Weather

Very dry soils a concern on the central Plains

On the Plains, drought is maintaining severe stress on winter wheat, especially from South Dakota to Texas. In addition, colder weather prevails on northern areas. The Plains’ rangeland and pasture conditions have continued to decline in recent weeks; by November 18, very poor to poor ratings included 82% in Colorado, 81% in Kansas; 77% in Oklahoma, 65% in North Dakota, and 49% in Texas.

Across the Corn Belt, much of the western Belt remains mired in drought. On November 18, for example, topsoil moisture was rated 95% very short to short in Nebraska and 66% in Iowa. The subsoil moisture situation is even more serious, with 99% rated very short to short in Nebraska and 94% in Iowa.

In the South, mild, dry weather favors late-autumn fieldwork.

In the West, wet weather is returning to the Pacific Northwest. Elsewhere, mild, dry weather continues to promote late-season fieldwork, including Arizona’s cotton harvest.