Agricultural Summary

Cool temperatures and timely rainfall are improving field crop conditions across the State. Statewide, topsoil moisture is rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. The topsoil moisture rating in the southeast district improved from 52 percent very short to short last week compared to 7 percent this week. There were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Corn silking is 78 percent complete, 3 days ahead of last year but 8 days behind a normal of 89 percent. Twenty-three percent of the corn is in dough stage, 5 days ahead of last year but 8 days behind normal. Corn condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Soybean blooming is at 43 percent, 6 days ahead of last year but a week behind a normal of 56 percent. Nine percent are setting pods, 2 days ahead of last year and 9 days behind normal. Soybean condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Cotton squaring reached 94 percent complete, 9 days behind normal and 7 days behind last year. Bolls have set on 50 percent of this year’s crop, 9 days behind a year ago and normal. Cotton condition is 13 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Cotton good to excellent condition improved 8 points from last week. Rice heading is 2 percent complete, 23 days behind normal and 12 days behind last year. Rice condition is rated 7 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. Sorghum heading is 27 percent, about the same as a year ago but 8 days behind a normal of 48 percent. Sorghum turning color is 4 percent complete, near normal but a week ahead of last year. Sorghum condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. The second cutting of alfalfa is 84 percent complete, 6 days behind normal. Other hay is 90 percent cut, 6 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition is rated 5 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 9 percent excellent, slightly worse than last week.

Weather Summary

Temperatures averaged 7 to 8 degrees below normal in the southern third of the State and 4 to 7 degrees below average across the rest of the State. Rainfall averaged 1.07 inch for the week. The southeast and southwest districts recorded the most precipitation with 2.52 inches and 2.22 inches respectively, while the driest districts were the east-central and northwest at 0.40 and 0.49 of an inch respectively.