Agricultural Summary

Dry weather prevailed through most of the week, with 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork. With corn planting nearly complete, farmers worked to get soybeans in the ground, while also turning their attention to the first hay cuttings. Corn and soybean growth is still slow, but most of the planted fields appear well established, with just a few reports of poor stands that require replanting. Spring tillage progressed steadily to 94 percent complete, 4 days behind last year but 2 weeks ahead of normal. Topsoil moisture supply declined from last week to 2 percent very short, 23 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. The northern districts suffered the worst drop in topsoil moisture ratings, where rainfall the past two weeks has been of the “nuisance” variety, light and widely scattered.

Field Crops Report

Corn planting progress is virtually complete at 98 percent, even with last year but 2 weeks ahead of the 5-year average of 90 percent. Emergence is at 93 percent, 5 days ahead of last year and 2 weeks ahead of normal. Corn condition is rated 3 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Soybean planting made good progress to 53 percent complete, which lags last year by 3 days but is 6 days ahead of the normal pace of 41 percent. Emergence, at 18 percent, has been slow due to cool, overcast conditions, and is 5 days behind last year and slightly behind the normal pace. Sorghum planting is at 63 percent, about the same as last year but 1 week ahead of normal. In the Bootheel, rice planting is 97 percent complete, slightly behind last year but 9 days ahead of normal. Emergence is at 92 percent, 6 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the 5-year average. Condition of the crop is 6 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Cotton producers planted at a torrid pace during the week, advancing to 80 percent complete versus 53 percent last week. However, it is still 11 days behind last year and 2 days behind normal. Significant replanting has also been necessary, as wet soils have hampered stand development. The condition of the crop declined from last week to 1 percent very poor, 33 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 21 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Wheat condition is rated 6 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Heading is 98 percent complete, at least 10 days ahead of both last year and the 5-year average, while 23 percent is turning color, 3 days ahead of normal. While other crops need rain, wheat in some areas needs warm, dry weather to avoid rust development. The first cutting of alfalfa is 41 percent complete, while other hay is 18 percent cut, both about even with last year and a few days ahead of normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 5 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 43 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 4 percent excellent, nearly the same as last week. Reports from around the State continue to stress the need for a good hay crop to replace short hay supplies. However, early cuttings are showing erratic yields, with many coming in on the low side.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were mostly below normal, especially in the eastern half of the State, where readings were 3 to 6 degrees below normal. Western areas were generally 1 to 3 degrees below normal. Rainfall for the week was light, averaging 0.32 inches. Six out of nine districts received a quarter inch or less. The central and southeast districts received the most, each with 0.58 inches.