NE January Weather Summary: Not much change since December!

Agricultural Summary:
For the month of January 2013, temperatures averaged near 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 most of the State, largely unchanged from last month.  Wheat condition continued well below year ago levels with most of the crop rated fair to poor. Cattle are in mostly good condition with the first calves of the season being born.  Cattle have made good use of stalks where available.

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.    The  greatest  amounts  of  precipitation  in  the  form  of  rain  and  snow  fell  across Northwestern  and  Southeastern  border  counties,  but  accumulations  amounted  to  little more  than  .50  inch  of moisture.  Temperatures  averaged  2  to  3  degrees  below  normal  for  the western  half  of  the  state  and  up  to  3  degrees  above  for portions of  the eastern half. During  the  last week of  the month,  soil  temperatures  ranged  from 26  to 33 degrees, below year ago levels.  

Field Crops Report: 
Wheat conditions statewide rated 15 percent very poor, 35 poor, 42 fair, 8 good, and 0 excellent, well below  last year.   Hay and  forage  supplies  rated 23 percent very  short, 31  short, 46 adequate and 0  surplus, well below year ago levels.

Livestock, Pasture,  and Range Report:  
Cattle  and Calves  condition  rated  0  percent  very  poor,  2  poor,  23  fair,  68 good, and 7 excellent, below last year.  Cows that have calved since January 1, was 5 percent. 

COUNTY REPORTS:
BOONE: Very little moisture and a few days of extreme cold, but mostly warm conditions for the month.

DIXON: Early  calving  just got  started.   Cow-calf operators are  feeding mostly  corn  stalk  and bean  stubble bales along with protein supplement to help keep the feed expenses down. Moisture for spring planting continues to be a major concern. 

KNOX: Cattle have gotten good use from corn stalks. Mixed rations have been creative as producers look for the least cost. 

DODGE: Winter wheat is holding up even without snow cover. Cattle continue to graze stalks. 

GAGE: We are short of subsoil moisture. However, we have received normal moisture in Oct, Nov, Dec, and Jan. That isn't a lot, but we are not as dire as some believe.