Pastures and winter grains are benefiting from recent soil moisture improvements on the northern and central Plains, but windy, dusty, dry conditions are causing renewed crop deterioration on the southern High Plains.

Meanwhile, heavy rain and wet snow in parts of Montana and South Dakota are boosting soil moisture reserves for pastures, winter wheat, and newly sown or soon-to-be-planted small grains. In contrast, dry, windy weather on the southern High Plains is maintaining severe stress on pastures and winter grains.

Conditions last year were very favorable. There was even better soil moisture. But frost came despite what had been a very mild spring to that point, so you never know how Iowa weather is going to turn out.

I've known pastures where farmers have lost winter feed because of hay fires.

Soil moisture that is root-system deep will help almost any ornamental planting do a better job of getting through winter.

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