Agricultural Summary

Although general rainfall over most of the State slowed fieldwork, some areas missed some much needed precipitation. There were 3.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 10 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. While improvement was seen in topsoil moisture, the south-central and southeast districts still reported at least 66 percent short to very short. The biggest improvement was seen in the southwest district, which went from 64 percent short to very short to 95 percent adequate to surplus in a week’s time. The increase in topsoil moisture led to an improvement of all crops in the district.

Field Crops Report

Corn silked and beyond was 60 percent complete, nearly a week ahead of last year, but similar to the 5-year average (normal). Corn condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 36 percent good, and 14 percent excellent, a similar to a week earlier. Ninety-seven percent of the soybean acreage has emerged, 3 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of normal. Soybean blooming and beyond was 21 percent complete, 4 days ahead of last year, but a day behind normal. Soybean condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 36 percent good, and 8 percent excellent, slightly worse than last week. Cotton squaring reached 78 percent, 5 days ahead of a year earlier, but 2 days behind normal. Cotton setting bolls and beyond was 32 percent complete, up 16 points from a week earlier. This is 9 days ahead of last year and just over 2 days ahead of normal. Cotton condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 3 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from last week. Rice is 7 percent headed, which is 5 days ahead of normal. Rice condition remained unchanged from a week earlier at 3 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 60 good, and 25 percent excellent. Sorghum headed and beyond moved to 14 percent complete, a week ahead of last year and slightly ahead of normal. Sorghum is just beginning to turn color in the Bootheel. Sorghum condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 13 percent excellent, a big improvement from a week earlier. Winter wheat harvest was 98 percent complete, 3 days ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of normal. Harvest in the northwest district is behind the rest of the State, with 81 percent complete. The second cutting of alfalfa was 64 percent complete, up 13 points from last week, and the third cutting of alfalfa was at 5 percent complete. The progress of both crops was similar to normal, but ahead of last year. Other hay was 80 percent cut, similar to last year, but 5 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 12 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. This year, 51 percent was rated good to excellent, compared with 65 percent last year and 41 percent for the 5-year average.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were normal to 3 degrees below normal throughout the State. Rainfall averaged 1.96 inches Statewide. The west-central district received the most rainfall with 3.13 inches while the southeast district averaged less than an inch. Boone county reported the most precipitation with 6.89 inches of rainfall.