Agricultural Summary

Dry conditions this week have allowed many farmers in the northern third of the State back into their fields. Although these hot, dry conditions are good for fieldwork, some areas of the State are experiencing yield losses, pollination problems, and crop deterioration. There were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 22 percent short, 43 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus. The southeast and south-central districts reported 87 and 80 percent short to very short whereas all other districts reported 45 percent or more adequate to surplus.

Field Crops Report

Corn silked and beyond was 20 percent complete, 5 days ahead of last year, but similar to the 5-year average (normal). Corn condition was rated 7 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 36 percent good, and 10 percent excellent, slightly worse than a week earlier, with most of this decline seen in the south-central and southeast districts. Soybean planting was reported as 90 percent complete, a day ahead of last year’s 88 percent, but a day behind the normal of 91 percent. Seventy-eight percent of the soybean acreage has emerged, 2 days ahead of last year, but 5 days behind normal. Soybean blooming and beyond was 2 percent complete, 2 days ahead of last year, but 3 days behind normal. Soybean condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. Similar to corn, soybean condition was seen to be much worse than last week in the south-central and southeast districts. Cotton squaring reached 59 percent, just over 10 days ahead of a year earlier and 4 days ahead of normal. Cotton setting bolls and beyond was 3 percent complete, 10 days ahead of last year, but 3 days behind normal. Cotton condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Rice condition was rated 3 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 25 percent excellent. This year, 85 percent of the rice was rated good to excellent compared with 66 percent last year and a normal of 75 percent. Sorghum planting was 92 percent complete, similar to both last year and normal. Sorghum headed and beyond was 3 percent complete, 12 days ahead of last year, but similar to normal. Sorghum condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Winter wheat harvest was 64 percent complete, slightly ahead of normal. The quality of the harvested wheat in the northern third of the State is reported as very poor due to 4 consecutive weeks of wet conditions. Wheat condition was rated 10 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 31 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. First cutting of alfalfa was 80 percent complete, 6 days behind last year and 14 days behind normal. The second cutting of alfalfa is 32 percent complete, just over 6 days ahead of a year earlier and similar to normal. Other hay was 64 percent cut, 2 days ahead of last year, but 4 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 43 percent good, and 9 percent excellent, worse than a week ago. Last year, pasture condition was rated 2 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 58 percent good, and 15 percent excellent.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 3 to 7 degrees above normal throughout the State. Rainfall averaged 0.43 inches Statewide. The north-central and northeast districts received more than an inch of rainfall while the southeast district averaged less than 0.10 of an inch of rainfall. Clark and Scotland counties reported the greatest amount of precipitation with over 4 inches each. The northern third of the State has received over 8 inches of rainfall in the last 4 weeks.