Pastures Dry in Midwest, High Plains

8 Oct 2024

By DTN Staff

OMAHA (DTN) -- Dry conditions continue to hamper pastures in the Midwest and High Plains regions, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service report for the week ending Oct. 7.

While eastern states have seen some relief from dry conditions because of the hurricane rains, they have also dealt with destruction from high winds and flooding. As relief efforts continue in these areas, many are also preparing for what they will need to feed livestock in winter.

Minnesota joins other states with poor pasture and range conditions, moving 14 points away from the good-and-excellent pastures and 9 points more in the very poor-to-poor category.

Several other states in the Midwest and High Plains continue to see dry conditions. North Dakota, South Dakota and Kansas all have 7 points less in good-to-excellent pastures at 42%, 21% and 20%, respectively. Those same states have shifted more pastures to very poor-to-poor conditions, at 30%, 58% and 37% respectively. Nebraska added an additional 5 percentage points to very poor-to-poor conditions at 46%, while shifting 5 points off the good side as well.

Some of these states are dealing with challenges in having enough water available in pastures for the livestock, as noted in the weekly report by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Iowa has shifted 6 points out of the very good-to-excellent category and has 6 points more in the very poor-to-poor category at 24%.

Colorado has seen a 13-point increase in good-to-excellent conditions at 38%, while 11 points fewer are in very poor-to-poor conditions at 27%. Nearby Wyoming has a 9-point improvement in the poor category with half of the state's range being in that situation as they have been fighting wildfires on these ranges.

Overall, the Eastern states have seen improvement in pastures due to hurricane rains. While the moisture has improved, the storms also brought high winds and flooding, causing devastation to the areas hit. Many producers had stored feed ruined by the storms and will be searching for replacement hay in the coming months.

National Pasture and Range Conditions (48 states)