Agricultural Summary

A week of completely dry weather allowed for substantial progress in soybean and milo harvests, while fall tillage moved ahead to 52 percent complete, well ahead of average. Wheat planting also advanced considerably, with the crop emerging well. Topsoil moisture rates 14 percent very short, 31 percent short, 54 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus at the state level, a decline of 8 points in adequate and surplus after a very dry week. Subsoil moisture rates 17 percent very short, 34 percent short, and 49 percent adequate. The northeast, central, east-central, and south-central districts are mostly short to very short of subsoil moisture heading into winter. There were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Corn harvest is 92 percent complete, 2 points behind last year and 1 point behind normal. The harvest pace has been slow in recent weeks as farmers in northern areas focus on the soybean harvest, while a few are still waiting for fields to dry down. Soybean harvest is 84 percent complete, slightly ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the 5-year average. Substantial progress was made in all districts, including progress of 29 points in the northwest. Sorghum harvest is 86 percent complete, the same as normal. Cotton harvest is nearly complete at 97 percent, over 3 weeks ahead of average. Winter wheat is 81 percent planted, slightly behind last year but 3 days ahead of normal. Emergence is at 59 percent, the same as the 5-year average. The crop remains in mostly good condition, with a rating of 2 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 66 percent good, and 2 percent excellent.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 23 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 20 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Hay supply rates 10 percent very short, 33 percent short, 54 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Stock water supply rates 10 percent very short, 25 percent short, 65 percent adequate. Hay and stock water supply varies by district. Reporters indicate cattle producers are hauling water and feeding hay in the northeast, where pasture is especially poor. There are also reports of low ponds in the south-central district. On the positive side, one reporter in the central region described good quantities of fall hay being put up, while fescue growth has been good in the south-central.

Weather Summary

Average temperatures varied by region. The far northwest corner experienced temperatures 3 degrees above normal, while the southern third of the state was 3 to 9 degrees below average. All other regions were normal to slightly below average. The only precipitation was a trace recorded in a few northern and east-central counties.