Agricultural Summary

Excessive rains and flooding continued to have all farm activities and crop progress well behind the normal pace. Counties along the Mississippi River are reporting several thousand acres under water due to levee breeches. Rainfall totals in excess of 6 inches were received in the northern part of the State mid-week, raising concerns along rivers in the northern central region. Rains were welcomed the latter part of the week in the south-central district where conditions were in need of moisture. State-wide, topsoil moisture rates 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 52 percent adequate, and 41 percent surplus. There were 3.4 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Corn emergence is 92 percent complete, over 3 weeks behind last year and a month behind normal. The cooler, wet weather continued to limit crop growth. Corn is 3 percent silked state-wide compared with 38 percent last year and 34 percent for the 5-year average. Corn condition rates 5 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 36 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Soybean planting is 75 percent complete, 22 days behind last year and 26 days behind normal. Progress in the west-central and central district improved from last week to 63 percent and 74 percent complete, respectively. State-wide emergence is at 61 percent, 20 days behind last year and 23 days behind normal. Soybean condition is 4 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 47 percent fair, 30 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Rice condition was reported as 2 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 32 percent excellent, an increase of 15 points in the excellent category from last week. Cotton squaring is at 43 percent, 10 days behind last year and 6 days behind normal. Six percent of the crop has set bolls, 9 days behind last year but the same as normal. Cotton condition rates 3 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 69 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Sorghum planting is 79 percent complete, 19 days behind last year and 26 days behind normal. Sorghum condition rates 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 47 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Harvest of winter wheat is 38 percent complete, 8 days behind normal and over a week behind last year. The first cutting of alfalfa is 84 percent harvested, over 15 days behind last year and 19 days behind normal. Other hay is 50 percent cut, over two weeks behind last year and the 5-year average.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 55 percent good and 14 percent excellent.

Weather Summary

Missouri temperatures during the past week ranged from 1 degree above normal to 3 degrees below normal throughout the State. The State averaged 2.16 inches of rainfall, ranging from 0.63 of an inch in the east-central district and 0.85 of an inch in the southeast district to 5.06 inches in the north-central district. Counties in the north-central district received between 1 and 8 inches, with Putnam County reporting 8.08 inches.