Weather

Recent rain, cooler weather benefiting pastures, rangeland

On the Plains, drought-easing showers are heaviest in Kansas, where cooler weather prevails. Unfavorably hot conditions linger, however, across Texas and northern High Plains. On August 12, rangeland and pastures rated very poor to poor ranged from 43% in North Dakota to 92% in Nebraska.

Across the Corn Belt, cooler-than-normal weather prevails. Showers are exiting the eastern Corn Belt but returning to westernmost portions of the region. The recent turn toward cooler, wetter weather continues to benefit pastures and some soybeans. On August 12, rangeland and pastures rated very poor to poor ranged from 37% in Minnesota to 98% in Missouri.

In the South, scattered showers continue to aid pastures and immature summer crops. On August 12, at least 40% of the pastures were rated in good to excellent condition in every Gulf and Atlantic Coast State from Louisiana to the Carolinas.

In the West, isolated showers are mostly confined to the Four Corners States. Elsewhere, including California and the Northwest, hot, dry weather favors fieldwork and summer crop maturation.