Agricultural Summary

Hot, dry conditions during the week have been very good for fieldwork and haying; however, many producers are seeing the need for a good, soaking rain. A lack of precipitation over the last 4 weeks deteriorated non-irrigated crops and pastures, and depleted stock water supplies in the south-central and southeast districts. There were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture was rated 15 percent very short, 26 percent short, 48 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus, much drier than a week earlier. The northern third showed the biggest change in surplus topsoil moisture dropping at least 27 points in each district. Subsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 18 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. This year, 74 percent was rated adequate or better compared with 94 percent last month and 90 percent last year.

Field Crops Report

Corn silked and beyond was 45 percent complete, a week ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of the 5-year average (normal). Corn condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 10 percent excellent, a slight improvement from a week earlier. Soybean planting was virtually complete across the State. Eighty-nine percent of the soybean acreage has emerged, 2 days ahead of last year, but a day behind normal. Soybean blooming and beyond was 8 percent complete, 2 days ahead of last year, but 3 days behind normal. Soybean condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 7 percent excellent, similar to last week. Both corn and soybean crops in the south-central and southeast districts greatly deteriorated from the previous week. Cotton squaring reached 66 percent, a week ahead of a year earlier, but similar to normal. Cotton setting bolls and beyond was 16 percent complete, up 13 points from a week earlier. This is 10 days ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of normal. Cotton condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. This is worse than last week when only 9 percent was rated poor to very poor. Rice is just beginning to head in the Bootheel. Rice condition stayed the same from a week earlier. Sorghum planting was nearly complete. Sorghum headed and beyond moved to 6 percent complete, 9 days ahead of last year, but similar to normal. Sorghum condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Winter wheat harvest jumped 29 points to 93 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year and a week ahead of normal. Some producers in the northern third of the State reported a low test weight due to the very wet conditions. First cutting of alfalfa was 96 percent complete, up 16 points from last week, and the second cutting of alfalfa, at 51 percent complete, was up 19 points. The progress of both crops was similar to normal. Other hay was 77 percent cut, 4 days ahead of last year, but similar to normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 11 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 9 percent excellent, worse than a week ago. Supplies of hay and other roughages were rated 5 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Stock water supplies were rated 5 percent short, 88 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were normal to 3 degrees below normal throughout the State. Rainfall averaged 0.39 of an inch Statewide. The northwest and southwest districts received the most rainfall with 0.75 and 0.65 of an inch while the southeast district averaged less than 0.10 of an inch of rainfall. Andrew county reported the greatest amount of precipitation with 3.25 inches.