Agricultural Summary

Warm, balmy weather descended upon the state spurring plant growth at dawn and dusk, but increasing evapotranspiration rates midday.  Little precipitation allowed 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork causing producers to make substantial soybean planting and hay cutting progress.  As soils began to dry from last week topsoil moisture supply was 10 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus.  After major flooding one month ago, and no precipitation last week, topsoil moisture supply in the southeast district (Bootheel) was 3 percent very short, 31 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus.  Much of the flooded area was dried out.  However flooding concerns in the east-central, central, and northwest districts along the Missouri River continued due to high water flowing from upriver.   Statewide subsoil moisture supply was 2 percent short, 90 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus, a 20 point decrease in the surplus category from May 1.  Spring tillage was 92 percent complete, nearly the same as last year and the historic 5-year average (normal).

Field Crops Report

Corn planting neared completion with 98 percent planted, 4 days behind last year, but 11 days ahead of normal.  Corn emergence was 90 percent, the same as last year, but 4 days ahead of normal. Corn condition was 3 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 8 percent excellent.  Hurt by earlier poor growing conditions, corn in the southeast district was 28 percent in the poor and very poor categories.  Soybean planting continued, advancing 23 points from last week to 59 percent, 2 days behind last year and normal.  The central district moved the most from last week, 37 points, followed closely by the south-central district at 36 points.  Soybean emergence plodded along to 35 percent, 1 day behind 2010, and 4 days behind normal.  Cotton planting was 100 percent complete, one week behind last year, but 3 days ahead of normal.  Cotton hadn’t begun squaring although it was 5 percent squared last year, and normal was 3 percent.  Cotton condition was 27 percent in the poor and very poor categories, 32 percent fair, and 41 percent good.  Rice condition fared better in the Bootheel with only 16 percent in the poor and very poor categories, 24 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 7 percent excellent.  Rice planting was completed, 21 days behind last year, but 2 days ahead of normal. Rice emergence progressed 25 points to 82 percent, 22 days behind last year, and 12 days behind normal.  Sorghum was 41 percent planted, 27 points behind last year and 25 points behind normal.  Remaining ahead of last year, and normal, winter wheat was 98 percent headed, a 3 point increase from last week.  Wheat turning color was 70 percent, 3 days ahead of last year and normal. Wheat condition was 10 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 5 percent excellent.  Weather conditions have not been kind to wheat in the Bootheel with 54 percent rated in the poor to very poor categories.  Wheat harvest has only just begun in the south-central and southeast districts.  The first cutting for alfalfa hay continued, jumping 37 points from last week to 53 percent, regaining some ground but remaining 3 days behind 2010 and 6 days behind normal.  Cutting for other hay was 27 percent, 4 days behind 2010 and 5 days behind normal. 

Pasture & Livestock

Hay and other roughage supplies boded well for producers with 93 percent in the adequate and surplus categories, and 7 percent in the short and very short categories.  Similarly, stock water supplies were rated 95 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.  Pasture condition remained similar to last week to classifying at 2 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. 

Weather Summary

Precipitation averaged 0.32 of an inch statewide with 5 districts reporting less than 0.05 of an inch, and the northeast district leading the way with 1.49 inches.  Temperatures were 8 to 11 degrees above average with highs reaching the mid 90’s to low 100’s.