Wyoming suffers hailstorm, drought

2013-07-03T17:57:00Z 2013-07-04T03:28:43Z Ravalli Republic
23 hours ago


According to the Farm Service Agency in Sheridan County, the northern part of the county was hit with a severe storm that pelted the area with golf ball sized hail.
The storm lasted 40 to 45 minutes and did damage to some of the barley crop although they do not have all the damage reports yet.
More than half of the recording stations received some precipitation with Sheridan receiving the most at 1.25 inches. Big Horn receives just under ninth-tenths of an inch.
Despite the moisture, more than half of Wyoming’s stations are below normal precipitation for the year. Jackson Hole is -7.08 inches behind normal, followed by Evanston at -3.29, Rawlins at -3.40, and Laramie at -3.0. Newcastle is in the best shape at +2.67 inches, with Sundance at +1.83, and Sheridan at +1.43.
Just south of Sheridan County, Johnson County is below normal.
“During April we were at or below average,” said Blaine Horn, Johnson County Extension educator for the University of Wyoming. “They did get some good moisture in April but it was so cold it came as snow. In May we were half of average. So far, in June, we have had half an inch of moisture. The average for June is 2.15 inches. So we’re way below for June.”
Warm temperatures also arrived in the state during the week preceding Father’s Day. Some areas coming close to hitting triple digits. Torrington had the high at 99 degrees, followed by Old Fort Laramie and Chugwater at 97. Mid-West and Riverton both came in at 96 degrees.
One the opposite end of the thermometer, several places recorded below freezing temperatures including Dubois at 29, Afton and Jackson Hole both at 28, Big Piney at 26 and Lake Yellowstone at 25.
The warmer temperatures allowed the crops to progress although more moisture is needed. The warm temperatures and in some places wind dried out the topsoil. Currently topsoil across the state is 9 percent is very short, 35 percent short, and 56 percent adequate. Just last week moisture levels were 7 percent short, 29 percent very short, 61 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. However, it is still an improvement over last year which showed 25 percent very short, 44 percent short, 30 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels are varied with 9 percent very short, 43 percent short, 47 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Last week subsoil levers were 15 percent very short, 31 percent short, and 54 percent adequate. One year ago the levels were 21 percent very short, 52 percent short and 27 adequate.
Across the state, 41 percent of the barley crop is in excellent condition, 50 percent is in good condition, 7 percent good and 2 percent poor. Producers report 95 percent of the barley has emerged, 61 percent is jointed and 27 percent is in the boot stage. Last year at this time 100 percent of the crop had emerged, 89 percent was jointed and 68 percent booted. The five-year average is 94 percent emerged, 54 percent jointed and 26 percent booted.
Oats are entirely planted with 87 percent emerged and 25 percent jointed. That is ahead of the five-year average of 95 percent planted, 81 percent emerged and 46 percent jointed. Last year 100 percent had been planted, 98 percent had emerged and 68 percent was jointed. Producers show that 1 percent of the oat crop this year is in excellent shape, 54 percent in good condition, 34 percent fair and 1 percent very poor.
With 100 percent of the spring wheat crop planted, the producers are seeing 60 percent of the crop in good condition and 40 percent in fair shape. Seventy-eight percent of the crop is emerged with 33 percent jointed. Last year 99 percent of the crop was emerged and 87 percent joined. The five-year average is 79 emerged and 57 percent jointed.
With 99 percent of the winter wheat jointed, 71 percent booted and 9 percent headed, the crop is behind last year and the five-year average with 97 percent jointed last year, 91 percent booted and 82 percent headed. The five-year average shows 97 percent jointed, 91 percent booted and 64 percent headed. Producers are finding 40 percent of this year’s crop in good condition, 39 percent in fair condition, 20 percent poor and 1 percent very poor.
With 75 percent of the sugarbeets emerged, producers are reporting this years crop in excellent shape across 16 percent of the fields, 54 percent in good shape and 30 percent in fair shape.
Ninety-two percent of the state’s corn crop has emerged and producers are recording 21 percent of the crop in excellent shape, 64 percent in good shape, and 15 percent in fair shape.
Planting of dry beans continues with 72 percent in the ground and 54 percent emerged.
Eleven percent of the state’s alfalfa crop has received its first cutting. That is behind last year’s 32 percent and slightly behind the five-year average of 13 percent. Eight percent of the alfalfa crop is in excellent shape, 56 percent in good shape, 32 percent in fair condition and 4 percent is poor. Other hay is rated at 5 percent excellent, 44 percent good, 45 percent fair and six percent poor.
The main crop in Johnson County is hay—both alfalfa and grass hay. Since most of Johnson County is irrigated, Horn said their hay crops are looking good. They sit at a higher elevation and don’t start greening up until May.
“Because of the slow start this spring they are just starting to get ready for the first cutting here,” said Horn. “Some have started but most producers won’t be cutting until next week.”
The second cutting in Johnson County usually happens in August.
“That’s where we might see a reduction in quantity,” he said. “Snowpack isn’t too bad but we won’t know for sure how things will go this season. We won’t know if those with junior water rights will have enough water to do a second cutting. That remains to be seen.”
Lambing across the state is 87 percent complete compared to last years 92 percent and the five-year average of 91 percent. Ninety-eight percent of the flocks are shorn and 85 percent have been moved to summer pasture. Lamb losses this year are 40 percent light, 59 percent normal and 1 percent heavy.
The hailstorm in Sheridan County primarily hit rangeland areas stocked with cattle but the FSA office reports no reports livestock loss.
Range conditions across the state are virtually unchanged from the first full week of June with 7 percent in very poor shape, 28 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 27 percent good and only 4 percent in excellent shape. That is an improvement over last year’s 21 percent very poor, 37 poor, 32 percent fair, 10 percent good and 0 percent in excellent condition. The five-year average shows 4 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 11 percent excellent.
“The rangeland is not doing too bad but it still is not great,’’ said Horn. “It’s more spotty this year than last year. Our rangeland production is low in some areas, as low as 50 percent or less of average, to as good as 80 percent of average.”
Overall, Horn said the county is not in terrible shape but they are not in great shape, either.
“A lot of guys reduced their stock last year,’’ he said.
Last year, they had a lot of carryover grass from the wet rains of 2011.
“But there is no carryover grass this year,’’ Horn said. “If they destocked to good levels last year, they should be in good shape.”

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