farmers, but not for harvesting the wheat that remains in the Plains, Baranick said. Showers are likely for the Midwest through the weekend and a drop in temperatures with drier conditions following will help those who are determining when to cut hay again.

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	20	30	29	10
Previous week	10	20	31	29	10
Previous year	14	20	32	27	7

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