REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Rainfall across many areas of the Plains and Midwest is helping improve pasture and range conditions in some important beef cow areas, yet other areas remain dry.

The very worst states on the U.S. Drought Monitor map are even seeing some improvement in the amount of the worst drought. Nebraska hasn't improved in the best pasture conditions but has shifted 1% positively in the very-poor-to-poor category with 79% still there.

Improvement was seen in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas in the very driest areas for pasture and range conditions. Not a lot of improvement was seen in these states for the good-to-excellent pasture and range, but these states also improved.

"We've had a very active weather pattern over the course of the last couple of weeks. That has meant variable, but meaningful rainfall in lots of areas of the Plains, but widespread heavy rain and severe weather getting into the Midwest," said DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick. Some areas have seen severe weather, which he said doesn't always make a difference for the pasture and range conditions.

In some areas, the rainfall has led to improved soil moisture and others remain dry. "And then there are some areas around Missouri where the rainfall has been too much and causing flooding and water-logged soils," he added. "There is a lot of variability out there."

Missouri and Iowa continue to have a great number of pastures in good-to-excellent condition at 72% and 77%, respectively. Moving into the Northern Plains states, drier conditions remain but are seeing improvements. Colorado continues to be very dry and seeing more pastures moving out of the good-to-excellent category with more in the very-poor-to-poor category.

Baranick expects the Northern Plains to get some good rainfall with a system moving across the area early in the week. However, it could produce another round of heavy rain and severe weather, especially from eastern Kansas through Indiana, and possibly in Missouri and Illinois.

"Temperatures should be very mild all week, for most areas. This is a good weather pattern for pasture and range conditions," he added.

Areas of the Southeast are still showing dry conditions, with some areas still in D3 (extreme drought) and D4 (exceptional drought). This is also reflected on the pasture conditions map, with several states showing an increase in very poor and poor conditions.

Baranick said a front has stalled out in the Gulf Coast and Southeast early this week producing some areas of heavy rain. However, a tropical low-pressure center currently in northeastern Mexico will ride north up along the coast over the next few days.

"If it can get over water, it may become named, but even if it doesn't, it looks like it will spread some really heavy rain near the coast, but then also through the Southeast late this week," he said.

If the heavy rains continue in this area, it could cause some flooding, especially in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, but may get some needed rain to the Carolinas, which would improve drought and pasture conditions.

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

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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The cattle complex has seen record-high prices in the last year. But it's also been saddled with record-high risk and volatility, among many other challenges. To better understand these cattle market challenges, join DTN Livestock Analyst ShayLe Stewart for the inaugural Beef Industry Exchange webinar hosted by Senior Livestock Editor Jennifer Carrico at 9 a.m. CDT on June 24.

In addition to ShayLe's cattle market update, DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick shares how variability and a building Super El Nino might save or doom U.S. pastures. Due to widespread drought conditions across the U.S., cow-calf producers may be considering a reduction of the herd. To prepare for this, University of Nebraska Lincoln Beef Systems Extension Educator Aaron Berger shares different strategies to set up cow herd rebuilding when it rains again. Register for the free webinar today: https://dtn.link/…

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