Agricultural Summary

The week ended with row crop harvesting and wheat seeding nearing completion for the state. Fall tillage continued ahead of normal at 74 percent complete. Many areas of the state are experiencing hay and livestock water supply shortages heading into winter. Topsoil moisture rates 17 percent very short, 38 percent short, 44 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus, a moderate decline from last week. There were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Corn harvest is 98 percent complete, with only a few fields in the northern districts remaining to be harvested. Soybean harvest is 97 percent complete, over 1 week ahead of last year and average. Sorghum harvest is 97 percent complete, 2 points ahead of normal. Winter wheat is 96 percent planted, well ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Emergence is at 82 percent, a few days ahead of normal. Some of the later planted wheat has been slow to emerge because of dry topsoils. The crop rating is 3 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 5 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from last week.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 23 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 18 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, comparable to last week. The southwest district fell 19 points in the good and excellent categories from last week, while all other districts were stable or showed slight improvement. Reporters in the north-central, northeast, west-central, central, and south-central districts all commented on low pond and creek levels, with some also expressing concern about livestock forage supplies and poor pasture conditions.

Weather Summary

Average temperatures were mostly 5 to 8 degrees above normal. Rainfall averaged 0.46 inches, with a range of 0.02 inches in the northwest to 0.87 in the southeast.