Agricultural Summary

Flooding in counties along the Missouri river left tens of thousands of cropland acres under water and forced some farmers to leave their homes. Heavy rains in the northwest, north-central, and west-central districts as well as the western portion of the central district caused creeks to over flow their banks and flooded low-lying areas. Spring tillage, at 74 percent complete, is about 3 weeks behind last year and just over 2 weeks behind the normal of 84 percent complete. Topsoil moisture rates 2 percent very short, 6 percent short, 61 percent adequate, and 31 percent surplus. There were 3.0 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Sixty-five percent of intended corn acres are planted, over 2 weeks behind last year and 19 days behind the normal pace of 87 percent. Due to flooding, many acres in the northwest and west-central districts will need to be replanted. Some of these acres may be replanted to soybeans or grain sorghum. Corn emergence is at 48 percent, 17 days behind last year and 12 days behind a normal of 73 percent. Soybean planting reached 15 percent complete, 5 days behind both last year and the average of 24 percent. Soybeans are 5 percent emerged. Sorghum planting is 19 percent complete, nearly 3 weeks behind last year and 11 days behind the normal of 35 percent. Rice planting is 89 percent complete, 15 days behind last year but just over 9 days ahead of the 5-year average of 79 percent. Rice emergence, at 72 percent, is a week behind last year but a week ahead of the normal of 58 percent. Rice condition was reported as 2 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 71 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Cotton planting continued its rapid advance to 83 percent complete, over 9 days ahead of both last year and average. Seventy-three percent of the wheat crop is headed, 9 days behind last year. The crop is just beginning to turn color in the southern portion of the State. Wheat condition is rated 20 percent very poor, 33 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 12 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, mostly unchanged from last week. The first cutting of alfalfa is 21 percent harvested, 2 days behind last year and 3 days behind normal. Other hay cutting is 6 percent harvested statewide, comparable to last year but 4 days behind last year. Infestations of army worms were reported in several counties in the south-central part of the State.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 6 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 44 percent fair, 29 percent good, and 7 percent excellent, a slight improvement over last week.

Weather Summary

Temperatures averaged 6 to 9 degrees above normal for the week. Statewide rainfall averaged 1.41 inches, ranging from 0.34 of an inch in the east-central district to 3.33 inches in the west-central district.