Agricultural Summary

Harvest proceeded at a steady clip aided by 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork statewide, and topsoil moisture reached the lowest point of the entire crop year with 39 percent very short, 43 percent short, 17 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.  Ground worked for fall tillage was 33 percent, 4 days behind last year, but 10 days ahead of normal (5-year historic average).  Off-farm storage availability was 9 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.  On-farm storage availability was 14 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. 

Field Crops Report

Corn harvested was 86 percent, 3 days ahead of last year, and 25 days ahead of normal.  Harvest in the southwest and west-central districts was nearly complete.  Corn moisture at harvest continued dropping ending at 14.9 percent by week’s end, ranging from 12.0 percent in the southwest to 16.5 percent in the southeast district.  Soybeans dropping leaves and beyond were 92 percent, 1 day behind last year, but 4 days ahead of normal.  Soybeans mature were 78 percent, 2 days behind 2010, but 3 days ahead of normal.  The northern districts matured faster than last year while the southern districts developed slower than last year.  Soybeans harvested were 54 percent, nearly the same as last year, but 8 days ahead of normal.  Soybean condition improved from last week to 12 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 31 percent good, and 7 percent excellent.  Cotton harvested was 58 percent, 11 days behind last year, but 5 days ahead of normal.  Cotton condition was 2 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 3 percent excellent.  Rice was 83 percent harvested, 20 days behind last year, and only 3 days behind normal.  Sorghum mature was 94 percent, 1 day behind last year, but 11 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum harvested was 62 percent, 4 days behind last year, but 8 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum condition was 4 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 32 percent good, and 3 percent excellent.  The southwest district was 17 percent very poor and 74 percent poor.  Winter wheat planted was 37 percent, 4 days behind last year, but the same as normal.  Winter wheat emerged was 12 percent, nearly 3 days behind last year, and 2 days behind normal.  The northwest was only 23 percent emerged compared to 38 percent last year.  

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture conditions improved from last week to 28 percent very poor, 30 percent poor, 29 percent fair, and 13 percent good, but the past two weeks have seen the lowest conditions of the entire crop year.  Stock water supplies were 9 percent very short, 33 percent short, 57 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.  Some producers resorted to moving cattle to water due to further deteriorating pasture conditions.  Precipitation is needed to restore water supplies and pasture conditions. 

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 3 to 6 degrees above normal with some nightly lows slightly above freezing.  Precipitation averaged 0.44 of an inch at the state level.  The southwest, south-central, and northeast districts averaged more than half an inch.