Agricultural Summary

Very slow field progress is reported in the first Crop Progress and Condition report of the 2010 season. Soil in general remained wet which slowed fieldwork across the State. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 45 percent adequate and 54 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 56 percent adequate and 44 percent surplus. There were 2.1 days suitable for fieldwork with over 4 days reported suitable in the southwestern district. Spring tillage was 13 percent complete, well below last year’s 25 percent and a normal of 33 percent complete.

Field Crops Report

With so few days suitable for fieldwork, corn planting has just begun in many areas of the State, averaging only 1 percent complete. This is below last year’s 2 percent and a normal of 8 percent complete. South-central and southeastern districts averaged 4 percent complete. No reports were received of any cotton or rice being planted. Winter wheat condition was 11 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Conditions in the east-central and southwest districts were rated 34 and 62 percent very poor, respectively.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 4 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 33 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. The poorest pasture conditions were south-central district, which reported 57 percent in poor condition. Supply of hay and other roughages was rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Large amounts of hay were used during the extremely long winter. Stock water supplies were rated 70 percent adequate and 30 percent surplus.

Weather Summary

Temperatures averaged 5 to 14 degrees above average statewide. Rainfall averaged 0.74 of an inch across the State. The northwest and west-central districts reported the least precipitation with 0.36 of an inch while the south-central reported the most precipitation with 1.06 inches.