Agricultural Summary

Row crop harvesting moved ahead moderately in some areas of the State but progress in the southeastern district was again restricted by wet weather. Topsoil moisture supply is rated 15 percent very short, 28 percent short, 49 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Farmers in many areas of the State continue to be concerned about soil moisture for next year’s crops and pastures, as well as the immediate need of more run-off for stock ponds. Counties reporting excessive moisture are mainly in the southeast district where the surplus rating averages 66 percent. There were 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork, with the extreme being only 1.4 days in the Bootheel.

Field Crops Report

Corn harvest is 97 percent complete, equal to last year but still slightly ahead of the 5-year average of 95 percent. Good progress was made in the northwest district where harvest moved to 91 percent complete but the area remains well behind the near-completion rate of the rest of the State. Soybean harvest advanced 3 points over last week to 88 percent complete, 8 days behind last year and 1 day behind normal. Bean harvesting is least advanced in the south-central and southeast districts, at 53 and 76 percent respectively, while all other districts range from 87 to 94 percent complete. More wet weather in the Bootheel has continued to delay soybean and cotton harvesting in that area. The cotton harvest is 71 percent complete, over 3 weeks behind last year and 2 weeks behind the 5-year average of 85 percent. Ninety-seven percent of the sorghum crop is harvested, 3 days ahead of last year and over a week ahead of average. Winter wheat seeding is 89 percent complete, 8 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of average. Planting progress ranges from 80 percent complete in the southeast district and 85 percent in the west-central, to 91 percent or more in all other districts. Wheat emergence of 71 percent is 5 days behind last year but similar to the 70 percent normal. Condition of the crop is rated 1 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 42 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, a minor decline from last week.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is reported at 33 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 18 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, a slight improvement from the previous week but still mostly poor or very poor in the northeast, west-central, central and southwest districts. Hay prices remain high due to limited pasture feed and hay shortages in many counties.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were above normal throughout the State during the past week, ranging from 5 to 7 degrees above average in the northern two-thirds of the State and 1 to 4 degrees above normal in most southern counties. Rainfall for the week averaged 0.54 inches, with considerable variation by area. District average amounts ranged from 0.08 inch in the northwest to 1.19 inches south-central and 1.89 inches in the southeast district.