Agricultural Summary

Weekend rains for the second week in a row have slowed fieldwork and delayed planting in many areas of the State, although planting is still ahead of normal for most field crops. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 50 percent adequate, and 49 percent surplus. A week earlier, topsoil moisture was rated 42 percent surplus. The north-central and northeast districts reported over 75 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 28 percent surplus. There were 2.1 days suitable for fieldwork. The southern third of the State had 3 to 5 days suitable while the north-central and northeast districts each had less than a day. Spring tillage advanced to 73 percent complete, just over 20 days ahead of last year’s 51 percent and 12 days ahead of the 5-year average of 63 percent complete.

Field Crops Report

Corn planting averaged 73 percent complete, up only 4 points from last week. This is still 20 days ahead of last year’s 30 percent and almost 14 days ahead of the normal of 53 percent complete. The southeast district has nearly completed planting, averaging 97 percent complete, whereas the northwest district averaged 60 percent complete. Corn emerged was 39 percent, almost 17 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal. Soybean planting averaged 7 percent complete, 12 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of normal. The southeast district averaged 13 percent complete. Cotton planting was 16 percent complete, similar to last year but 6 days behind normal. Rice planting was 91 percent complete, up 7 points from last week. This is 28 days ahead of last year and almost 20 days ahead of normal. Rice emerged was at 55 percent, 23 days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of normal. Sorghum planting was reported at 9 percent complete, 15 days ahead of last year but 3 days behind normal. Winter wheat was 19 percent headed, mostly in the southeast and east-central districts. This is 4 days ahead of last year, but 4 days behind normal. Wheat condition was rated 10 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 32 percent good, and 5 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from last week. The wheat crop is in poorer condition than last year with 26 percent poor to very poor compared to 9 percent last year. Conditions in the southwest district continue to be the poorest in the State, rating 66 percent poor to very poor; however, conditions in the east-central district greatly improved, rating 33 percent poor to very poor, compared to 60 percent last week.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition slightly improved to 1 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. The poorest pasture condition was seen in the south-central district, which reported 37 percent in poor condition. Supply of hay and other roughages was rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Hay supplies are shorter than a year ago due to the cold, wet winter. The southwest district reported 29 percent short to very short. Stock water supplies were rated 81 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus.

Weather Summary

Statewide, Temperatures were mostly 1 to 2 degrees above average for the week. Rainfall averaged 1.03 inches across the State. The southeast district reported the most precipitation with 2.81 inches, while the northwest and southwest districts reported the least with 0.54 and 0.44 of an inch, respectively.