ARIZONA CROP PROGRESS
United States Department of Agriculture
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE
ARIZONA FIELD OFFICE
P.O. BOX 150969 · Lakewood, CO  80215-0969
Cooperating with the Arizona Department of Agriculture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2025
Contact: Rodger Ott
(800) 392-3202
CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION
WEEK ENDING MAY 25, 2025

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY: By week’s end, 84 percent of Arizona’s cotton had emerged, of which 10 percent had squared, down 3 and 1 percentage points, respectively, from the State’s 5-year average, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Cotton was rated in mostly good to excellent condition, with 16 percent of the crop rated fair. Eighty-two percent of Arizona’s barley had matured, of which 11 percent had been harvested, down 2 and 33 percentage points, respectively, from the State’s 5-year average. Barley was rated in mostly good to excellent condition, with only 4 percent of the crop rated fair. Seventy-nine percent of Arizona’s Durum wheat had matured, of which 13 percent had been harvested, up 6 but down 12 percentage points, respectively, from the State’s 5-year average. Durum wheat was rated in mostly good to excellent condition, with only 1 percent of the crop rated fair. Alfalfa hay harvest continued to take place on over 75 percent of the crop’s acreage throughout the State. Arizona’s alfalfa crop was rated in good to excellent condition. Reports from Navajo and Apache Counties have stated that the first cuttings of irrigated grass hay and alfalfa have occurred. Additionally, any pasture or alfalfa plantings in non-irrigated systems have failed. Pasture and range conditions throughout the State deteriorated when compared to that of the previous report. Fifty-five percent of the State’s pasture and rangeland was rated very poor, 36 percent was rated poor, 6 percent was rated fair, and 3 percent was rated good. Reports from northeastern counties have reiterated that new growth on rangelands has been extremely minimal, herd culling persists, and ranchers continue to transport feed and water to livestock. Minimal green-up has been reported in areas of higher elevation, however, accelerated vegetative maturity has been observed. Topsoil moisture levels remained mostly adequate, with 22 percent rated very short, 9 percent rated short, 68 percent rated adequate, and 1 percent rated surplus. Subsoil moisture levels followed a similar trend. 
	Over the past week, precipitation was lacking across much of the State. According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the entirety of Arizona experienced no measurable precipitation. Arizona’s drought information statements remained in effect in response to enduring above average temperatures and below average precipitation. The seasonal mean temperature outlook continues to show that temperatures will likely be above normal for the entirety of the State, with the four-corners region having a higher probability of experiencing warmer temperatures than the remainder of the State. The seasonal total precipitation outlook continues to show that precipitation will likely be above normal for the western three-quarters of Arizona while all remaining areas of the State have equal chances of receiving above or below average normal precipitation. Arizona’s seasonal drought outlook continues to show that conditions are expected to persist throughout all areas of the State that were affected by moderate drought (D1) or higher on May 13. Streamflow in most river basins deteriorated slightly when compared to that of the previous report. As of May 20, the U.S. Drought Monitor showed no change when compared to that of the previous report. Abnormally dry conditions (D0) covered 1 percent of the State, moderate drought (D1) encompassed 17 percent, severe drought (D2) enveloped 21 percent, extreme drought (D3) spanned 55 percent, and exceptional drought (D4) bounded 6 percent of the State’s total land area. Apart from northern Gila County and northeastern areas of the State, temperatures were at or above normal according to the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC). Daytime highs throughout Arizona ranged from 1 degree below to 5 degrees above normal and ranged from the upper 60’s in southern Apache County to well over 100 degrees across southwestern regions of the State. Overnight lows ranged from 8 degrees below to 8 degrees above normal and ranged from 25 to 55 degrees across northern and eastern counties, whereas southwestern counties experienced lows of 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

NOTE: The Crop-CASMA (Crop Condition and Soil Moisture Analytics) for Root Zone Moisture can be accessed at www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Arizona and clicking on Crop Progress & Condition. For this data product, the root zone is defined as the top 3.2 feet of soil (approximately 1 meter).

CROP PROGRESS	
Commodity	Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average	
	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	
Barley					
	Mature		82	68	100	84	
    Harvested……………………………………..	11	--	71	44	
Cotton					
    Emerged		84	69	97	87	
    Squared………………………………………	10	NA	7	11	
Durum wheat					
    Mature…………………………………………	79	67	97	73	
    Harvested……………………………………..	13	--	48	25	
NA – not available
(--) – zero

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION	
	Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average	
Days suitable for fieldwork		7.0	7.0	7.0	7.0	
					
Topsoil moisture	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	
	Very short		22	25	8	13	
	Short		9	7	13	12	
	Adequate		68	68	77	75	
	Surplus		1	--	2	--	
Subsoil moisture					
	Very short		21	24	8	13	
	Short		9	6	12	11	
	Adequate		69	70	78	76	
	Surplus		1	--	2	--	
NA – not available
(--) – zero

CROP, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION	
Commodity	Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average	
	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	
Alfalfa hay					
	Very poor		--	--	--	--	
	Poor		--	--	--	--	
	Fair		--	8	--	6	
	Good		54	59	37	37	
	Excellent		46	33	63	57	
Barley					
	Very poor		--	--	NA	NA	
	Poor		--	--	NA	NA	
	Fair		4	6	NA	NA	
	Good		67	74	NA	NA	
	Excellent		29	20	NA	NA	
Cotton					
     Very Poor…………………………………….	--	--	--	--	
     Poor…………………………………………..	--	--	--	--	
     Fair……………………………………………	16	2	--	10	
     Good………………………………………….	68	90	37	55	
     Excellent……………………………………..	16	8	63	35	
Durum wheat					
	Very poor		--	--	NA	NA	
	Poor		--	--	NA	NA	
	Fair		1	2	NA	NA	
	Good		17	25	NA	NA	
	Excellent		82	73	NA	NA	
Pasture and range					
	Very poor		55	46	10	25	
	Poor		36	45	17	21	
	Fair		6	6	39	27	
	Good		3	3	31	22	
	Excellent		--	--	3	5	
NA – not available
(--) – zero