Agricultural Summary

A warm, dry week gave farmers 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork to make good progress with hay harvest. Light to moderate rainfall fell across most of the State. The northwest, south-central, and southeast districts need more rain to improve crop conditions. State-wide, topsoil moisture rates 2 percent very short, 19 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus.

Field Crops Report

The corn crop is variable across the State in both maturity and condition. The crop is 92 percent silked, 14 days behind last year and 16 days behind normal. Forty-eight percent is in the dough stage, 13 days behind last year and 15 days behind normal. Fourteen percent of the crop is dented, over a week behind last year and normal. Corn condition rated 4 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 10 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from last week. The soybean crop continues to lag well behind in maturity following a very late planting and replanting season. Sixty-three percent of the crop is blooming, 13 days behind last year and 14 days behind normal. Twenty-eight percent are setting pods, 13 days behind last year and normal. Soybean condition is rated 4 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Rice heading is at 57 percent complete, almost a week behind last year and 5 days behind normal. Rice condition was reported as 1 percent poor, 10 percent fair, 42 percent good, and 47 percent excellent. The cotton crop has enjoyed abundant growing degree days and is the only crop maturing ahead of the normal pace. Cotton setting bolls is at 96 percent, 11 days ahead of last year and almost a week ahead of normal, with some fields having bolls beginning to open. Cotton condition rated 3 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Sorghum heading is at 60 percent, over a week behind last year and normal. Fifteen percent is turning color, 3 days behind last year and 6 days behind normal. Sorghum condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 43 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Second cutting alfalfa is 90 percent harvested, 17 days behind last year and 22 days behind normal, while the third cutting is 25 percent complete, 12 days behind last year and 18 days behind normal. Other hay is 92 percent cut, 20 days behind last year and 26 days behind average.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 54 percent good and 12 percent excellent, much better than normal for mid-August.

Weather Summary

Temperatures during the past week ranged from 2 degrees below normal to 3 degrees above normal although most of the state showed normal temperatures. Rainfall for the week averaged 0.47 inches, ranging from about 0.01 inches in the north-central and northwest district to 1.53 inches in the southwest district. All districts expect for the southwest districts received less than 0.75 inches.