The El Niño weather pattern responsible for so much moisture across such a wide swath of the U.S. weakened to moderate strength in March. Most popular models predict it will basically disappear within the next few months.

According to the World Meteorological Organization:

For the week ending April 2, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service:

Winter wheat – 65% in Good to Excellent condition, 22% more than last year. In Kansas, the largest winter wheat-producing state, 69% of the crop was reported as Good to Excellent, with minimal disease, freeze, insect or wind damage evident. Elsewhere, warmer temperatures coupled with adequate soil moisture levels in Texas led to improved crop conditions, although stripe and leaf rust prompted fungicide applications in areas of the Blacklands.

Sorghum – 16% is planted, which is 1% behind last year and 3% behind normal. In Texas, wet fields and abnormally cool temperatures throughout much of March delayed the start of planting, pushing overall progress, at 37%, one week behind normal. Improved growing conditions in recent weeks promoted crop growth in the Coastal Bend and aided emergence in South Texas.

Oats – 33% of planting is complete, which is 3% ahead of last year and 2% ahead of the five-year average. Seeding was complete in Texas, where 11% of the crop was at or beyond the heading stage.