Agricultural Summary

Wet conditions continue to put spring planting and tillage progress well behind normal, although still slightly ahead of last year’s pace. Severe weather across the southern half of the State brought heavy rain and damaging winds. Some replanting may be needed in the southeast district from wet conditions over the past few weeks. Crop progress is lagging behind in the northeast district compared to the rest of the State. Topsoil moisture is 41 percent adequate and 59 percent surplus. Spring tillage is 55 percent complete, a 4 point increase from last week but 21 days behind the normal of 76 percent. There were 1.6 days suitable for fieldwork with the northwest district reporting over 3 days suitable.

Field Crops Report

Corn planting is 39 percent complete compared to 32 percent last year. Corn planting is 22 days behind the normal pace of 75 percent complete. Good planting progress was made across the northwest, north-central and southwest districts. Corn emergence is at 21 percent, a 15 point increase from last week but 17 days behind normal. Soybean planting is 5 percent complete, 12 days behind the normal pace of 19 percent. Cotton planting is at 26 percent, 11 days behind the normal progress of 62 percent. Rice planting is 53 percent complete, 11 days behind normal. Rice emerged is at 39 percent, 5 days behind the normal pace of 53 percent. Sorghum planting is at 3 percent, 1 point higher than last week and 25 days behind normal. Wheat heading is at 33 percent, a week behind the normal of 61 percent. Heading is nearly complete in the southeast district. Condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. The first cutting of alfalfa is 1 percent complete, 14 days behind the normal of 10 percent. Other hay is 1 percent cut, on par with last year.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 4 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 7 percent excellent, a 5 point increase in good to excellent from last week.

Weather Summary

Temperatures ranged from near normal to 4 degrees above average across the State. Rainfall averaged 1.39 inches statewide with a range of 0.30 inches in the northwest district to 2.15 inches in the southeast district. The west-central and central districts also reported over 2.00 inches of precipitation. Laclede and Ripley counties reported over 5.00 inches of precipitation.