Agricultural Summary

Farmers continue to stay busy during another great week of above-average temperatures with little rain. Wheat planting is progressing well ahead of the normal pace; however, the dry soil conditions are slowing wheat emergence and growth. There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork statewide. A further decline in topsoil moisture was seen this week as supplies were rated 13 percent very short, 27 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. This week, supplies were rated 40 percent short to very short compared with 32 percent a week earlier. The south-central district and Bootheel reported 83 and 87 percent short to very short, respectively. Fall tillage was 40 percent complete, just over 44 days ahead of last year and 18 days ahead of the 5-year average (normal). On-farm storage availability for this year’s harvest was rated 20 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus, virtually unchanged from a week earlier. Storage capacity in the northeast and west-central districts improved and was reported as 33 and 39 percent short, respectively, compared with 41 and 58 percent a week earlier.

Field Crops Report

Corn harvest advanced more rapidly than normal to reach 84 percent Statewide, 42 days ahead of last year and 22 days ahead of normal. The northern third of the State progressed 12 or more points from last week. Respondents are reporting corn moisture at harvest between 13.8 percent in the south-central district and 15.6 percent in the northeast district for a State average of 15.0 percent. Leaves have dropped on 95 percent of the soybean crop, up 11 points from last week. This is 13 days ahead of last year and a week ahead of normal. Soybeans mature, up 18 points from a week earlier, reached 85 percent, 15 days ahead of last year and over 6 days ahead of the normal pace. Soybean harvest was 58 percent complete, nearly 21 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of normal. Soybean condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 11 percent excellent, similar to last week. Cotton harvest was 82 percent complete, just over 39 days ahead of last year and 24 days ahead of normal. Sorghum has reached 96 percent mature, 20 days ahead of last year and 13 days ahead of normal. Sorghum harvest was 74 percent complete, 32 days ahead of last year and nearly 18 days ahead of normal. The north-central and east-central districts advanced 38 and 24 points from a week earlier, respectively. Planting of winter wheat was 54 percent complete, up 25 points from last week. This is 29 days ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of normal. Eighteen percent of the wheat crop has emerged, 18 days ahead of last year and just ahead of normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 5 percent excellent, similar to a week earlier. Conditions this year are rated 46 percent good to excellent, compared with 75 percent last year and 39 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 57 and 69 percent poor to very poor, respectively.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 2 to 5 degrees above normal across the State. Rainfall averaged 0.13 of an inch Statewide as most of the state reported little to no precipitation. Dade county received the most precipitation with 1.81 inches of rainfall. The northwest and north-central districts have received over 3 inches of rainfall in the past 4 weeks, whereas the east-central, south-central, and the Bootheel have received about an inch or less.