Agricultural Summary

Farmers took advantage of 6.6 days suitable for field work to make good progress with corn harvest, while a few producers headed into their first soybean and milo fields for harvest. In the Bootheel, the cotton and rice harvests are running well ahead of normal. Cool temperatures during the week along with widespread rain the previous week have improved pasture conditions in many areas. Topsoil moisture rates 22 percent very short, 33 percent short, 43 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.

Field Crops Report

Eighty-four percent of the corn crop is mature, about 4 days behind last year but even with normal. Harvest advanced by 16 percentage points to 45 percent complete, slightly ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the 5-year average of 37 percent. All districts are seeing widespread harvest activity. Producers in northern areas are finding variable yields, but generally above to much above what was expected across fields that did not sustain wind damage. The condition rating is 7 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 36 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Sixty-one percent of the soybean crop is turning color, the same as normal, while 28 percent is dropping leaves, marginally behind last year and average. Eight percent is mature, compared to 7 percent as normal. Two percent is harvested, with most activity in the Bootheel. Soybean condition is rated 10 percent very poor, 18 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 29 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Sorghum turning color is at 83 percent with 41 percent mature, both about 1 week behind average. Harvest is 13 percent complete, 6 days behind last year and 5 days behind normal. Sorghum condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 46 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Rice harvest is 45 percent complete, representing progress of 24 points over last week and 10 days ahead of the 5-year average of 19 percent. Condition rates 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 28 percent excellent. Cotton boll opening is at 93 percent, over 3 weeks ahead of last year and normal. Harvest is running nearly 3 weeks ahead of normal at 21 percent complete. Cotton condition is rated 9 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. The third cutting of alfalfa is 93 percent complete, compared with the normal pace of 95 percent.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 23 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 18 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, an improvement of 6 points in good to excellent. While several areas showed improvement, all districts remain with a majority of their pastures ranging from fair to very poor in condition. Reports from the northeast, east-central, and south-central districts are still indicating livestock water shortages.

Weather Summary

Temperatures averaged 6 to 9 degrees below normal in most areas and 3 to 4 degrees below average in the southeast. Rainfall averaged 0.27 inches, ranging from approximately 0.05 inches in the northwest and north-central and districts to 0.57 in the southeast.