REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Several beef states saw some improvement in pasture and range conditions over the past week due to widespread rain.

Positive effects have been seen in over half of the top 10 beef cow states, with all those in the High Plains and Southern Plains seeing better conditions.

Texas saw a 2-percentage-point increase in the good-to-excellent category, moving it to 12%. The state also saw a 2-point decrease in the poor-to-very-poor category. Oklahoma saw similar numbers with a 2-point increase in good-to-excellent pasture and range conditions, moving it to 9% total. They also saw a 5-point decrease in poor-to-very-poor pastures, at 64%.

Nebraska saw a 1-point increase in good-to-excellent to move to 13% here, while they had a 3-point decrease in poor-to-very-poor range, marking at 59%. South Dakota and Kansas also saw increases in good-to-excellent pasture, while they both had a decrease in the worst conditions.

DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick said there is a big system moving through the Plains, with widespread rain there and into the Upper Midwest.

"That system will be laying down a front that will be pretty stalled out near the Nebraska-Kansas border through Iowa and the southern Great Lakes for the rest of the week," he said. "Areas of showers and thunderstorms are forecast near that front, and we could see some heavy rain and flooding developing in a small band there."

Some beef states saw a decrease in pasture and range conditions over the past week. Missouri has had good conditions most of the year, but during the late-summer months, it has turned dry, thus affecting pasture conditions. The state had a 7-percentage-point decrease in good-to-excellent pasture conditions to reach 40%, while a 3-point increase in poor to very poor was seen, pushing them to 26%.

Kentucky, Florida and North Dakota also saw deteriorating pasture conditions due to a lack of moisture. Baranick said Southern areas could see some more drought growth this week. However, the southwestern Plains, from western Kansas into west Texas back to the Rockies, could see occasional showers moving through and at least some cloud cover to help keep temperatures from becoming too extremely hot this week.

"Any rain would be helpful there for pasture growth as we look to get some growth going again in the fall," he added.

Northern areas are likely to have more opportunities to get some better growth this week from the rainfall, according to Baranick. Another system is expected to move through the Plains along that front this weekend and into the Midwest for the weekend or early next week.

"Models are not doing a great job at trying to figure out how that will work out. But we should see some more widespread rain again, which could be beneficial in some areas that are a bit dry but could also cause some more flooding problems in areas that were too wet this week," he concluded.

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

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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