Agricultural Summary

Hot, dry weather took hold during the week, with temperatures soaring into the upper 90’s in the Bootheel and lower 90’s in the rest of the state. There were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork, during which farmers made steady progress in cutting hay and planting soybeans and sorghum. Topsoil moisture supply deteriorated markedly to 10 percent very short, 31 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus, a decline of 16 percentage points in the adequate to surplus categories. The lack of moisture is especially pronounced in the northeast district, where 76 percent is rated short to very short. Thus far, the dryness has not adversely affected row crop conditions, although reporters indicate crops will deteriorate rapidly without relief in the near future. Meanwhile, areas of the Bootheel have experienced the opposite problem of excessive rainfall, which, in addition to hail storms, has made some replanting of soybeans and cotton necessary.

Field Crops Report

Corn emergence is at 98 percent, 4 days ahead of last year and 18 days ahead of the normal pace of 86 percent. Corn condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 6 percent excellent, similar to last week. The dry weather enabled soybean planting to progress to 74 percent complete, 2 days behind last year but 11 days ahead of the 5-year average of 56 percent. Emergence is at 44 percent, 3 days behind last year but 4 days ahead of normal. Sorghum planting advanced 20 percentage points over last week to 83 percent complete, about the same as last year but nearly 2 weeks ahead of normal. In the Bootheel, rice emergence stands at 96 percent, 1 day ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the 5-year average. The condition of the crop is 7 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 13 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from last week. Cotton planting is 93 percent complete, 2 weeks behind last year but about even with normal. The condition of the crop improved somewhat from last week to 1 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 27 percent good, and 4 percent excellent, as the hot weather aided emergence of replanted fields. Wheat turning color has reached 61 percent, nearly 1 week ahead of both last year and the 5-year average. Some counties in the west-central and southwest districts are reporting short, poor quality wheat with blank heads showing up in spots. Abandonment is expected to be higher than normal, with many fields already baled for hay. However, other districts are mostly good to excellent. State-wide, wheat condition is rated 7 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. The first cutting of alfalfa is 75 percent complete, 5 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of normal. Other hay is 35 percent cut, 2 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of normal. Early yields have been light, with reporters estimating production at one-third to two-thirds of normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 7 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 43 percent fair, 31 percent good, and 2 percent excellent, a slight decline from last week. Reporters around the State continue to comment on stalled pasture growth, low pond levels, and short hay supplies.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were well above normal for the week. The Bootheel saw highs in the upper 90’s, with average temperatures 6 to 9 degrees above normal. Western and northern counties were 9 to 12 degrees above normal, with highs in the lower 90’s. Rainfall averaged 0.33 inches for the State. Some districts experienced heavy rain but it was isolated to one or two counties, leaving surrounding counties mostly dry. Jasper County recorded 3.06 inches, pulling the southwest district average up to 0.82 inches. Dunklin County received 3.39 inches, giving the southeast district an average of 1.10 inches. Districts in the northern two-thirds of the State received about one-third inch or less.