Agricultural Summary

Farmers worked around light rain showers to plant soybeans and cut hay during the week, while initial fescue seed and wheat harvest took place in southern areas. In general, corn and soybean condition is very good, although topsoil dryness is causing a few problems in the eastern third of the state. Uneven emergence was reported in the east-central district, while double-crop soybeans are struggling to emerge in dry Bootheel soils. The Bootheel is also seeing some increased insect pressure, but no major damage yet. Topsoil moisture rates 3 percent very short, 12 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. There were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Corn emergence is at 97 percent, even with the 5-year average. Isolated infestations of white grubs in the north-central district caused some replanting. Corn condition rates 3 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Soybean planting stands at 81 percent complete, 8 days behind last year but nearly even with normal. Emergence is at 63 percent, 1 week behind last year and slightly behind the 5-year average of 66 percent. The southwest district showed virtually no planting or emergence during the week. Rain showers on already wet soils kept it at 8 percent planted, well behind all other districts. Soybean condition is 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. All districts are above 50 percent in good to excellent except the Bootheel, where the emergence problems with dry soils pulled down the rating. Sorghum planting is 79 percent complete, 2 weeks behind last year and 5 days behind average. Some early sorghum is heading in the east-central and southwest districts. Rice condition rates 3 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 14 percent excellent, a slight improvement from last week in good to excellent, with a substantial portion moving from good into excellent. Cotton squaring is at 16 percent, about 4 days ahead of last year and average. Cotton condition is rated 9 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 3 percent excellent, a moderate drop from last week. Ninety-three percent of the winter wheat is turning color, 3 days ahead of normal. Harvest is 4 percent complete, with most of the activity in the south-central and southeast districts. A few reports tell of some farmers making last minute decisions to destroy poor fields to plant another crop. Wheat condition is rated 24 percent very poor, 30 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 11 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, similar to last week. The first cutting of alfalfa is 78 percent harvested. Producers in the northern third of the state made substantial progress, although the state is still 11 days behind last year and 3 days behind average. Other hay is 47 percent harvested, 1 week behind last year and marginally behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

The rain that fell during the week helped keep pasture condition stable at 4 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 46 percent fair, 36 percent good, and 5 percent excellent.

Weather Summary

Temperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees above normal over most of the state. Rainfall was consistent across the state at about one-half inch in nearly every district, averaging 0.58 inches at the state level. The southwest district was slightly higher at 0.96 inches.