Agricultural Summary

While scattered rains were welcomed by many areas, extremely hot and dry conditions persisted throughout most of the week. There were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork. All districts reported more than 5.5 days suitable except the north-central district where 4.8 days were reported. Topsoil moisture was rated 13 percent very short, 28 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus, similar to last week. Supplies continued to be most deficient in the south-central and southeast districts where reporters indicated topsoil moisture supplies were 68 and 92 percent short to very short compared with 78 and 84 percent a week earlier.

Field Crops Report

Corn silking was virtually complete. Seventy-seven percent of the corn was in the dough stage or beyond, just over 6 days ahead of last year but 2 days behind the 5-year average (normal). The corn crop was 42 percent dented, 4 days ahead of last year, but just over 3 days behind normal. Corn maturing was 5 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year but 4 days behind normal. Corn condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 9 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from a week earlier. Soybean blooming and beyond was 86 percent complete, 4 days ahead of last year but similar to normal. Fifty-eight percent of the soybeans were setting pods, 5 days ahead of last year but slightly behind normal. Soybean condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 8 percent excellent, slightly better than a week ago. Cotton opening bolls was 6 percent complete, just over 18 days ahead of last year and a day ahead of normal. Cotton condition deteriorated this week and was rated 12 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. A week earlier, cotton was rated 26 percent poor to very poor compared with 36 percent this week. Rice was 90 percent headed. This is 28 days ahead of last year’s slow pace and 11 days ahead of normal. Rice condition was rated 3 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 30 percent excellent, similar to last week. Sorghum headed and beyond was 80 percent complete, 8 days ahead of last year but similar to normal. Thirty-three percent of the sorghum was turning color, 11 days ahead of last year and a day ahead of normal. Sorghum maturing was 2 percent complete, 9 days ahead of last year, but similar to normal. Sorghum condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 6 percent excellent, similar to a week earlier. The second cutting of alfalfa was 97 percent complete. This is the same as last year but 3 days behind normal. The third cutting of alfalfa was 61 percent complete. This is a week ahead of last year but similar to normal. Other hay was 96 percent cut, 3 days behind last year and 10 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition, similar to a week earlier, was rated 9 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Conditions in the south-central and southeast districts continue to be the poorest due to the lack of rainfall, and were rated 65 and 76 percent poor to very poor, respectively.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 6 to 9 degrees above normal across the State. Rainfall averaged 0.94 of an inch Statewide. The northeast district received the most precipitation with 1.54 inches of rainfall while reporters in the south-central district indicated less than a half an inch of precipitation. Schuyler county reported the most precipitation having received 4.41 inches.