Topsoil moisture was adequate in 37 percent of the state last week, compared to 43 percent the previous week and 65 percent last year, according to the weekly report by the Wyoming Agricultural Statistics Service, a branch of USDA.

Twenty-six percent of range and pastures were in poor or very poor condition, compared to 23 percent the week before.

Just under a quarter were rated good, compared to a five-year average of 72 percent good or excellent.

Ranchers were extremely concerned with stock water supplies, as over a third of the state's supply was rated short or very short, the Statistics Service said.

Warmer temperatures were reported throughout Wyoming last week, except on Sunday, when a cold front sent temperatures plunging 30 degrees in a few hours to the high 20s in the southeast corner, raising concern of freeze damage.

Nearly a fifth of the state's winter wheat crop was in poor or very poor condition, the report said.

Planting for barley, spring wheat and sugar beets was nearly complete, while oats seeding was 82 percent finished.

Eighty percent of the barley crop had emerged, slightly ahead of the five-year average, while 23 percent of spring wheat had emerged, well behind the average of 50 percent.

Oats were 38 percent emerged, well behind the 49-percent average, and beets were 14 points behind the normal pace.

Corn was also behind schedule.

At week's end, range flock ewes were 60 percent lambed, slightly behind average, and range flock sheep were 99 percent shorn, slightly ahead of average.

Year-to-date precipitation was below average at 22 of the state's 27 regular reporting stations.

Jackson and Afton were each more than 4 inches below average.

The only stations with above-average moisture were Chugwater (1.39 inches above), Cheyenne (0.93), Sundance (0.73), Wheatland (0.53), and Redbird (0.28).
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On the Net: http://www.nass.usda.gov/wy