Agricultural Summary

Soaking rains fell nearly statewide, providing excellent conditions for early corn in the silking and pollination stages. However, excessive rain in especially the west-central and southwest districts caused lowland flooding, state and county road closures, and significant delays to the wheat harvest, which, in turn, set back double-crop soybean planting. Reporters indicate significant wheat acreage could be lost in some counties. Rainfall totals as high as 17 inches were reported. Topsoil moisture rates 3 percent very short, 15 percent short, 61 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. The far northwestern section of the state missed most of the rain, causing a moderate decline in topsoil moisture supply in that district. However, the northwest has mostly adequate subsoil moisture, as does most of the state. State-level subsoil moisture rates 3 percent very short, 16 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. There were 3.7 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

The corn crop is 44 percent silked, nearly even with last year and 3 days ahead of the 5-year average of 37 percent. Moderate temperatures and adequate soil moisture have resulted in very few reports of stress as the bulk of the crop enters pollination. Condition of the crop rates 3 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Ninety-five percent of the soybean crop is planted, while 90 percent is emerged. Producers in west-central and southwestern areas are still waiting to plant double-crop soybeans, but reporters are expecting the wait will get too long, resulting in substantial reductions in double-crop acres from normal levels. Soybean blooming is at 8 percent, nearly even with the 5 year average of 9 percent. Condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Sorghum planting is 93 percent complete, with 9 percent headed. Condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 58 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Rice heading moved up 1 point from last week to 3 percent complete, with condition rated 3 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 28 percent excellent. Cotton squaring is at 78 percent, about 1 week ahead of last year and average. Twenty-four percent is setting bolls, well ahead of 7 percent as normal. Cotton condition is rated 9 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Wheat harvest is 67 percent complete, 12 days behind last year and 5 days behind normal. Harvest has been seriously hampered in areas that received heavy rains. The west-central district is 42 percent harvested compared to 97 percent last year, while the southwest is at 21 percent compared to 92 percent last year. Standing water has many fields severely lodged, heads turning gray, and grain sprouting in the heads. The second alfalfa cutting is 35 percent harvested, 11 days behind last year and 1 week behind normal. Other hay is 78 percent cut, 1 week behind last year and 3 days behind average.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition improved moderately from last week to 2 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Hay supply is rated 7 percent very short, 34 percent short, 57 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. A majority of areas in the northwest, north-central, east-central, and southwest districts are rated short to very short. Stock water supplies are 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus, with the Bootheel the only area of concern due to dryness in recent weeks.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 1 to 3 degrees below average over most of the state, while south-central and southeastern areas were normal to slightly above normal. Rainfall averaged 2.89 inches, ranging from 0.84 in the northwest to 7.54 in the west-central. Notable county totals in the west-central district include Cass at 11.11 inches, Vernon at 8.97, Henry at 8.40, St. Clair at 7.77, and Bates at 6.66; the southwest district included Barton at 8.08 and Lawrence at 6.72. Many other counties throughout the state received 4 inches or more. Isolated severe storms occurred along with the heavy rainfall. A tornado touched down in Polk County, causing some structural damage.