Agricultural Summary

Thunderstorms brought needed moisture to crops and pastures in most counties across the northern third of the state. However, the remainder of the state experienced little to no relief from dryness and very hot temperatures, which reached 100 degrees or above in many areas. As a result, row crop and pasture conditions deteriorated considerably. All districts are 11 percent or less in the adequate and surplus categories for topsoil moisture except the northwest, north-central, and west-central; of those three, the northwest improved by 18 points to 47 percent adequate to surplus, the north-central improved by 15 points to 19 percent, but the west-central plunged 29 points to 21 percent. Topsoil moisture at the state level is rated 42 percent very short, 42 percent short, 15 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. There were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Eighty-five percent of the corn crop is in dough stage, 5 days behind last year but the same as the five-year average. Forty-nine percent is dented, 5 days behind last year and 2 days behind normal. There were reports of corn blown over by high winds during thunderstorms in the northwest. Reporters indicate that corn in the driest areas continues to mature rapidly. The condition rating fell by 9 points in good to excellent from last week to 8 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Soybean blooming is at 80 percent, 9 days behind last year and 6 days behind average. Fifty-eight percent is setting pods, 4 days behind last year and slightly behind the 5-year average of 60 percent. Soybean condition is rated 8 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 32 percent good, and 4 percent excellent, a decline of 8 points from last week in good to excellent. Reporters wrote that pod filling is very slow, while a Franklin County reporter commented that areas of the driest fields are wilting. Double-crop soybeans in many areas are short and struggling to grow. Sorghum heading is at 79 percent, 10 days behind last year and 4 days behind normal. Twenty-five percent is turning color, 5 days behind last year and marginally behind average. Isolated fields have reached maturity in the northeast, south-central, and southeast regions. Sorghum condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 45 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 3 percent excellent, down 10 points in good to excellent from last week. Rice heading is at 80 percent, even with last year but 3 days ahead of normal. Rice condition is rated 2 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 22 percent excellent. Cotton setting bolls is at 91 percent, at least 3 days behind last year and normal. Thirteen percent of bolls are opening, 10 days ahead of last year and 13 days ahead of average. Cotton condition is rated 9 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. The third cutting of alfalfa is 63 percent complete, 10 days behind last year and 4 days behind average.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition fell by 10 points in the good and excellent categories for the second week in a row, rated 28 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, 33 percent fair, and 12 percent good. Reports of producers feeding hay are common in most districts. Livestock water shortages are still isolated, although concern is mounting, especially in the northeast, central, east-central, and south-central districts.

Weather Summary

Average temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees above normal were common throughout the state. All but far northern areas saw high temperatures reach 100 degrees or above, including 107 in Shannon County and 106 in Crawford County. Rainfall averaged 0.75 inches, nearly all of it in the three northern districts. The northwest received 2.75 inches, the north-central 2.22, the northeast 1.16, and the west-central 0.50. All other districts received little to no rain.