Agricultural Summary

While dry conditions affect the southern third of the State, continued wet conditions in the northern two-thirds of the State again limited fieldwork in those areas. There were 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork. The northern third of the State had between 1.5 and 2 days suitable whereas the southern third had 6 days or more suitable. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 21 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 32 percent surplus. The southeast and south-central districts reported 82 and 66 percent short to very short whereas all other districts reported 69 percent or more adequate to surplus. In the northern third of the State and central district, corn and soybean conditions were rated 14 percent or more poor to very poor.

Field Crops Report

Corn silked and beyond was 9 percent complete, 8 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of normal. Corn condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. Soybean planting was reported as 79 percent complete, 3 days ahead of last year’s 74 percent, but still 5 days behind the normal of 84 percent. The soybean crop was 72 percent emerged, 5 days ahead of last year, but just over 2 days behind normal. Soybeans in the southern third of the state were 90 percent or more emerged. Soybean condition was rated 4 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. Cotton squaring reached 47 percent, 14 days ahead of a year earlier and 9 days ahead of normal. Cotton bolls are just beginning to set. Cotton condition was rated 7 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Rice condition was rated 3 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 23 percent excellent. This year, 84 percent of the rice was rated good to excellent compared with 68 percent last year and the normal of 75 percent. Sorghum planting was 84 percent complete, just over 3 days ahead of last year, but a day behind normal. Sorghum is just beginning to head. Sorghum condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Winter wheat turning color was 93 percent complete, up 14 points from a week earlier. This is similar to last year, but 4 days behind normal. Wheat harvest was 43 percent complete. Dry conditions in the Bootheel has led to rapid progress in the wheat harvest, which was 88 percent harvested. Wheat condition was rated 9 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 30 percent good, and 6 percent excellent, a slight improvement from a week earlier. First cutting of alfalfa was 69 percent complete, 10 days behind last year and just over 14 days behind normal. The second cutting of alfalfa is 22 percent complete, just over 8 days ahead of a year earlier and 3 days ahead of normal. Other hay was 54 percent cut, 3 days ahead of last year, but 4 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 8 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 11 percent excellent, slightly worse than a week ago. Last year, pasture condition was rated 2 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 17 percent excellent.

Weather Summary

Temperatures in the southern third of the State were 6 to 8 degrees above normal, whereas temperatures in the rest of the State were 3 to 5 degrees above normal. Rainfall averaged 1.37 inches Statewide. The southeast and south-central districts received less than a third of an inch of rainfall while all other districts averaged an inch or more of rainfall. Gentry and Buchanan counties reported the greatest amount of precipitation with over 5.07 and 4.07 inches, respectively.