Agricultural Summary

Nearly the entire state experienced at least moderate rainfall during the week, although scattered areas saw bursts of progress in spring row crop planting before the rain stopped fieldwork. The northwest and west-central districts were beset by thunderstorms at the end of the week that dumped heavy rain and caused some lowland flooding. Locations in the southeastern part of the state also saw heavy rainfall. As a result, row crop planting remains well behind the normal pace with the exception of cotton in the Bootheel. Spring tillage is about 2 weeks behind both last year and normal at 70 percent complete. Topsoil moisture rates 5 percent short, 48 percent adequate, and 47 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rates 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. There were 2.3 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Fifty-eight percent of intended corn acres are planted, 18 days behind last year and 16 days behind the normal pace of 82 percent. Districts with the slowest progress are the northeast at 33 percent and the southwest at 38 percent. Despite significant replanting, the Bootheel is nearly complete at 98 percent. The heavy rains in the northwest and west-central districts have prompted some concern about corn seedling washout. Corn emergence is at 37 percent, 15 days behind last year and 9 days behind normal. Soybean planting stands at 7 percent complete, at least 1 week behind last year and average. Sorghum planting is 13 percent complete, 16 days behind last year and 11 days behind normal. Rice planting is 68 percent complete, 15 days behind last year and slightly behind the 5-year average. Rice emergence is at 40 percent, 9 days behind last year and slightly behind normal. Cotton planting advanced significantly to 55 percent complete, at least 3 days ahead of last year and average. Bootheel reporters indicate ideal soil conditions for planting and germination of cotton. Thirty-eight percent of the wheat crop is headed, 11 days behind last year and 4 days behind the 5-year average of 53 percent. Wheat condition is rated 22 percent very poor, 37 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 8 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, a slight improvement over last week. Although a few reports in mostly southern areas still show significant damage, most of the crop will be carried through to grain harvest. The first cutting of alfalfa is 12 percent harvested, 5 days ahead of last year and 1 week ahead of normal. Other hay cutting is still minimal, with 2 percent harvested statewide.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 8 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 28 percent good, and 5 percent excellent, a modest improvement over last week as the rains revitalized grass growth. Rainfall also has stock water supplies in good shape at 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 20 percent surplus. On the other hand, hay supply remains tight, with 27 percent very short, 40 percent short, 32 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. The shortage is most pronounced in the west-central, central, southwest, and south-central districts.

Weather Summary

Temperatures averaged 7 to 11 degrees above normal for the week. A few locations in the south-central and southeast districts broke the 90 degree mark. Statewide rainfall averaged 1.93 inches, ranging from 1.11 in the southwest district to 3.63 in the northwest. Isolated severe weather was reported with the late-week storms, but flooding was the major concern, as locations in the northwest, north-central, west-central, and central districts all reported lowland flooding.