Agricultural Summary

Fields were still wet from recent rains; however, dry weather and sunshine last week improved pastures. Cotton condition improved slightly, while corn, soybeans, sorghum, and rice conditions declined. Severe flooding destroyed some crops in Bates and Gasconade counties. State-wide, topsoil moisture rates 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Surplus topsoil moisture supply decreased from last week, leaving 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Sunshine and warm weather are needed throughout Missouri as crops move toward maturity and harvest begins.

Field Crops Report

The corn crop is almost completely doughed at 98 percent. Ninety percent of the crop is dented, nearly three weeks behind last year and normal. Forty-four percent is mature, over three weeks behind last year and normal. Harvest is 9 percent complete, also three weeks behind last year and normal. Overall, condition is rated 4 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 36 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Thirty-seven percent of the soybean crop is turning color, over two weeks behind last year and normal. Thirteen percent is dropping leaves, 14 days behind last year and 12 days behind normal. Three percent is mature. Harvest is beginning in isolated areas. Soybean condition is rated 6 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 32 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Rice harvest is 14 percent complete, 16 days behind last year and 9 days behind normal. Condition is rated 2 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 10 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 39 percent excellent, following extreme wind conditions from Ike that caused some head shattering. Cotton boll opening is at 69 percent, nearly three weeks behind last year and 3 days behind normal. Harvest has begun. Cotton condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Sorghum turning color is 73 percent, about two weeks behind last year and 18 days behind normal. Thirty-two percent is mature, two weeks behind normal. Sorghum harvest is 8 percent complete, 12 days behind last year and normal. Sorghum condition is rated 2 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Winter wheat seeding is just getting started. Third cutting alfalfa is 89 percent harvested, 16 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture conditions continue to improve and are rated 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 54 percent good and 12 percent excellent.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 1 to 6 degrees below average throughout the State, although a few northwest counties were normal to 3 degrees above average. Rainfall for the week averaged 0.36 inches for the State. The largest amounts of precipitation were recorded in the southeast district, which averaged 1.65 inches.