Agricultural Summary

Moderate to heavy rain covered most of the state at times during the week, slowing field activities. Heavy rains were especially welcomed in the extremely dry southeast district. Minimal progress was made with corn harvest in northern areas, where most of the unharvested corn fields are yet standing. However, many areas made some progress harvesting soybeans and milo as well as planting winter wheat before rains arrived. The moisture and warm temperatures were beneficial to wheat emergence and pasture grass growth. Topsoil moisture rates 10 percent very short, 30 percent short, 52 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus, 16 points better than last week in adequate to surplus. The southeast improved from 23 percent to 77 percent adequate to surplus. There were 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Fall tillage is 30 percent complete.

Field Crops Report

Corn harvest is 85 percent complete, advancing only 2 points from last week but just 1 point behind the five-year average. The northwest district, at 58 percent complete, is lagging the other districts, which are at least 80 percent done. Ninety-five percent of the soybean crop is dropping leaves, with 88 percent mature, both slightly behind normal. Harvest is 57 percent complete, 1 point behind the five-year average. The southwest district was very late in getting both single- and double-crop soybeans planted, which is corresponding to a late harvest. The district is 16 percent harvested, well behind its pace last year as well as other districts this year. Ninety-two percent of the sorghum crop has reached maturity, while 71 percent is harvested, about 3 days behind normal. Rice harvest, at 98 percent complete, is finishing almost 3 weeks ahead of average. Cotton harvest is 89 percent complete, over 1 month in front of last year and average. Winter wheat is 53 percent planted, 3 days behind last year and about 1 day behind normal. Emergence is at 32 percent, slightly ahead of last year and normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 22 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 18 percent good, and 2 percent excellent, a slight improvement from last week.

Weather Summary

Temperatures averaged 4 to 8 degrees above normal. Rainfall averaged 1.71 inches, ranging from 0.84 and 0.86 inches in the east-central and southwest districts to 3.93 inches in the southeast. Several counties in the northwest, north-central, west-central, and southeast districts received between 3 and 5 inches.