REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Dry and hot summer weather has led to a decrease in pasture and range quality over the past week.

Other than South Dakota and Missouri, the majority of beef cow states saw a decrease in good-to-excellent pasture conditions and an increase in the very-poor-to-poor category, according to the latest USDA Crop Progress report released on Monday. South Dakota saw a considerable increase of 11% in the good-to-excellent category to move 22% of the state to this quality, while the very-poor-to-poor category declined 17%, yet still having 46% here. Missouri had a 3% increase in good-to-excellent pastures to have 80% here, while also having a 1% decrease in very-poor-to-poor pastures, making only 3% of the state in this category.

Cooler weather is expected for much of the Midwest this week, according to DTN Meteorologist Teresa Wells. "This will be a relatively slow-moving front moving from west to east across the Corn Belt, bringing rainfall to Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois the first part of the week," she said. "Cooler temperatures will also develop behind the cold front, giving the Midwest a break from the recent heat."

HIGH PLAINS, SOUTHERN STATES SEE PASTURE DECLINE

Decreased pasture quality was seen in Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas over the past week. All these states saw movement with less pasture and range in the good-to-excellent category and more in the very-poor-to-poor category.

Wells said the High Plains will see some spotty showers at times this week, but overall, precipitation is still expected to be below average. "Temperatures will cool off, especially across Nebraska and the Dakotas, where highs will be in the 70s and 80s midweek," she said. The cooldown will be short-lived with heat building back into the Plains as early as the upcoming weekend, according to Wells, with highs returning to the 90s and triple digits by the weekend.

WEST FACES WORST CONDITIONS

Colorado and Wyoming continue to suffer considerably, with 76% and 75% pastures in the very-poor-to-poor category, and only 3% and 2% in the good-to-excellent category. New Mexico is quite dry as well and has 70% of pasture and range in the very-poor-to-poor category, while only 5% are considered good to excellent.

Temperatures are expected to remain warm across the West and Great Plains next week, but the High Plains may finally see more consistent rainfall by the middle of next week, according to Wells. Some of the heaviest rainfall next week could target eastern Wyoming, western Nebraska and western South Dakota, offering a boost to topsoil moisture. The rainfall could put a small dent in the severe and extreme drought.

	Very poor	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
48 States	23	23	29	22	3
Previous week	21	21	29	25	4
Previous year	10	16	30	33	11

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

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