Agricultural Summary

Scorching temperatures with high heat indices flanked the state toward the end of the week.  With 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork, spotty rain showers did not slow the wheat and hay harvests.  Topsoil moisture declined from last week to 8 percent very short, 25 percent short, 61 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus.  Despite raining 0.95 of an inch in the southwest district, topsoil moisture rated the driest in the state with 36 percent very short, 38 percent short, and 26 percent adequate. 

Field Crops Report

Corn silked and beyond was 44 percent, 1 week behind last year, and 4 days behind the 5-year historic average (normal).  Corn condition was 4 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 16 percent excellent.  The southwest district felt the hot temperatures with only 10 percent of the corn crop rated in the good and excellent categories.  Soybean emergence was nearly finished with 96 percent emerged, the same as last year, but 4 days ahead of normal.  However, at 11 percent, soybeans blooming and beyond was 5 days behind last year and normal.  Soybean condition was only 7 percent in the poor and very poor categories, 28 percent in the fair category, 52 percent good, and 13 percent excellent.  Cotton squaring and beyond was 71 percent, 3 days behind last year and 4 days behind normal.  Cotton setting bolls and beyond was only 9 percent, 10 days behind last year, and 8 days behind normal.  Cotton condition was 7 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 3 percent excellent.  Similarly, rice condition was 3 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 19 percent excellent.  Although rice heading was reported, it totaled less than 1 percent statewide.  Sorghum headed and beyond was 2 percent, nearly 2 weeks behind last year and normal.  Sorghum condition was 1 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 3 percent excellent.  Winter wheat harvest was wrapping up with 97 percent complete, the same as last year, but 1 week ahead of normal.  Alfalfa hay 1st cutting was 98 percent, nearly the same as last year and the same as normal.  Alfalfa hay 2nd cutting was 66 percent, 2 days ahead of last year, and 4 days ahead of normal.  Other hay cut was 83 percent, 4 days ahead of last year, and 2 days ahead of normal.   

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition continued to decline with 9 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. 

Weather Summary

Precipitation averaged 0.95 of an inch statewide.  Flooding along the Missouri River continued due to topped levees and seepage.  Temperatures were 1 degree below to 3 degrees above average with many area highs near or hitting the 100’s.