Agricultural Summary

Warmer, drier weather allowed farmers to make progress with tillage, planting and harvesting hay until spotty showers again limited fieldwork. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. The northwest district and the southern third of the State reported 5 or more percent short whereas all other districts reported 13 percent or more surplus. There were 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Spring tillage was 89 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year’s 84 percent, but virtually the same as the 5-year average.

Field Crops Report

Corn planting averaged 95 percent complete. This is 8 days ahead of last year’s 89 percent and 4 days ahead of normal. Corn emerged reached 81 percent, a week ahead of last year’s 70 percent but similar to normal. Corn condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Farmers made good progress with soybean planting reported as 48 percent complete, up 26 points from last week. This is 3 days ahead of last year’s 41 percent but still 5 days behind the normal of 59 percent. The west-central and north-central districts lagged behind at 15 percent and 29 percent, respectively, while the remainder of the state was 40 percent or more planted. The soybean crop was 22 percent emerged Statewide, 1 day ahead of last year, but nearly 6 days behind normal. Cotton planting is practically complete. Squaring reached 2 percent, 20 days ahead of a year earlier and 5 days ahead of the 5-year average of 1 percent. Cotton condition was rated 7 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 70 percent good, and 3 percent excellent, a slight improvement from a week earlier. Rice was virtually all emerged, more than 2 weeks ahead of last year and normal. Rice condition was rated 2 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 24 percent excellent. Last week, 14 percent of the crop was rated in excellent condition. Sorghum planting jumped to 53 percent complete, 5 days ahead of last year but 4 days behind normal. Winter wheat averaged 91 percent headed, 2 days behind last year and 5 days behind normal. Wheat condition was rated 10 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 28 percent good, and 4 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from a week earlier. First cutting of alfalfa was 45 percent complete the same as a year ago but over 4 days behind normal. The second cutting of alfalfa is beginning in the Bootheel. Other hay was 22 percent cut, the same as last year but 4 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 9 percent excellent, an improvement from a week ago. This year, 69 percent of the pasture was rated in good to excellent condition compared with the 5-year average of 47 percent.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were well above normal this week, averaging 4 degrees to 9 degrees above normal. Rainfall averaged 0.42 of an inch. The west-central district received 0.62 of an inch while the east-central and central districts received 0.16 and 0.25 of an inch, respectively. The remaining districts averaged approximately one-half inch each. Barry and Ripley counties received the largest amounts of moisture, with over 2 inches of precipitation each.