Agricultural Summary

While improving conditions of some crops and pastures, rainfall during the weekend slowed fieldwork. Harvest of most crops remained ahead of normal. There were 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork statewide. The Bootheel had nearly 6.5 days suitable whereas the west-central district reported less than 2.5 days suitable. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 3 percent very short, 8 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 25 percent surplus. Topsoil moisture in the southeast district declined this week and was rated 43 percent short to very short compared with 30 percent a week earlier. On-farm storage availability for this year’s harvest is rated 16 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus, virtually unchanged from a week earlier. The northeast and southeast districts reported 20 percent or more short.

Field Crops Report

The corn crop was 97 percent dented, 19 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the 5-year average (normal). Corn mature increased 15 points last week to reach 80 percent Statewide, 16 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of normal. Thirty-four percent of the corn has been harvested, 20 days ahead of last year and just ahead of normal. The Bootheel reported 87 percent of the corn has been harvested. Corn condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 9 percent excellent, slightly better than a week earlier. Respondents are reporting corn moisture at harvest between 14.7 percent and 18.3 percent with a State average of 17.4 percent, down from last week’s 18.7 percent. Soybeans turning color was 57 percent complete, over 3 days ahead of last year but slightly behind normal. Leaves have dropped on 27 percent of the soybean crop, about 1 day ahead of last year but a day behind normal. Soybeans mature was 9 percent complete, 4 days ahead of last year and similar to normal. Soybean harvest has just begun with 1 percent complete. Soybean condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 11 percent excellent, slightly improved from last week. Bolls have opened on 88 percent of the cotton crop, 34 days ahead of last year and over 17 days ahead of normal. Cotton harvest was 10 percent complete, 33 days ahead of last year’s slow pace and just over 3 days ahead of normal. Cotton condition was rated 11 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 4 percent excellent, similar to last week. Rice harvest reached 55 percent complete, up 14 points from last week. This is 24 days ahead of last year and just over 11 days ahead of normal. Rice condition was rated 2 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 30 percent excellent, similar to a week earlier. Ninety-one percent of the sorghum was turning color, 12 days ahead of last year, while sorghum mature reached 63 percent complete, more than 19 days ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of normal. Sorghum harvest was 21 percent complete, 24 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of normal. Sorghum condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 5 percent excellent, similar to a week earlier. Planting of winter wheat has just begun and is 2 percent complete.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 8 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 42 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Last week, pasture condition was rated 39 percent good to excellent, compared with an improved 50 percent this week. Conditions in the south-central and southeast districts continue to be the poorest, with 71 and 77 percent poor to very poor, respectively.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were normal to 3 degrees above normal across the State. Rainfall averaged 1.79 inches Statewide. The southeast district reported the least amount of precipitation with 0.19 of an inch while the north-central and west-central districts reported over 3 inches of rainfall. Pemiscot county continues to be extremely dry with only 0.06 of an inch received last week and 0.68 of an inch received during the past four weeks.