Agricultural Summary

Sparse rainfall across the state allowed farmers to complete hay harvest and begin to harvest corn for silage. Precipitation is needed to fill out soybean pods and revive pastures. Insect and disease pressures are increasing as crops are stressed by the heat and dry conditions. Corn and soybean conditions are similar to normal but rice and sorghum conditions are above average. There were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork. The continued dry weather caused topsoil moisture supplies to decline to 18 percent very short, 28 percent short, 51 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 14 percent very short, 27 percent short, 56 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. The southern third of the state is suffering most from the lack of rain and soil moisture supplies were reported as 76 to 97 percent very short to short in those counties.

Field Crops Report

The percentage of corn in the dough stage or beyond reached 92 percent, 3 days ahead of last year but 2 days behind the 5-year average (normal). The corn crop was 75 percent dented, a week ahead of last year, but a day behind normal. Corn was 34 percent mature, 15 days ahead of last year but virtually the same as normal. Eight percent of the corn had been harvested, 16 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of normal. Corn condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 10 percent excellent, similar to a week earlier. Ninety-six percent of the soybean crop was blooming or beyond, 3 days ahead of last year but a day behind normal. Eighty-six percent of the soybeans have set pods, 8 days ahead of last year but virtually the same as normal. Soybeans turning color was 7 percent complete, 5 days ahead of last year but 2 days behind normal. Leaves have dropped on 2 percent of the soybean crop, mostly in the Bootheel. Soybean condition was rated 7 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 36 percent good, and 9 percent excellent, basically unchanged from last week. Bolls had opened on 33 percent of the cotton crop, 21 days ahead of last year and over 6 days ahead of normal. Cotton condition was rated 11 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 5 percent excellent, similar to last week. Rice harvest reached 12 percent complete, 11 days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of normal. Rice condition was rated 1 percent poor, 9 percent fair, 58 percent good, and 32 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from a week earlier. Sorghum headed and beyond was 95 percent complete, 13 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal. Sixty-five percent of the sorghum was turning color, 16 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of normal. Sorghum maturing reached 18 percent complete, 12 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of normal. Harvest of sorghum began in the Bootheel. Sorghum condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 4 percent excellent, similar to a week earlier. The third cutting of alfalfa was 86 percent complete Statewide with little progress being made except in the northwest district. This is 8 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition deteriorated slightly from a week earlier to 15 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 32 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Hay and other roughage supplies were rated 6 percent very short, 9 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Hay stocks are shortest in the south-central district where supplies were 56 percent very short to short. Stock water supplies were reported as 3 percent very short, 14 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 2 to 4 degrees below normal across the State. Rainfall averaged 0.02 of an inch Statewide with only 5 counties reporting any rainfall. Scotland county reported 1.25 inches for the week.