Agricultural Summary

Most of the week was warm and dry, good weather for the current field activities of putting up hay and harvesting wheat. There is some concern in southern counties about dryness, as moisture will be needed to germinate double-crop soybeans and support tasseling of early-planted corn. Deteriorating moisture conditions in southern districts were contrasted by improvement in northern districts. Several rounds of thunderstorms developed along and north of the I-70 corridor Saturday night, bringing heavy rains and isolated flash flooding. The contrasting conditions left overall topsoil moisture supplies stable from last week at 7 percent very short, 29 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Reports across the State indicate that spring crops continue to develop well, but a lack of subsoil moisture reserves will require abundant rainfall in the coming weeks as they enter critical growth stages. There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Corn condition is rated 5 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 10 percent excellent, nearly identical to last week. Some southern areas are already seeing a few fields in the tassel stage. Soybean planting is 90 percent complete, 1 week behind last year but 11 days ahead of the 5-year average of 77 percent. Emergence is at 76 percent, 5 days behind last year but 8 days ahead of normal. Condition of the crop is 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Sorghum planting is 95 percent complete, slightly behind last year but 2 weeks ahead of normal. Sorghum condition is rated 3 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. Rice condition is rated 3 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Cotton squaring is at 10 percent, about even with both last year and the normal pace. Condition of the crop is rated 17 percent poor, 46 percent fair, 33 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Virtually all the winter wheat has turned at 98 percent, over 1 week ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Condition of the crop is 9 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. It’s looking to be an early wheat harvest this year, with 24 percent of the crop harvested, about 1 week ahead of both last year and the five-year average. The first cutting of alfalfa, at 95 percent complete, is wrapping up nearly two weeks ahead of normal. Some producers are starting to mow the second growth, which is 8 percent complete, slightly ahead of last year and the normal pace. Other hay is 62 percent cut, 5 days ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition declined slightly from last week to 9 percent very poor, 18 percent poor, 43 percent fair, 28 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Reporters in the northeast and southwest are still indicating critically low pond levels, even after recent rains. The rains have improved hay and pasture prospects, with good grass hay yields reported in a few south-central counties. However, long-term dryness still makes hay supply a concern.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were above normal for the week. Counties in the northwest saw the greatest departure from average at 5 to 8 degrees above normal, while eastern and southern areas varied from 1 to 4 degrees above average. Rainfall averaged 0.98 inches. The three northern districts, as well as the central and east-central districts, averaged over an inch, with many counties receiving 2 to 5 inches. The south-central and southeast districts received almost no measurable precipitation, as both were under 0.10 inches.