Agricultural Summary

Although some rainfall was received throughout the State during the week, producers made significant progress at an above-average pace with harvest and winter wheat seeding. Fall pasture, stock water supplies, and wheat emergence continue to suffer due to the lack of moisture. There were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork statewide. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 18 percent very short, 32 percent short, 49 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. This is drier than a last week as supplies were rated 50 percent short to very short compared with 43 percent a week earlier. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 12 percent very short, 26 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Supplies were rated 38 percent short to very short compared with 17 percent a month earlier. The south-central district and Bootheel continue to be extremely dry, as they reported 83 and 85 percent short to very short, respectively. Fall tillage was 65 percent complete, well ahead of last year and 24 days ahead of the 5-year average (normal). On-farm storage availability for this year’s harvest was rated 29 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus, less adequate than a week earlier. Storage availability in the east-central district was reported as 36 percent short compared with 23 percent reported last week.

Field Crops Report

Corn harvest reached 94 percent Statewide, more significantly advanced than last year and 26 days ahead of normal. The northwest district progressed another 9 points from last week. Respondents are reporting corn moisture at harvest between 14.1 percent in the northwest and north-central districts, and 14.8 percent in the east-central district with a State average of 14.4 percent. Soybean harvest, up 11 points from a week earlier, was 90 percent complete, 25 days ahead of last year and 16 days ahead of normal. Sorghum harvest was 94 percent complete, well ahead of last year and nearly 23 days ahead of normal. Nearly all sorghum has been harvested throughout most of the State with the exception of the central and east-central districts. Planting of winter wheat was 89 percent complete, up 15 points from last week. This is greatly ahead of last year and over 22 days ahead of normal. Fifty-six percent of the wheat crop has emerged, 31 days ahead of last year and nearly 9 days ahead of normal. Winter wheat condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 44 percent fair, 42 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, similar to a week earlier. Rain in the Bootheel improved wheat conditions which were rated 27 percent poor to very poor compared with 35 last week.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition was rated 11 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 2 percent excellent, worse than a week earlier. Due to the continued lack of precipitation, pasture conditions in the south-central district and Bootheel continue to be the poorest in the State and were rated 71 and 86 percent poor to very poor, respectively. Supplies of hay and other roughages were rated 5 percent very short, 4 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. The south-central district reported 34 percent short to very short. Stock water supplies were rated 4 percent very short, 11 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Although supplies have declined on average over the past month Statewide, stock water in the Bootheel diminished more rapidly and was reported as 79 percent short to very short compared with 18 percent a month earlier.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were normal to 2 degrees above normal across the State. Rainfall averaged 0.28 of an inch Statewide. Monroe county received the most precipitation with 1.30 inches of rainfall. The northwest district has received 1.31 inches of rainfall in the past 4 weeks, whereas all other districts have received around an inch or less.