State stories — a quick read as it is, a composite of what is happening out in the field, literally, as USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey explains:
“USDA mass produces a weekly report, Crop Progress, from April through November that gives state and national information on crop conditions, topsoil moisture, subsoil moisture, and rangeland and pasture conditions, among other factoids and tidbits. But during the winter, those weekly reports turn off, and we are kind of left a little bit blind. A whole lot is going on in most of the country in terms of agriculture through the winter, but it is nice to get an occasional update, and that is the role of state stories.”
So, four additions run from the first week of December to the last week of March each year, each covering a month of reports from contributing states.
“With that, we don’t really get a national look at everything, but there’s certainly a number of states that provide useful information. It gives us a little clue of how some of the crops are overwintering, how rangeland and pastures are looking and, for the areas of the country where there is still some fieldwork or growing going on, a little look at what’s happening there.”
For example, take the initial state stories report for 2026. The focus was on a dormant crop, winter wheat, and conditions in reporting states.
“For top producer Kansas, the news is still fairly good for winter wheat. We see 60% of the crop rated in good to excellent condition at the end of December.”
Other Great Plains states, however, reported drops in good to excellent winter wheat conditions over December.
“Nebraska had one of the bigger drops, going from 54% good to excellent to 40% good to excellent between Nov. 23 and Jan. 1. Also, kind of warm and dry and windy in Colorado did see 69% of the crop rated good to excellent on Nov. 23. That dropped to 43% by the end of 2025.”
Scattered reports are also noted for pasture and rangeland conditions.
“Montana is still dealing with some of the aftereffects of that drought. It has been wet recently, but that moisture, rain and snow has come late enough in the year that we will likely need to wait until spring before rangeland and pastures can fully realize the benefit of that moisture.”
And topsoil moisture conditions:
“Six of the reporting states in the South reported topsoil moisture at the end of 2025 ranging from 40% to 60% very short to short.”