Agricultural Summary

Row crop and pasture conditions held steady or showed slight improvement in nearly every area of the State, benefiting from cool temperatures and periodic showers. However, pastures and soybeans are struggling in the west-central and southwest districts, which are still very short on moisture. Statewide, topsoil moisture supplies showed a modest decline from last week to 21 percent very short, 31 percent short, 45 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Most of the State remains short to very short in subsoil moisture supplies, which rate 33 percent very short, 36 percent short, and 31 percent adequate. The southwest district has the poorest rating with 90 percent very short, followed by the west-central at 62 percent very short. There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Ninety-six percent of the corn crop is dented, which is 5 days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of normal. Sixty-eight percent is mature, 1 day ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of the 5-year average of 56 percent. Harvest is 21 percent complete, about 4 to 5 days ahead of both last year and normal. Pockets of drought-damaged corn have been harvested quickly to prevent further losses from stalk deterioration. However, the bulk of the crop is still too wet to harvest, as dry-down has been slowed by cool, wet weather. Corn condition improved somewhat from last week to 5 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 6 percent excellent, although little change is expected hereafter as the crop nears maturity. Soybeans turning color is at 20 percent, 3 days behind last year and slightly behind normal. Five percent are dropping leaves, about even with both last year and normal. Condition of the bean crop rates 6 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 36 percent good, and 5 percent excellent, 9 points better in good to excellent than last year at this time. While most of the State has seen good improvement in soybeans fields over the last month, the southwest district rates 83 percent poor to very poor, while the west-central district is 49 percent poor to very poor. Eighty-three percent of the sorghum crop is turning color, 1 day ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal. Sorghum mature is at 31 percent, about the same as last year but slightly ahead of the average pace. Five percent of the sorghum crop is harvested, with most of the activity in the west-central and southwest districts. Sorghum condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Rice harvest is 4 percent complete, slightly ahead of last year and normal. Rice condition is rated 2 percent poor, 10 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 31 percent excellent. Cotton opening bolls is at 26 percent, 2 days ahead of last year but 3 days behind normal. Condition of the crop is 5 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 68 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. The third cutting of alfalfa is 94 percent harvested, over 2 weeks ahead of last year and average.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 35 percent very poor, 29 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 13 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, a modest improvement over last week. Hay supply rates 17 percent very short, 32 percent short, 48 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Fall pasture growth will help most areas build supplies, but some producers in central and southwestern areas will likely have to buy supplemental hay to make it through winter. Stock water supplies rate 21 percent very short, 28 percent short, 50 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Many areas in the west-central, central, and southwest districts still need substantial rain to bring streams and ponds to minimally acceptable levels.

Weather Summary

It was a cool week throughout the State, as temperatures were 5 to 8 degrees below average in most areas. Rainfall was light to moderate, averaging 0.81 inches for the week. The northwest district at 1.15 inches and the west-central at 1.21 were the wettest, while all other districts received about one-half to one inch of rain.