Agricultural Summary

Another week of little or no rain gave farmers 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Soybean harvest has begun in most areas across the State. Reporters in the northeast district continued to comment that moisture levels are high, although dry conditions persist in the south-central district. State-wide, topsoil moisture rates 2 percent very short, 18 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rates 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Last year we were at 38 percent adequate to surplus compared to 88 percent this year. Fall tillage is 9 percent complete.

Field Crops Report

The corn crop is almost completely dented at 98 percent. Seventy-nine percent is mature, over three weeks behind last year and normal. Harvest is 30 percent complete, over three weeks behind last year and normal, and still lags in the northeast due to late plantings. Overall, condition is rated 4 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Seventy-nine percent of the soybean crop is turning color, 13 days behind last year and 12 days behind normal. Forty-eight percent is dropping leaves, and twenty-five percent is mature, a week to a week and a half behind last year and normal. The crop still requires two weeks without a hard freeze to avoid frost damage. Harvest is 9 percent complete, 10 days behind last year and 7 days behind normal. Soybean condition is rated 5 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Rice harvest is 59 percent complete, 14 days behind last year and a week behind normal. Cotton boll opening is at 92 percent, three weeks behind last year, but slightly ahead of normal. Harvest is 21 percent complete, 19 days behind last year and 3 days behind normal. Cotton condition is rated 4 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Sorghum turning color is 92 percent, with 57 percent mature, 13 days last year and 17 days behind normal. Sorghum harvest is 28 percent complete, 8 days behind last year and 13 days behind normal. Sorghum condition is rated 2 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Winter wheat is 7 percent planted, 10 days behind last year and 9 days behind normal. Emergence is at 2 percent, 6 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture conditions is rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 55 percent good and 9 percent excellent. Hay supply is estimated as 4 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus, 37 percentage points better than last year at this time in the adequate to surplus categories. Stock water supply is rated 2 percent short, 90 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus, 28 points better than last year in adequate and surplus.

Weather Summary

Temperatures during the past week ranged from near normal to 5 degrees below normal over most of the State. Rainfall for the week averaged 0.20 inches for the State. All districts received about one-half inch or less.