Agricultural Summary

Cooler temperatures and rainfall continue to benefit pastures across the State and non-irrigated crops in the southeast district. Crop conditions are lower across the eastern third of the State. Statewide, topsoil moisture is rated 1 percent very short, 14 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. The southern third of the State showed an increase in adequate to surplus topsoil moisture from last week. There were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Corn silking is 63 percent complete, 4 days ahead of last year but 9 days behind a normal of 80 percent. Eight percent of the corn is in dough stage. Corn condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Soybean blooming is at 28 percent, 8 days ahead of last year but a week behind a normal of 42 percent. Soybean condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. Cotton squaring reached 85 percent complete, 8 days behind normal and 7 days behind last year. Bolls have set on 29 percent of this year’s crop, 9 days behind a year ago and 8 days behind normal. Cotton condition is 15 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 42 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Rice heading has begun. Rice condition is rated 7 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. Sorghum heading is 16 percent, about the same as a year ago but 7 days behind a normal of 30 percent. Sorghum is beginning to turn color in the south-central district. Sorghum condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. The second cutting of alfalfa is 78 percent complete, 3 days behind normal. Other hay is 85 percent cut, 8 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 4 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 11 percent excellent, slightly better than last week.

Weather Summary

Temperatures averaged 4 to 8 degrees below normal across the State. Rainfall averaged 1.00 inch for the week. The southwest district recorded the most precipitation with 1.43 inches while the driest districts were the northeast and north-central at 0.64 and 0.66 of an inch respectively.