Agricultural Summary

Drier conditions and more days in the field led to increased alfalfa and hay cuttings. The southeast and south-central districts saw improvement in both the corn and soybean crops due to the much needed precipitation received in those areas. There were 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 14 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Improvement was seen in the south-central and southeast districts as topsoil moisture went from at least 66 percent short to very short to at least 43 percent this week.

Field Crops Report

Corn silked and beyond was 74 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year and a day ahead of the 5-year average (normal). Twenty-three percent of the corn was in the dough stage, 8 days ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of normal. Corn condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 8 percent excellent, similar to a week earlier. Soybean acreage was nearly fully emerged. Soybean blooming and beyond was 35 percent complete, just over 4 days ahead of last year, but a day behind normal. Nine percent of the soybeans were setting pods, 8 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of normal. Soybean condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 8 percent excellent, slightly better than last week. Cotton squaring reached 97 percent, 16 days ahead of a year earlier and 8 days ahead of normal. Cotton setting bolls and beyond was 52 percent complete, up 20 points from a week earlier. This is just over 8 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of normal. Cotton condition, virtually unchanged from last week, was rated 3 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Rice was 18 percent headed, 24 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of normal. Rice condition improved from a week earlier to 3 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 32 percent excellent. Sorghum headed and beyond moved to 24 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year, but similar to normal. Three percent of the sorghum was turning color, most of which took place in the southwest and southeast districts. This is a week ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal. Sorghum condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 12 percent excellent, similar to a week earlier. Winter wheat harvest was virtually complete. Showing the most progress was the northwest district, which went from 81 to 98 percent complete. The second cutting of alfalfa was 77 percent complete, up 13 points from last week. This is just ahead of last year, but a day behind normal. The northern third of the State made the most progress with the northwest and north-central districts up 15 points and the northeast district up 29 points from a week earlier. The third cutting of alfalfa, up 11 points, was 16 percent complete. This is 15 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal. Other hay was 87 percent cut, 4 days ahead of last year, but 2 days behind normal. The north-central and northeast districts went up at least 19 points from last week.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 9 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 43 percent good, and 9 percent excellent, similar to last week. This year, 52 percent was rated good to excellent, compared with 68 percent last year and 41 percent for the 5-year average. Although pasture condition in the south-central district improved somewhat, it was still rated 66 percent poor to very poor.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were normal to 2 degrees above normal in the Bootheel, and 2 to 4 degrees above normal throughout the remainder of the State. Rainfall averaged 1.59 inches Statewide. The southwest district received the most rainfall with 2.59 inches while the north-central and northeast districts averaged less than an inch. Howell county reported the most precipitation with 5.44 inches of rainfall.