Based on data compiled by Kansas State University and their Focus on Feedlots survey, winter conditions, along with higher feedstuff costs, increased the cost of gain (based on feedlots participating in the Kansas survey) for steers closed-out in February by 5.7% ($4.53/cwt) compared to February 2018. (Daily Livestock Report and K-State Focus on Feedlots)
The amount of water NOAA estimates was held in the South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin snowpack in early March. By the end of March, thanks to heavy rain and warming temperatures, much of it melted over frozen soil and ran into nearby rivers causing massive flooding to farms and ranches in the area.
The amount of time evaporative demand (basically how much pressure the atmosphere puts on plants and soil to evaporate water) is expected to be as low as it has been since October 2018 for much of Texas and Oklahoma. This is likely due to the mild winter and above-normal rainfall experienced by many. (Livestock Wx)
Over the next week, a large part of the Contiguous U.S. will see abundant precipitation. For Texas and Oklahoma, East Texas and up into Southeast Oklahoma could see 2” or more of moisture. Maybe next week we will report on another drought record being broken, since much of the rainfall will be hitting areas where drought was recently expanded.
Speaking of drought, those Coloradans are pushing hard for its departure from the state. Now that we are out of winter and peaked snowpack has been reached, the Colorado snowpack was the second highest in the last 34 years. I’m sure the ski industry couldn’t be happier. (USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service)