Relatively warm February a boon for North Dakota ranchers

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A relatively warm February was a boon for North Dakota ranchers.

The Agriculture Department says in its monthly crop report that thawing conditions helped settle snow and made it easier to access feed supplies.

Cattle and calf conditions statewide are rated 75 percent good to excellent. Sheep and lamb conditions are 74 percent in those categories. Death losses are rated mostly average to light.

Calving progress is at 10 percent and lambing progress at 20 percent.

Hay supplies are rated 80 percent adequate to surplus, and stock water supplies are 94 percent in those categories.

The condition of the state’s winter wheat crop is rated 81 percent good to excellent.