These 5 Top Corn-Growing States Report Extreme Drought, or Worse, as Planting Kicks Off

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor published April 10, five top corn-growing states reported extreme drought, or worse.

Colorado

Less than 1% of Colorado reported extreme drought Thursday. The D3 conditions cover portions of Mineral, Archuleta, Conejos, and Rio Grande counties.

Crop Progress

Colorado farmers have not started planting corn for the 2025 season, according to USDA data published Monday.

However, winter wheat was rated 2% very poor, 13% poor, 22% fair, 48% good, and 15% excellent, according to the latest Crop Progress report. The Colorado Field Office noted, “A report from Kiowa County stated windy conditions have decimated the winter wheat crop.”

Pasture and range across Colorado was rated 8% very poor, 23% poor, 39% fair, 24% good, and 6% excellent.

Soil Moisture

The Crop Progress report noted statewide topsoil moisture supplies were rated 11% very short, 25% short, 60% adequate, and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 10% very short, 20% short, 66% adequate, and 4% surplus.

As of April 6, snowpack in Colorado was 89% measured as percent of median snowfall according to the Natural Resources Conservations Service. The Southwest and San Luis Valley were 70% and 64% respectively.

North Dakota

Over 5% of North Dakota reported extreme drought Thursday. The D3 conditions cover portions of McKenzie, Dunn, Mountrail, and Billings counties.

Crop Progress

North Dakota farmers have not started planting corn, according to the USDA on Monday. “Reports indicated that, on average, producers intend to begin fieldwork on April 24,” said the Crop Progress report.

Spring wheat planting has begun and is 1% complete. That’s equal to the five-year average.

Soil Moisture

The report noted statewide topsoil moisture supplies rated 13% very short, 36% short, 48% adequate, and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 15% very short, 41% short, 42% adequate, and 2% surplus.

Nebraska

More than 6% of Nebraska is suffering from extreme drought. The D3 conditions cover portions of Sioux, Dawes, Sheridan, Box Butte, Scotts Bluff, and Banner counties in the northwest corner of the state.

Crop Progress

Corn planting has not begun in Nebraska, according to the most recent USDA Crop Progress report. 

However, oat planting has begun. USDA said 15% of the crop is in the ground, behind 28% at this time last year and the five-year average of 22%. Just 1% of the Nebraska oat crop had emerged, also trailing last year and the five-year average pace.

Soil Moisture

The report noted statewide topsoil moisture supplies rated 23% very short, 35% short, 42% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 32% very short, 42% short, 26% adequate, and 0% surplus.

South Dakota

Nearly 3% of South Dakota reported extreme drought Thursday. The D3 conditions cover portions of Custer, Fall River, and Oglala Lakota counties in the southwest corner of the state.

Farmers in South Dakota have not started planting corn yet, according to the USDA Crop Progress report published April 7.

The report noted statewide topsoil moisture supplies were rated 32% short, 38% short, 27% adequate, and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 40% very short, 43% short, 17% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Texas

More than 15% of Texas is suffering from extreme drought. Another nearly 14% of the state reported exceptional drought. The Trans-Pecos, the Edwards Plateau, and South Central Texas have been the hardest hit region with dry conditions.

Corn Progress

While corn has started emerging in the Blacklands, South East Texas and South Central Texas districts, more moisture is needed for the crop to progress in the Southern High Plains and Northern Low Plains, reported USDA.

Statewide, 59% of Texas corn has been planted. USDA said 37% of the Texas corn crop had emerged Monday.

Soil Moisture

According to the Crop Progress report published April 7, subsoil moisture conditions in the Southern High Plains were rated 62% very short, 24% short, 14% adequate, and 0% surplus. Top soil moisture condition in the district was rated 63% very short, 19% short, 18% adequate, and 0% surplus. 

In Trans-Pecos district, subsoil moisture conditions were rated 43% very short, 39% short, 18% adequate, 0% surplus. Topsoil moisture condition in the district was rated 44% very short, 39% short, 17% adequate, and 0% surplus.

The South Central district reported subsoil moisture condition 32% very short, 31% short, 30% adequate, and 7% surplus. Topsoil moisture condition was rated 24% very short, 28% short, 41% adequate, and 7% surplus.

Statewide, pasture and range conditions were rated 24% very poor, 34% poor, 26% fair, 14% good, and 2% excellent.

Outlook

A Drought Information Statement published by the National Weather Service at the end of March said, “The outlook for April shows more of the same. Drought continuing to persist or even expand for parts of the area. This does not mean there will be no precipitation, but that consistent rainfall is not expected in amounts great enough to improve the drought.”