Agricultural Summary

Continued wet conditions in the north slowed haying progress while the south-central district and Bootheel remained abnormally dry. There were 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork. The northeast district had 1.6 days where as the southern third of the State reported 6 days or more suitable. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 18 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 16 percent surplus. While little change was seen in much of the State from the previous week, topsoil moisture in the southwest and south-central districts was rated at least 20 points lower in the adequate to surplus categories. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 13 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. The south-central and southeast districts continued to be the driest in the State with subsoil moisture rated at 72 percent and 40 percent short to very short.

Field Crops Report

Corn silked and beyond was 92 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year, but similar to the 5-year average (normal). Fifty-three percent of the corn was in the dough stage, 5 days ahead of last year and just ahead of normal. Corn in the dough stage in the northwest and southwest districts advanced 28 points or more this week. The corn crop was 10 percent dented, a day ahead of last year, but 2 days behind normal. Corn condition was rated 7 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 10 percent excellent, slightly worse than a week earlier. Soybean blooming and beyond was 66 percent complete, just over 3 days ahead of last year, but similar to normal. Thirty percent of the soybeans were setting pods, just over 6 days ahead of last year, but also similar to normal. Soybean condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 8 percent excellent, similar to last week. Cotton setting bolls was 98 percent complete, 24 days ahead of last year and 20 days ahead of normal. Cotton condition, virtually unchanged from last week, was rated 3 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Rice was 60 percent headed, up 22 points from a week earlier. This is 24 days ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of normal. Rice condition, similar to last week, was rated 3 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 32 percent excellent. Sorghum headed and beyond moved to 55 percent complete, just over 9 days ahead of last year, but a day behind normal. Ten percent of the sorghum was turning color, 10 days ahead of last year and a day ahead of normal. Sorghum condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 4 percent excellent, slightly worse than a week earlier. The second cutting of alfalfa was 87 percent complete. This is 3 days behind last year and a week behind normal. The third cutting of alfalfa, up 10 points, was 38 percent complete. This is just over 11 days ahead of last year and a day ahead of normal. The southeast district made the greatest progress, up 45 points from last week. Other hay was 93 percent cut, similar to last year, but 3 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 12 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 11 percent excellent, slightly worse than last week. A great decline was seen in the south-central district, which went from 54 percent to 70 percent poor to very poor this week. Supplies of hay and other roughages were rated 11 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. The greatest shortage of hay was seen in the south-central district, which reported 34 percent short to very short, whereas the remainder of the State had 14 percent or less short to very short. Stock water supplies were rated 7 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were normal to 5 degrees above normal across the State. Rainfall averaged 1.04 inches Statewide. The north-central and northeast districts received the most precipitation with 1.63 and 1.64 inches of rainfall, respectively, whereas the southeast district received 0.53 of an inch. Audrain and Pulaski counties reported over 4 inches of rainfall during the week.