Agricultural Summary

Continued hot, dry weather in the southeast is advancing maturity of crops well beyond the normal maturation rate. Rains in the southwest and south-central regions should alleviate some of the drought conditions. There were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork statewide. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 13 percent very short, 16 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus, an improvement from last week. On-farm storage availability for this year’s harvest is rated 14 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. The northwest and southeast districts reported 20 percent or more short.

Field Crops Report

The percentage of corn in the dough stage or beyond reached 97 percent, 10 days ahead of last year but similar to the 5-year average (normal). The corn crop was 88 percent dented, 13 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of normal. Corn was 51 percent mature, just over 14 days ahead of last year and slightly ahead of normal. Sixteen percent of the corn had been harvested, 19 days ahead of last year and just over 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, unchanged from week earlier. Respondents are reporting corn moisture at harvest between 13.8 percent and 23.8 percent with a State average of 18.4 percent. Ninety-four percent of the soybeans had set pods and beyond, 8 days ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of normal. Soybeans turning color was 17 percent complete, just over of 4 days ahead of last year but 2 days behind normal. Leaves have dropped on 5 percent of the soybean crop, 4 days ahead of last year but a day behind normal. Soybean condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 9 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from last week. Bolls have opened on 71 percent of the cotton crop, up 38 points from last week. This is over 33 days ahead of last year and 17 days ahead of normal. Cotton condition was rated 11 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 6 percent excellent, similar to last week. Rice harvest reached 23 percent complete, 19 days ahead of last year and just over 11 days ahead of normal. Rice condition was rated 2 percent poor, 9 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 32 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from a week earlier. Eighty percent of the sorghum was turning color, 17 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of normal. Sorghum maturing reached 35 percent complete, over 18 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of normal. Sorghum harvested was 6 percent complete, 21 days ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of normal. Sorghum condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 58 percent good, and 4 percent excellent, similar to a week earlier. The third cutting of alfalfa was 92 percent complete Statewide. This is a week ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition, similar to a week earlier, was rated 16 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 33 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. This year, the pasture condition is rated 39 percent good to excellent, compared with 69 percent last year and 34 percent for the 5-year average.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 1 to 3 degrees below normal across the State. Rainfall averaged 2.51 inches Statewide. The southeast district reported the least amount of precipitation with only 0.26 of an inch while the southwest district reported 5.47 inches of rainfall. Christian county reported 9.1 inches for the week.