Agricultural Summary

Wet conditions in the northern third of the State limited fieldwork in those areas. There were 4.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. The west-central, southwest, and southeast districts reported 21 percent or more short whereas all other districts reported 92 percent or more adequate to surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 6 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Spring tillage was 94 percent complete, 10 days ahead of last year’s 90 percent and 4 days ahead of normal.

Field Crops Report

Corn emerged reached 92 percent, 8 days ahead last year’s 82 percent and 3 days ahead of the normal of 89 percent. Corn condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 42 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Soybean planting was reported as 65 percent complete, up 17 points from last week. This is 6 days ahead of last year’s 57 percent, but still 3 days behind the normal of 70 percent. The soybean crop was 41 percent emerged Statewide, 3 days ahead of last year, but just over 5 days behind normal. Soybean condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Cotton squaring reached 6 percent, just over 16 days ahead of a year earlier and 3 days ahead of the 5-year average of 4 percent. Cotton condition was rated 8 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 71 percent good, and 3 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from a week earlier. Rice condition was rated 2 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 63 percent good, and 24 percent excellent. Sorghum planting was 70 percent complete, up 17 points from last week. This is a week ahead of last year, but 2 days behind normal. Winter wheat averaged 96 percent headed, a day behind last year and 6 days behind normal. Sixty-seven percent of the wheat is turning color, up 32 points from a week earlier. This is just over 2 days ahead of last year, but similar to normal. Wheat harvest has just begun in the Bootheel. Wheat condition was rated 10 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 28 percent good, and 5 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from a week earlier. First cutting of alfalfa was 61 percent complete, a day behind last year and 5 days behind normal. The second cutting of alfalfa is 5 percent complete Statewide, 15 days ahead of a year earlier and a week ahead of normal. Other hay was 36 percent cut, the same as last year, but 3 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 4 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 63 percent good, and 8 percent excellent, a slight improvement from a week ago. Supplies of hay and other roughages were rated 7 percent short, 89 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Stock water supplies were rated 93 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus.

Weather Summary

Temperatures continued to be well above normal this week, averaging 5 degrees to 7 degrees above normal. Rainfall averaged 1.48 of an inch Statewide. The northwest and north-central districts each received over 3 inches of rainfall while the southwest district reported only 0.26 of an inch. Sullivan, Mercer, and Daviess counties reported the greatest amount of rainfall with over 6 inches each.