Agricultural Summary

Dry conditions and cool nighttime temperatures are stressing pastures and crops. Rain is needed to improve crop conditions. State-wide, topsoil moisture rates 4 percent very short, 24 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus, a drop of 7 points in the adequate to surplus category. There were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

The corn crop 96 percent silked, 12 days behind last year and 17 days behind normal. Sixty-three percent is in the dough stage, 14 days behind last year and 16 days behind normal. Twenty-six percent of the crop is dented, two weeks behind last year and over two weeks behind normal. A report from the northeast district commented that the crop has a poor root system and is suffering from lack of nitrogen. Overall, condition is rated 4 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 10 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from last week. Seventy-six percent of the soybean crop is blooming, 13 days behind normal. Forty-one percent are setting pods, 13 days behind last year and 14 days behind normal. Soybean condition is rated 4 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Rice heading is 91 percent complete, 1 day ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal. Rice condition was reported as 4 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 48 percent excellent. Due to the lack of growing degree days only two percent of cotton bolls are opening, about two weeks behind last year and over a week behind normal. Cotton condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Sorghum heading is at 73 percent, over a week behind last year and normal. Twenty-one percent is turning color, 7 days behind last year and 9 days behind normal. Sorghum condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 43 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 5 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from last week. Second cutting alfalfa is 95 percent harvested, 19 days behind last year and 23 days behind normal, while the third cutting is 43 percent complete, almost two weeks behind last year and 17 days behind normal. Other hay is 96 percent cut, 16 days behind last year and 22 days behind average.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 54 percent good and 8 percent excellent, a drop of 4 points in the good to excellent category. Even with a decline in pasture conditions, the State is in much better condition than last year.

Weather Summary

Temperatures averaged 4 to 7 degrees below normal throughout the State. Rainfall for the week averaged 0.35 inches. The central part of the State received the most moisture with about 0.50 inch or better.