Agricultural Summary

Farmers used favorable conditions to plant more than a million acres of corn during the week. Warm, dry conditions prevailed across most of the State which allowed for nearly a week of good fieldwork and rapid planting progress. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 16 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. The biggest weekly change in topsoil moisture occurred in the south-central district, which went from 30 to 62 percent short. There were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork. The northwest district had 5.1 days suitable, almost a full day less than any other district due to rainfall at the end of the week. Spring tillage advanced quicker than average to 53 percent complete, 19 days ahead of last year’s 32 percent and 5 days ahead of the 5-year average of 48 percent complete.

Field Crops Report

Corn planting progressed dramatically in all areas of the State, averaging 40 percent complete, up from 9 percent last week. This is almost 23 days ahead of last year’s 7 percent and 6 days ahead of the normal of 28 percent complete. The southeast district advanced more rapidly than any other district, averaging 77 percent complete, whereas the northwest district averaged only 22 percent complete. Cotton planting was 3 percent complete, 3 days ahead of last year and similar to normal. Rice planting reached 40 percent complete, a full week ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of normal. Rice emerged was at 5 percent, 5 days ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of normal. Sorghum planting was reported at 4 percent complete, 24 days ahead of last year and a day ahead of normal. Winter wheat condition was rated 10 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 33 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. The wheat crop is in worse condition than last year with 26 percent poor to very poor compared to 8 percent last year. Conditions in the east-central and southwest districts were rated 45 and 56 percent poor to very poor, respectively.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition improved to 1 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. The poorest pasture conditions were in the central and south-central districts, which reported 35 and 30 percent in poor to very poor condition, respectively.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were mostly 7 to 10 degrees above average statewide. Rainfall averaged 0.13 of an inch across the State. The northwest and north-central districts reported the most precipitation with 0.59 and 0.24 of an inch, respectively, while the rest of the state reported less than 0.10 of an inch.