Agricultural Summary

Harvesting progress is staying ahead of normal for corn and rice, while harvesting of soybeans, sorghum and cotton is running slightly behind average. The maturing process has been similar to normal for most crops but warmer weather is needed to speed drying of crops already mature. Topsoil moisture supplies are rated 16 percent very short, 27 percent short, 48 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. The driest areas continue to be in the west-central and southwest districts, while the surplus moisture is mainly in southeastern counties where heavy rains caused flooding and significant crop damage in many fields. There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Ninety-five percent of the corn crop is mature, the same as a year earlier but 4 days ahead of the 5-year average of 92 percent. Harvesting is 57 percent complete, 2 day ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of normal. Progress of the corn harvest by area ranges from 20 percent complete in the northwest district to 88 percent in the west-central and southeast districts and 97 percent in the southwest. The soybean crop is 82 percent turning color, 51 percent dropping leaves and 21 percent mature, 2 or 3 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of average. Condition of soybeans is rated at 6 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 7 percent excellent, virtually the same as a week earlier. Harvesting is just beginning with 3 percent of the beans out of the field, 1 day behind last year and 2 days behind the 5-year average of 5 percent. Ninety-six percent of the sorghum crop is turning color, similar to normal, while 75 percent has reached maturity, 2 days ahead of average. Condition of the crop is rated 1 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 5 percent excellent, nearly unchanged from last week. The sorghum harvest, at 34 percent complete, is 2 days behind last year but similar to the normal pace. The rice harvest is 52 percent complete, a week ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of normal. Seventy-four percent of the cotton crop is opening bolls, 3 days behind a year ago but equal to the 5-year average. Four percent of the cotton is harvested, 4 days behind both last year and the average of 8 percent. Seven percent of the winter wheat crop for next year has been planted, the same pace as a year earlier but a day ahead of the 5 percent average.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated as 29 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 17 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, up slightly from a week earlier but still with a majority of poor or very poor ratings across the central third of the State and the southwest district. Supplemental feeding remains necessary in many of the driest counties.

Weather Summary

Temperatures ranged from 3 to 5 degrees below normal over most of the State. Rainfall averaged 1.48 inches for the week but amounts varied drastically. The northeast district, at 0.13 inch and the west-central, at 0.33 inch averaged the least rainfall, while the largest amounts were received in the south-central district, at 2.78 inches, and the southeast, 6.19 inches. Mississippi County received 12.15 inches and New Madrid County recorded 13.01 inches. Tornado damage to buildings and trees was reported in Phelps County.