Warm weather helps Nebraska wheat crop

Nebraska's wheat crop starts turning green but soil remains dry because of the drought

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Nebraska's winter wheat crop has started to turn green with the warm weather, but the soil remains exceptionally dry because of the drought.

The U.S. Agriculture Department said Monday that the state's pastures haven't started growing much this spring because of the dry conditions.

About 64 percent of the state's hay and forage supplies rated short or very short.

Roughly 77 percent of the state's topsoil moisture rated short or very short. And 95 percent of the subsoil rates short or very short.

About 11 percent of Nebraska's wheat crop rated in good or excellent condition.