Agricultural Summary

Producers were able to return to the fields early last week; however, heavy rains slowed progress the latter part of the week over the northern two-thirds of the State. Crop progress continues well behind the normal pace. Topsoil moisture rates 1 percent short, 57 percent adequate, and 42 percent surplus. Spring tillage is 65 percent complete, over a month behind normal and more than three weeks behind a year ago. There were 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork, one of the most active weeks of the season.

Field Crops Report

Corn planted is 72 percent complete for the State, 10 days behind last year and more than three weeks behind normal. Planting in the Bootheel is complete due to improved weather conditions. Corn emergence is at 41 percent, 16 days behind last year and 25 days behind normal. Many producers in the northeast part of the State, currently at 46 percent planted, are considering switching acres from corn to soybeans if rain continues. Soybean planting advanced 12 points over last week to 24 percent complete, more than a week behind last year and two weeks behind normal. Progress jumped 26 points in the Bootheel from last week to 55 percent complete. Soybean emergence is 8 percent, 9 days behind last year and 11 days behind normal. Rice planting is virtually complete, about the same as last year and 7 days ahead of normal. Rice emergence is at 81 percent complete, 6 days behind last year and 5 days behind normal. Rice condition was reported as 1 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 78 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. Cotton planting is virtually complete, about the same as last year and 12 days ahead of normal. Sorghum planting continued to make good progress, mostly in the Bootheel, reaching 28 percent complete statewide, 8 days behind last year and just over two weeks behind normal. Winter wheat condition for the State is rated 5 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 42 percent good and 5 percent excellent, a slight improvement from last week. Eighty percent of the winter wheat crop has headed, over a week behind last year and normal. The first cutting of alfalfa is 27 percent harvested, over a week behind last year and normal. Other hay is 10 percent cut, 10 days behind normal and 7 days behind last year.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 50 percent good and 6 percent excellent, nearly the same as last week. Cool temperatures and excessive moisture continue to slow pasture growth.

Weather Summary

Temperatures averaged 1 to 4 degrees above normal over most of the State, while the northeast, north central, and central areas were 1 to 3 degrees below normal. The State averaged 1.11 inches of rainfall for the week. The lightest totals fell in the southeast district at 0.36 inches and 0.44 inches in the south-central, while the heaviest total was recorded in the west-central district at 1.99 inches.