Agricultural Summary

Cool dry weather allowed 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork statewide.  Topsoil moisture declined to 38 percent very short, 38 percent short, 23 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.  The northwest reported topsoil moisture at 17 percent short with no very short as opposed to all other districts that were over 60 percent short and very short.  The northeast experienced the worst of the drought with topsoil moisture at 85 percent very short and 15 percent short.  On-farm storage availability was 9 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus.  Off-farm storage availability was 6 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus.  Some bins were rendered inaccessible due to road closures in the northwest district due to widespread flooding of the Missouri River, and other bins were flooded out. 

Field Crops Report

Corn dented was 97 percent, 1 week ahead of last year, and nearly 2 weeks ahead of normal (5-year historic average).  Corn mature was 71 percent, 4 days ahead of last year, and 9 days ahead of normal.  Corn harvested was 21 percent, 1 day behind last year, but 1 day ahead of normal.  Corn condition was 20 percent very poor, 22 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 26 percent good, and 6 percent excellent, very similar to last week.  Corn moisture at harvest averaged 18.7 percent with the southwest averaging 11.7 percent, and the northwest 21.5 percent.  Soybeans setting pods and beyond were 95 percent, 3 days behind 2010, but the same as normal.  Soybeans turning color and beyond were 33 percent, 2 days ahead of 2010, and 1 day ahead of normal.  Soybeans dropping leaves and beyond were 10 percent, 1 day behind last year, but very similar to historic norms.  The north-central, northeast, and southeast districts reported mature soybeans.  Soybean condition declined slightly from last week to 14 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 28 percent good, and 9 percent excellent.  Cotton opening bolls was 51 percent, 10 days behind last year, and 3 days behind normal.  Cotton condition was 4 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 3 percent excellent.  Rice headed was 95 percent, 3 weeks behind last year, and 8 days behind normal.  Rice harvested was 10 percent, 2 weeks behind last year, and 5 days behind normal.  Despite the late planting rice condition remained solid with 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 24 percent excellent.  Sorghum turning color and beyond was 70 percent, 11 days behind 2010, and 3 days behind normal.  Sorghum mature was 25 percent, 10 days behind last year, and 5 days behind normal.  Sorghum harvest was just beginning with 3 percent reported, 12 days behind last year, and 8 days behind normal.  Sorghum condition was 6 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 33 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  The northeast, west-central, central, and east-central districts began planting winter wheat.  Alfalfa hay 3rd cutting was 95 percent, 3 days ahead of last year, and 9 days ahead of normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition notably declined with 24 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 13 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Cool temperatures slowed pasture growth, and moisture is needed to improve conditions.  Some producers continued to feed hay.

Weather Summary

Although Pike and Iron counties received over 1 inch of precipitation, the state averaged 0.16 of an inch.  The east-central averaged 0.42 of an inch, and the southwest 0.03 of an inch.  The southwest and southeast districts averaged under 1 inch over the last 4 weeks.  Temperatures were 4 to 8 degrees below normal in the northwest, and the rest of the state averaged 7 to 10 degrees below normal.