Most of the eastern third of the US recorded precipitation during the week ended Thursday, according to the weekly Drought Monitor from the National Weather Service.
Portions of the Midwest and into the Southeast had some amounts of more than 3 inches and even widespread 5+-inch amounts in the coastal areas of Florida, the NWS said.
The areas with the most rain also had the coolest temperatures, with much of the Midwest and Southeast cooler than normal for the week with departures of 2 to 4 degrees below normal, the NWS said. Warmer-than-normal temperatures dominated the western half of the country with areas from Montana to Texas recording temperatures that were 6 to 8 degrees above normal.
The coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest were cooler than normal while the Great Basin was warmer than normal with departures of 6 to 8 degrees above normal, the NWS said. With the dryness and heat, the flash drought that has been developing in the Central to Southern Plains developed even more this week with the wet conditions of May and June being forgotten.
SOUTH
As with areas of the central Plains, the South had widespread hot and dry conditions for the week, the NWS said. Areas of northeast Arkansas, western Louisiana and northern Mississippi had the most rain, with pockets of rain throughout central and southern Texas.
Temperatures were warmer than normal with departures of 4 to 6 degrees above normal over most of northern Texas and Oklahoma, the NWS said. As long- and short-term dryness have affected this area, extreme and exceptional drought expanded over Oklahoma and Texas while flash drought development has affected much of eastern Oklahoma into Arkansas.
Widespread degradation took place this week with a full category degradation over much of Oklahoma, Arkansas and into northern Texas, the NWS said. Further degradation took place over portions of east Texas with just small areas of improvement over far west Texas, the western Panhandle and into southwest Texas.
MIDWEST
Warmer-than-normal conditions were recorded from Minnesota to Missouri, where flash drought conditions continue to develop in the southern half of the state, the NWS said. Missouri had widespread degradation this week with most of the southern half of the state experiencing a full category degradation on the Drought Monitor.
Severe drought expanded over western Kentucky while moderate drought expanded over central Minnesota, the NWS said. New areas of moderate drought were introduced into southeast Iowa and Michigan while a new area of severe drought was introduced into central Minnesota. Improvements were made in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky, with a slight expansion of severe drought in eastern Illinois.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $137.00 to $145.16 per cwt, compared with last week’s range of $136.51 to $149.83. FOB dressed steers, and heifers went for $216.89 to $220.34 per cwt, versus $217.59 to $224.24.
The USDA choice cutout Thursday was down $2.77 per cwt at $267.76, while select was down $1.72 at $240.53. The choice/select spread narrowed to $27.23 from $28.28 with 80 loads of fabricated product and 25 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $2.70 to $2.80 a bushel over the Sep futures and for southwest Kansas were steady at $0.10 under Sep, which settled at $5.75 3/4, down $0.16 1/2.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Wednesday was $170.67 per cwt down $1.75. This compares with Thursday’s Aug contract settlement of $178.27, up $0.45.