Agricultural Summary

Dry weather over much of the state allowed farmers to harvest over 1 million acres.  Statewide there were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork with 4 districts reporting a full week available but only 5.7 days suitable in the southeast district.  Topsoil moisture fell significantly from last week to 25 percent very short, 41 percent short, and 34 percent adequate, but subsoil moisture was very similar to last month with 20 percent very short, 40 percent short, 39 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.  At 19 percent, ground worked fall tillage remained 2 days ahead of last year, and 12 days ahead of the historic 5-year average (normal). Off-farm storage availability was 7 percent short, 88 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus.  The northwest remained 18 percent short due to early season flooding.  On-farm storage availability was 11 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus.  

Field Crops Report

Corn mature was 98 percent, 4 days earlier than last year.  Corn harvested was 66 percent, 4 days ahead of last year, and 11 days ahead of normal.  At 68 percent, the northeast district was 29 points ahead of last year.  The dry weather lowered corn moisture at harvest to 16.6 percent statewide, ranging from 12 percent in the southwest to 17.6 percent in the north-central.  Soybeans turning color and beyond were 88 percent, 2 days ahead of last year, and 3 days earlier than normal.  Soybeans dropping leaves and beyond were 63 percent, 1 day earlier than last year and normal.  Soybeans mature were 37 percent, 1 day ahead of last year and normal.  Soybeans harvested were 11 percent, nearly the same as last year and normal.  Soybean condition improved from last week to 12 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 30 percent good, and 7 percent excellent.  Cotton opening bolls was 87 percent, 2 weeks behind last year, but 1 day ahead of normal.  Cotton harvested was 14 percent, 12 days behind 2010, and 9 days behind normal.  Cotton condition remained the same as last week with 4 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 3 percent excellent.  Rice harvested was 57 percent, 15 days behind last year, and 6 days behind normal.  Rice condition was also the same as last week with 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 19 percent excellent.  Sorghum turning color and beyond was nearly complete at 99 percent, 8 days ahead of last year, and 13 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum mature was 66 percent, 11 days behind last year, and 1 day behind normal.  Sorghum harvested was 27 percent, 5 days behind 2010.  Sorghum condition was 7 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 2 percent excellent.  Winter wheat planted was 8 percent, 2 days behind last year, and 1 day behind normal.  Winter wheat emerged was 2 percent, the same as last year and 1 day behind normal. 

Pasture & Livestock

The dry weather was not kind to livestock producers with pasture conditions continuing to decline to 23 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 18 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, slowing hay and pasture growth.  Stock water supplies rated 7 percent very short, 23 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.  Although the southwest, west-central, and northeast districts reported the lowest number for water availability, the north-central district also reported dry ponds, springs, and creeks and a situation necessitating some producers pay for Rural Water use.  Supply of hay and other roughages were 6 percent very short, 23 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.      

Weather Summary

Precipitation averaged 0.15 of an inch with 4 districts reporting no precipitation and only 1 district over 0.27 of an inch.  Temperatures were 1 to 5 degrees below normal statewide with all northern districts 1 to 3 degrees below normal.