With implications for US hard red winter wheat production and pastures in the Southern Plains and the Southwest, the worst drought conditions expanded in the latest week, the US Drought Monitor showed Thursday.
Storm systems during the week ended Tuesday steered north of drought-stricken areas of the Southwest that saw further deterioration in drought conditions, said the USDA and the National Integrated Drought Information System.
In the Southern Plains, light shower activity provided some minor relief to dry pasture and rangelands as well as helped to reduce wildfire danger, the NIDIS said.
In Texas, some isolated heavy rainfall activity brought relief to the western Panhandle and Trans-Pecos region, the agency said.
The storm systems of last week tracked across the continental US bringing rains that were thought to be beneficial to portions of the Mid-Atlantic and South. The storm systems also brought mountain snow to higher elevations as well as cooler temperatures to the northern half of the region coming into last weekend after a period of record-setting warmth across parts of the West.
DRY CONDITIONS EXPAND
The data shows that 42.8% of the US was experiencing some level of abnormally dry conditions, ranging from class D1 drought, or abnormally dry to D4, or extreme drought, compared with 42.49% last week. Of this, 2.20% of the US is experiencing D4, or exceptional drought conditions, compared with 1.97% a week ago.
Most of the drought-stricken Southwest, where normal conditions bring thin rainfall, remained warm and dry with areas of southeastern California and southwestern Arizona reaching the low 100s Fahrenheit during the last week, the Drought Monitor said.
This continued dry pattern led to expansion of areas of D2, or severe, and D3, or extreme, drought in the western half of Arizona, the Monitor said. Mohave County extension agents were reporting very poor rangeland conditions with stock ponds going dry. Ranchers were hauling water, but this is a losing battle for most producers, long term.
In north-central New Mexico and south-central Colorado, an area of D4, or exceptional, drought appeared, the Drought Monitor showed.
Monday’s weekly USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Progress Bulletin showed topsoil moisture in New Mexico was rated 90% short to very short with subsoil moisture rated 89% short to very short, the Drought Monitor said. And during the last week, average temperatures were near normal in the Far West and 5 to 15 degrees above normal across the remainder of the West.
HIGH PLAINS DROUGHT EXPANDS
Areas of D0, or abnormally dry, and D1, or moderate, drought conditions expanded in North Dakota with the introduction of D2, or severe drought in the northern part of the state, the Monitor said.
The weekly Crop Progress Report showed topsoil moisture at 45% short to very short.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
Out of 2,982 fed cattle presented, 413 sold Wednesday on the Livestock Exchange Video Auction, all for 1- to 9-day delivery, at $122.40 per cwt. There were no sales the previous Wednesday.
Cash trading this week so far was at $126 per cwt on a live basis, compared with mostly $124 to $126 last week. No dressed-basis trading was reported but took place last week at $198.
The USDA choice cutout Thursday was up $0.26 per cwt at $227.56, while select was up $1.29 at $209.17. The choice/select spread narrowed to $18.39 from $19.42 with 72 loads of fabricated product sold into the spot market.
The CME Feeder Cattle index for the seven days ended Wednesday, was $138.11 per cwt, down $1.02. This compares with Thursday’s May close of $140.80, up $2.17.