Agricultural Summary

Warmer than average temperatures and little to no rain caused crops to mature more rapidly than normal and allowed farmers to make significant progress with over 1.5 million acres harvested. There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork statewide. A further decline in topsoil moisture was seen this week as supplies were rated 10 percent very short, 22 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. This week, supplies were rated 32 percent short to very short compared with 18 percent a week earlier. The south-central district and Bootheel reported 79 and 92 percent short to very short, respectively. Fall tillage was 30 percent complete, 38 days ahead of last year and 19 days ahead of the 5-year average (normal). On-farm storage availability for this year’s harvest was rated 22 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus, similar to a week earlier. The northeast and west-central districts reported 41 and 58 percent short, respectively.

Field Crops Report

Corn harvest advanced more rapidly than normal to reach 74 percent Statewide, 39 days ahead of last year and 18 days ahead of normal. The northwest, northeast, and west-central districts progressed more than 20 points from last week. Corn harvest is nearly complete in the southern third of the State. Respondents are reporting corn moisture at harvest between 13.9 percent in the west-central district and 16.4 percent in the northeast district for a State average of 15.5 percent. Nearly all the soybeans have turned color and leaves have dropped on 84 percent of the crop, up 20 points from last week. This is 9 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of normal. Soybean maturity, up 28 points from a week earlier, reached 67 percent, over 8 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of the normal pace. Soybean harvest was 36 percent complete, 22 days ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of normal. Soybean condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 10 percent excellent, similar to last week. Cotton harvest progressed 23 points to reach 73 percent complete, 39 days ahead of last year’s slow pace and 25 days ahead of normal. Rice harvest was virtually complete, 37 days ahead of last year and 31 days ahead of normal. Sorghum has reached 92 percent maturity, 3 weeks ahead of last year and 13 days ahead of normal. Sorghum harvest was 57 percent complete, 30 days ahead of last year and nearly 10 days ahead of normal. The northwest, central, and southwest districts advancement more than 20 points from a week earlier. Sorghum condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 6 percent excellent, similar to last week. Planting of winter wheat was 29 percent complete, 25 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of normal. Six percent of the wheat crop has emerged, 2 days ahead of last year but 2 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 8 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 43 percent good, and 4 percent excellent, slightly worse than a week earlier. Conditions this year are rated 47 percent good to excellent, compared with 76 percent last year and 38 percent normal. Due to the lack of precipitation, pasture condition in the south-central district and Bootheel continue to be the poorest in the State and were rated 64 and 59 percent poor to very poor, respectively.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were normal to 7 degrees above normal across the State. Rainfall averaged 0.01 of an inch Statewide as most of the state reported no precipitation. Of the 4 counties that reported rainfall, Carroll county had the most with 0.56 of an inch.