Agricultural Summary

Farmers took advantage of mostly dry weather to harvest wheat and cut hay. Southern areas also saw progress in harvesting fescue seed. Pockets of dryness are developing in a few areas as a result of spotty rainfall. Topsoil moisture deteriorated somewhat to 10 percent very short, 33 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus, as the western and east-central districts registered substantial declines in the adequate to surplus categories. In general, however, spring crops remain in fair to good condition, developing well in warm, sunny weather and receiving just enough rain to maintain good plant health. There were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Corn condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 10 percent excellent, nearly identical to last week. Corn silked is at 9 percent, 5 days ahead of normal. The southwest district, where 47 percent of the crop is silked, is well ahead of other districts, while the northwest and northeast districts have yet to begin silking. Soybean planting is 95 percent complete, about even with last year but 11 days ahead of normal. Emergence is at 86 percent, 5 days behind last year but 8 days ahead of normal. Condition of the crop is very similar to last week at 1 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. Sorghum planting is nearly complete at 97 percent, while heading has just begun. Condition of sorghum is rated 3 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 63 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Hot temperatures and weekend rains in the Bootheel greatly benefited the rice and cotton crops. Rice condition improved to 1 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. Cotton condition improved to 10 percent poor, 42 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 4 percent excellent, a gain of 11 percentage points over last week in the good to excellent categories. Cotton squaring stands at 28 percent, 3 days ahead of last year and about even with the five-year average. Winter wheat harvest progressed rapidly to 63 percent complete, a week ahead of last year and the normal pace. Condition of the crop is 9 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. The second growth of alfalfa is 30 percent cut, 2 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of normal. Other hay is 74 percent cut, 5 days ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition declined slightly from last week to 10 percent very poor, 22 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 27 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. The livestock water supply situation remains marginal to critical in most areas. Recent rains have maintained what supply is available, but have failed to raise pond and stream levels.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were near normal throughout the State. Northern areas saw high temperatures in the lower nineties, while a few central counties and the Bootheel reached the mid to upper nineties. Rainfall averaged 0.55 inches State-wide. The Bootheel received a soaking rain over the weekend, finishing the week with 1.86 inches. In contrast, the northwest and northeast districts received only about one-tenth inch, with several counties recording no measurable precipitation. Reporters continue to emphasize the scattered nature of recent rainfall, with considerable variability even within counties.