Agricultural Summary

The southwest district enjoyed a reprieve from the oppressively hot conditions with significant rainfall and cooler temperatures.  There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork.  Topsoil moisture began to recover from the oppressively hot dry July conditions, improving 6 points in the very short category to 19 percent very short, 45 percent short, 35 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.  Although topsoil moisture conditions improved across much of the central and southern portions of the state, the northern districts declined with the northwest now 46 percent short and very short, the north-central at 60 percent short and very short, and the northeast at 94 percent short and very short.

Field Crops Report

Corn dough stage and beyond was 84 percent, 9 days ahead of last year, and 1 week ahead of the 5-year historic average (normal).  Corn dented jumped 26 points from last week to 53 percent, 6 days ahead of last year, and 5 days ahead of normal.  Corn mature was 7 percent, 2 days ahead of last year, and 1 day ahead of normal.  The southwest was 79 percent mature, 54 points ahead of last year, followed by the west-central at 22 percent.  Harvested corn was 1 percent, the same as last year.  Corn condition remained similar to last week with 15 percent very poor, 18 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.  Condition in the southwest now rated 93 percent poor and very poor.  Soybeans blooming and beyond were 88 percent, 4 days ahead of last year and normal.  Blooming was almost complete in the northeast and west-central districts.  Soybeans setting pods and beyond were 58 percent, 1 day ahead of last year, and 2 days ahead of normal.  Soybean condition remained fairly stable from last week with 9 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 36 percent good, and 7 percent excellent.  Cotton opening bolls was 1 percent, 4 days behind last year, and 8 days behind normal.  Cotton condition also remained fairly stable from last week with 3 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 5 percent excellent.  Rice was 41 percent headed, 19 days behind last year, and 13 days behind normal.  Rice condition remained the same as last week with 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 24 percent excellent.  The late rice planting delayed crop development, and warmer weather is needed for maturation. Sorghum heading and beyond was 64 percent, 10 days behind last year, and 9 days behind normal.  Sorghum heading was complete in the northwest and nearly complete in the west-central.  Sorghum turning color and beyond was 22 percent, 9 days behind last year, and 4 days behind normal.  The northeast, southwest, and south-central districts began to report mature sorghum.  Sorghum condition was 2 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 46 percent fair, 36 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Alfalfa hay 3rd cutting was 69 percent, 4 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal; however, not all producers will be able to get a 3rd cutting due to the earlier hot dry weather. 

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition remained similar to last week with 15 percent very poor, 30 percent poor, 36 percent fair, and 19 percent good.  Many producers continued to feed hay. 

Weather Summary

Precipitation averaged 1.00 inch statewide, and the southwest district averaged over 2 inches.  Temperatures were normal to 4 degrees below normal.  Daily average temperatures were in the mid-70’s.