Agricultural Summary

Continued wet conditions in the northern two-thirds of the State limited fieldwork in those areas. There were 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork. The northern third of the State had about 1 day suitable whereas the southern third had 5.7 days or more suitable. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 49 percent adequate and 40 percent surplus. The southeast district reported 59 percent short to very short whereas all other districts reported 75 percent or more adequate to surplus. Spring tillage was 96 percent complete, a week ahead of last year’s 93 percent and 5 days ahead of normal.

Field Crops Report

Corn emerged reached 96 percent, 6 days ahead last year’s 91 percent and 4 days ahead of the normal of 94 percent. Corn condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Soybean planting was reported as 71 percent complete, 4 days ahead of last year’s 67 percent, but still 6 days behind the normal of 77 percent. The soybean crop was 59 percent emerged Statewide, 5 days ahead of last year, but just over 3 days behind normal. Soybean condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Cotton squaring reached 24 percent, just over 15 days ahead of a year earlier and a week ahead of the 5-year average of 12 percent. Cotton condition was rated 6 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 71 percent good, and 3 percent excellent, a slight improvement from a week earlier. Rice condition was rated 3 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 23 percent excellent. This year, 85 percent of the rice was rated good to excellent compared with 68 percent last year and the normal of 71 percent. Sorghum planting was 78 percent complete, just over 8 days ahead of last year, but 2 days behind normal. Sorghum condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Winter wheat averaged 98 percent headed, 3 days behind last year and a week behind normal. Seventy-nine percent of the wheat is turning color, up 12 points from a week earlier. This is a day behind last year and 3 days behind normal. In the north-central district, 80 percent of the wheat is headed and 28 percent is turning color. Wheat harvest was 10 percent complete, most of which was in the Bootheel. Wheat condition was rated 9 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 28 percent good, and 4 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from a week earlier. First cutting of alfalfa was 66 percent complete, 6 days behind last year and just over 10 days behind normal. The second cutting of alfalfa is 13 percent complete, 12 days ahead of a year earlier and 6 days ahead of normal. Other hay was 43 percent cut, a day ahead of last year, but 5 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 4 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 11 percent excellent, a slight improvement from a week ago. Last year, pasture condition was rated 2 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 19 percent excellent.

Weather Summary

Temperatures in the southern third of the State were 5 to 6 degrees above normal, whereas temperatures in the rest of the State were 2 to 4 degrees above normal. Rainfall averaged 1.67 inches Statewide. The southern third of the state averaged around 0.5 of an inch of rainfall while the rest of the State averaged 2.2 inches. Cass, Jackson, Osage, and Gasconade counties reported the greatest amount of precipitation with over 5 inches each.