Agricultural Summary

Rainfall at the end of the previous week slowed fieldwork before drier conditions allowed farmers to resume progress. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 25 percent surplus. A week earlier, topsoil moisture was rated 49 percent surplus. The east-central, southwestern, and south-central districts reported less than 10 percent surplus. There were 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork. The southwest district reported nearly 7 days suitable compared to the north-central district, which averaged 2 days suitable for fieldwork. Spring tillage advanced to 79 percent complete, 17 days ahead of last year’s 54 percent and 10 days ahead of the 5-year average of 68 percent complete.

Field Crops Report

Corn planting averaged 84 percent complete, up 9 points from last week. This is 17 days ahead of last year’s 38 percent and almost 13 days ahead of the normal of 63 percent complete. The southern third of the state has nearly completed planting; however, some of this corn will need to be replanted. The northwest and north-central districts each averaged only 74 percent complete. Corn emerged was 53 percent, 15 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal. Corn condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Soybean planting averaged 14 percent complete, 10 days ahead of last year’s 5 percent and just over a day ahead of normal. The southeast district averaged 29 percent complete. The soybean crop is just beginning to emerge, averaging 3 percent across the State. Cotton planting is moving right along at 51 percent complete, up 35 points from last week. This is 11 days ahead of last year, but similar to normal. Rice planting has nearly been completed at 97 percent complete, up 6 points from a week ago. This is 26 days ahead of last year and 19 days ahead of normal. Rice was 73 percent emerged, 20 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of normal. Rice condition was rated 1 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. Sorghum planting was reported at 18 percent complete, just over 11 days ahead of last year, but similar to normal. Winter wheat averaged 41 percent headed, lead by the southeast and south-central districts at 90 percent. This is almost 3 days ahead of last year, but almost 3 days behind normal. Wheat condition was rated 8 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 29 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. First cutting of alfalfa was 5 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year, but 4 days behind normal. Other hay was 2 percent cut, 8 days ahead of last year, but similar to normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition, virtually unchanged from a week ago, was rated 1 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. This year, 54 percent of the pasture was rated good to excellent condition compared to 62 percent last year.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 1 to 4 degrees below average over most of the State; however, the Bootheel experienced temperatures that were 1 to 4 degrees above average. Rainfall averaged 0.38 of an inch across the State. The northern third of the state received around an inch of rainfall, while the rest of the State received less than 0.25 of an inch. In particular, the southwest and south-central districts were exceptionally dry having received only 0.01 of an inch of rainfall. Mercer and Scotland counties received the largest amount of moisture with 2.55 and 2.48 inches, respectively.