Agricultural Summary

Wet weather continues to slow spring planting and tillage progress to well behind normal. Persistent rainfall has caused some flooding conditions across parts of the State. Crop plantings are on par or slightly behind last year’s pace. The northern two-thirds of the State experienced heavy rains and severe weather. Crop progress is lagging behind in the northeast district compared to the rest of the State. Emergence is progressing well. Topsoil moisture is 39 percent adequate and 61 percent surplus. Spring tillage is 61 percent complete, 22 days behind the normal of 82 percent. There were 1.9 days suitable for fieldwork with the northwest district reporting over 3 days suitable.

Field Crops Report

Corn planting is 54 percent complete, a 15 point increase from last week. Planting is 21 days behind the normal pace of 84 percent complete. The northwest district increased corn plantings 27 points over the previous week with 3.2 days suitable for field work. Corn emergence is at 35 percent, a 14 point increase from last week but 17 days behind normal. Soybean planting is 9 percent complete, 14 days behind the normal pace of 33 percent. Cotton planting is at 29 percent, 17 days behind the normal progress of 79 percent. Rice planting is 57 percent complete, 17 days behind normal. Rice emerged is at 48 percent, 8 days behind the normal pace of 74 percent. Rice condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Rice in good to excellent condition is 58 percent compared to 79 percent last year. Sorghum planting is at 9 percent, 24 days behind normal. Wheat heading is at 70 percent, 4 days behind the normal of 80 percent. Heading is nearly complete in the southeast and south-central districts. Condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Wheat is 57 percent in good to excellent condition compared to the normal of 45 percent. The first cutting of alfalfa is 7 percent complete, 10 days behind the normal of 11 percent. Other hay is 2 percent cut, on par with last year.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 3 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 11 percent excellent, a 4 point increase in good to excellent from last week.

Weather Summary

Temperatures ranged from 5 degrees below average to near normal across the State. Rainfall averaged 2.02 inches statewide with a range of 0.99 inches in the southeast district to 3.35 inches in the north-central district. The northwest and northeast districts reported 2.85 inches and 2.97 inches respectively. Adair and Sullivan counties reported over 5.00 inches of precipitation.