Agricultural Summary

Hot, dry weather continued to take its toll on row crops and pastures, while also drawing down soil moisture supplies. Corn and soybean condition ratings fell, more significantly for soybeans. In the Bootheel, cotton and rice condition remained stable at relatively high levels, although sporadic insect pressure was reported. Topsoil moisture supplies rate 43 percent very short, 39 percent short, and 18 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture supplies are 43 percent very short, 42 percent short, and 15 percent adequate. The west-central, central, and southwest districts rate 10 percent or less adequate topsoil and subsoil moisture. There were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Eighty-four percent of the corn crop is in dough stage, about even with last year but 1 week ahead of normal. Corn in dent stage is at 45 percent, 1 day ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the 5-year average of 34 percent. The crop is rated 6 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 6 percent excellent, a decline of 7 percentage points in good to excellent. Southern districts were mostly stable, since the rapidly maturing crop is too far advanced to be hurt by dry weather. However, other districts saw conditions fall by 5 to 11 points in good to excellent. This year’s 47 percent in good to excellent compares to 30 percent last year. Soybean blooming is at 85 percent, 1 day behind last year but 6 days ahead of average. Pod setting is at 52 percent, 2 days behind last year but 4 days ahead of the 5-year average of 44 percent. Condition of the bean crop declined dramatically to 6 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 42 percent fair, 31 percent good, and 4 percent excellent, a drop of 13 percentage points in good to excellent. This compares to 25 percent in good to excellent last year. Of the major soybean districts, the northeast and west-central each fell by over 20 points to 35 and 17 percent good to excellent, the central 12 points to 30 percent, and the southeast 10 points to 48 percent, while rains in the northwest held the decline there to 6 points and 33 percent good to excellent. There have been reports of pods aborting. Sorghum heading has reached 87 percent, 1 day ahead of last year and over 1 week ahead of normal, while 21 percent is turning color, 2 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of normal. Condition of the crop is rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. Sixty-three percent of the rice crop is headed, 1 day behind last year but 2 days ahead of average. Rice condition improved slightly from last week to 2 percent poor, 9 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 32 percent excellent. Cotton setting bolls is 92 percent complete, at least 3 days ahead of both last year and normal. Cotton opening bolls is just getting started at 1 percent. Condition of the crop is 5 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. The third cutting of alfalfa advanced to 73 percent harvested, 10 days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of normal. The quick harvest progress is attributed to a short crop.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 35 percent very poor, 36 percent poor, 21 percent fair, and 8 percent good. Hay supply is rated 14 percent very short, 38 percent short, 46 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. The northwest and southwest districts reported the greatest deficiencies, although most districts indicated supplemental hay feeding. Stock water supply is rated 20 percent very short, 39 percent short, and 41 percent adequate. The most severe shortages are in the west-central, central, and southwest districts.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were above normal throughout the State. South-central and southeast counties were 1 to 4 degrees above average, while all other areas were 5 to 8 degrees above normal. Several counties again recorded highs above 100 degrees, including locations in Boone and Morgan at 104, and Pettis at 102. Rainfall averaged 0.34 inches statewide. The northwest and north-central districts received the most at 0.99 and 0.81 inches. The least amounts recorded were in the southwest district at 0.01 inches, east-central at 0.05, and central at 0.06. The State averaged 3.61 inches for the month of July, compared with the 30-year average of 3.76 inches.