REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Regional improvements were seen over the past week in the very worst pasture and range conditions, but not enough to see a major shift on the good to excellent side.

The High Plains and Southwest saw a slight improvement in the very poor to poor conditions. The states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado and New Mexico all had a positive shift of 1% to 4%. Utah saw the most change of 10%, bringing the very poor to poor pastures there to 53%, while the state also saw a 5% increase on the good to excellent side.

The Midwest and Southern Plains saw a negative impact due to high temperatures, with conditions worsening in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas from 1% to 6%. These states also all had a decrease in the good to excellent pasture conditions by as much as 11%. Missouri has had quality pasture conditions all year but now has only 62% in the good to excellent category and 14% in the very poor to poor category.

DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick said there has been some rain in areas of the Plains, but not enough to raise pasture conditions. "Overall, soil moisture is falling across the country as it just hasn't been active enough for too many areas. That sort of plays out the same here this week as well," he said. "We'll have a fairly busy northern storm track with a front stalled out from about Nebraska to Michigan and across the Northeast. We should see some areas of showers and thunderstorms near and north of the front for much of the week. But to the south of it, it is going to remain awfully hot, and pretty dry."

Other beef states of Montana, Wyoming and Colorado have suffered most of the year from dry conditions, which continue to put pressure on producers. Montana has turned extremely dry over the past week with a 13% shift negatively in the good to excellent category and an additional 8% in the very poor to poor category, bringing it to 55%. Wyoming has 72% of its pastures in the very poor to poor category with only 1% on the good to excellent side. Colorado also remains dry with 60% in the very poor to poor category and 6% in the good to excellent category.

Overall, pasture conditions are much worse currently than they were a year ago. The very poor and poor conditions are currently at 23% and 29%, respectively, as compared to 11% and 20% in 2025. That is also seen in the good to excellent category, with current conditions at 16% good and 2% excellent, while a year ago those numbers were 29% and 9%.

Baranick said the weather is not going to be favorable for pasture and range conditions this week either. The areas in the north expecting rainfall may not get enough to show improvements there either.

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com.

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal.

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