Agricultural Summary: For the month of January 2012, temperatures averaged well above normal while precipitation was well below normal across most of the state, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Precipitation was light during January with most areas receiving less than a quarter of an inch of moisture, and at the end of the month, most of the State was free of snow cover. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated as short to very short across two-thirds of the State and adequate in the remaining counties. Wheat condition continued well above year ago levels, but declined during the month. Cattle are in good condition with the first calves of the season being born. Cattle have had access to stalk fields, limiting the need for supplemental feeding.
Weather Summary: Below normal precipitation fell during January across most of the state. This resulted in little or no snow cover at the end of January. By region, snow cover was the greatest in the northern third of the State; however, depth averaged only one inch. Little or no snow was on the ground across most of the southern two thirds of the state. Temperatures averaged 10 or more degrees above normal during the first half of the month. Temperatures averaged three degrees below normal the third week but returned to above normal reading again at the end of January. During the last week of the month, soil temperatures ranged from 29 to 32 degrees.
Field Crops Report: Wheat conditions statewide rated 0 percent very poor, 3 poor, 32 fair, 61 good, and 4 excellent, well above last year. Hay and forage supplies rated 0 percent very short, 5 short, 93 adequate and 2 surplus, near year ago levels.
Livestock, Pasture, and Range Report: Cattle and Calves condition rated 0 percent very poor, 0 poor, 8 fair, 83 good, and 9 excellent, above last year.
Agricultural Summary: For the month of January 2012, temperatures averaged well above normal while precipitation was well below normal across most of the state, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Precipitation was light during January with most areas receiving less than a quarter of an inch of moisture, and at the end of the month, most of the State was free of snow cover. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated as short to very short across two-thirds of the State and adequate in the remaining counties. Wheat condition continued well above year ago levels, but declined during the month. Cattle are in good condition with the first calves of the season being born. Cattle have had access to stalk fields, limiting the need for supplemental feeding.
