REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Pasture and range conditions continue to be the worst in the Plains region cattle states, with Nebraska continuing to suffer the most.

Nebraska shows 79% of pasture and range in the very-poor-to-poor category, with only 5% rated good to excellent. Other states in the region with a high percentage of pasture and range rated very poor include Colorado and Wyoming -- both with 60% in this category -- followed by Montana with 52% here. All these states saw an increase in deteriorating conditions.

DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick said some precipitation fell in the High Plains last week and during the weekend, but it wasn't very heavy and came as snow in parts of Colorado.

"The precipitation has increased soil moisture nominally, though, so that should help with growth as the temperatures increase here this week," Baranick said.

"We'll also see more precipitation chances later this week and weekend, but mainly across the Northern Plains. A few spotty thunderstorms will be possible from Nebraska southward, but overall, it's looking drier, not really what we want to see as temperatures increase this week and use up the moisture we got last week," he added.

A system is forecast to move through the Northern Plains and Midwest this weekend, which should be beneficial, Baranick said.

"The cold front should be pretty active as it moves south this weekend into early next week, bringing at least chances for widespread rainfall for the Central and Southern Plains into the Lower Mississippi Valley," he said.

MIDWEST HAS BEST PASTURE CONDITIONS

Several Midwestern states have received timely spring moisture and have a high percentage of pasture in the good-to-excellent category. Missouri leads the top beef cow states with 80% of pastures in good-to-excellent condition, followed by Iowa at 78%, Illinois at 66% and Indiana at 63%.

Baranick said the Midwest will have a chance for scattered showers this week as a system moves through mostly northern areas the first half of the week, and more showers to be in the area toward the end of the week.

"Showers are forecast to increase over the weekend with some nice rainfall, especially around Iowa and Missouri," he added.

SOUTHERN PLAINS SHOW MIXED CONDITIONS

Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas show pasture and range about even for conditions across the board. For the good-to-excellent category, they are Kansas at 39%, Oklahoma at 28% and Texas at 32%. The same area for very-poor-to-poor conditions showed Kansas at 30%, Oklahoma at 32% and Texas at 37%.

Oklahoma State University Sustainable Livestock Production Specialist Mason Henson said many producers in the Plains are facing a transitional period when forage availability and quality may be limited.

"This gap between cool-season and warm-season perennial forages can be particularly challenging for operations with higher nutritional demands, such as stocker cattle or cow-calf operations," he said.

Henson suggested incorporating warm-season annual mixtures as a good way to maintain productivity and extend grazing into the summer months. Adding both grass and legumes can provide enhanced crude protein content and contribute nitrogen to the system.

Having good seed-to-soil contact is important to success no matter how the seeds are planted, and having moisture to help establish the plant is crucial.

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

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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