Agricultural Summary

Farmers again made steady progress during the week with the row crop harvest and wheat planting. Light to moderate rain fell in nearly every county, but abnormally warm weather quickly dried soils enough to limit harvest downtime. The moisture and warmth promoted pasture growth in many areas, while also providing good conditions for wheat germination. Topsoil moisture rates 24 percent very short, 36 percent short, 38 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. There was general improvement in topsoil moisture among the western districts, while the southeast deteriorated. Subsoil moisture rates 22 percent very short, 40 percent short, and 38 percent adequate. There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Corn harvest is 81 percent complete, nearly even with last year and 6 days ahead of the 5-year average of 76 percent. Ninety-four percent of the soybean crop is turning color, about 5 days behind last year and normal. Eighty-one percent is dropping leaves, 3 days behind last year and 2 days behind normal. Sixty-six percent is mature, 1 point behind last year at this time but slightly ahead of average. Harvest is 31 percent complete, marginally behind last year but about 1 day ahead of the 5-year average of 28 percent. Yield reports are highly variable even within counties. Soybean condition is rated 10 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 30 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Eighty-two percent of the sorghum crop has reached maturity, 8 days behind last year and 6 days behind normal. Harvest is 46 percent complete, 8 days behind last year and 1 week behind normal. Sorghum condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 46 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Rice harvest is 88 percent complete, 1 week ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of normal. Cotton harvest is 65 percent complete, over 4 weeks in front of last year and more than 3 weeks ahead of the 5-year average. Winter wheat is 19 percent planted, 3 days behind last year and about 1 day behind normal. Emergence is at 6 percent, the same as average.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 28 percent very poor, 22 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 17 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, nearly the same as last week. Hay supply is estimated as 13 percent very short, 28 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus, 13 percentage points better than last year at this time in the adequate and surplus categories. Stock water supply is rated 8 percent very short, 22 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus, 27 points better than last year in adequate and surplus. While hay and livestock water supplies are improved over last year at the state level, some areas are still struggling, especially in the three eastern districts as well as some counties in the south-central.

Weather Summary

Average temperatures were well above normal by 10 to 13 degrees. Rainfall averaged 0.81 inches. District totals fell in a range of about three-quarters to one and one-quarter inches, except the south-central district at 0.43 and the southeast at 0.01.