Agricultural Summary

Another week of mostly dry weather enabled farmers to make steady progress in wheat harvesting while also putting up good quality hay. Spring row crops continue to grow well. Stands appear healthy as they enter critical growth stages aided by minimal disease and insect pressure as well as timely rainfall. Topsoil moisture supply was stable from last week at 8 percent very short, 33 percent short, 57 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Corn condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 13 percent excellent, very similar to last week. Corn silked is at 28 percent, at least 3 days ahead of both last year and the 5-year average. Several respondents have commented on the good condition of the corn crop thus far, even in areas that have been short on rainfall. Soybean emergence is at 96 percent, even with last year but 11 days ahead of normal. Blooming is at 4 percent, the same as last year but slightly ahead of normal. Condition of the crop is nearly the same as last week at 1 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Sorghum heading is at 2 percent, the same as last year. Condition of sorghum is rated 4 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 63 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Rice condition improved to 1 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Cotton condition continued to steadily improve, rated 8 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Cotton squaring stands at 47 percent, 3 days ahead of last year but 1 day behind normal. Winter wheat harvest progressed 20 percentage points to 83 percent complete, 5 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of normal. The second cutting of alfalfa is 48 percent harvested, 1 day ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of normal. Other hay is 79 percent cut, about even with last year but 6 days ahead of normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 8 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 42 percent fair, 27 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Reporters indicate that pasture regrowth has been a little slow after grazing, but a greater concern is low livestock water supplies.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were slightly warmer than normal for the week. Most areas were 1 to 2 degrees above average. Rainfall averaged 0.68 inches State-wide. Soaking rains were confined to a few counties in the northeast and north-central districts, which each received over 1 inch. The remainder of the State saw light to moderate showers, with the southeast district receiving the least amount at 0.30 inches.