Redfield, Iowa (DTN) -- Last week's heat wave impacted pasture and range conditions causing a movement in the less ideal side throughout beef cow states of the upper Midwest and Plains.

A decrease was seen in the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana in the good-to-excellent category.

The major beef producing states in the Southeast, South and Southwest saw some improvement in this category. Florida had the most movement with an 8-percentage-point difference, increasing their pasture and range in the good-to-excellent category to 56%.

When looking at the very-poor-to-poor category, an increase was seen in the same areas of the Midwest and northern Plains. The most increase was seen in Utah, with a 14-percentage-point increase, making 41% of this state with very-poor-to-poor conditions.

Montana and North Dakota both had an 8-percentage-point increase in very-poor-to-poor conditions. While Nebraska still has 68% of pasture and range in this category, Colorado has passed it with 76% here.

DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick said the heat wave that has been seen across the country won't all come to an end. Relief seen early in the week thanks to rain and thunderstorms in some areas, still didn't help Colorado. "Areas south of the front will remain hot and probably dry. By mid- to late week, showers are expected to help parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and southern Iowa," he said.

Stress is expected to continue for plants and animals in areas where hotter temperatures will spread in Montana through the Northern Plains and into Minnesota by the end of the week and will return to the Central Plains over the weekend.

"A front will go through northern areas this weekend though, which may bring a few lucky areas some rainfall, but it is going to be tough to get enough for these areas. Drought areas are likely to expand this week and next," he concluded.

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

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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