Agricultural Summary

Northern districts as well as the west-central district remained dry while the central and southern districts received some moisture. Harvest progress was aided by 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork statewide.  Topsoil moisture supply improved slightly from last week but remained very dry with 44 percent very short, 33 percent short, 22 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.  All northern districts as well as the west-central district were greater than 60 percent very short.  Fall tillage was 48 percent, 2 days behind last year, but 13 days ahead of normal.  Off-farm storage availability was 9 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus, the same as last week.  The west-central district was 21 percent surplus, but the northwest, with 23 percent short, continued to be impacted by the mid-season flooding.  On-farm storage availability was 14 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus, also the same as last week.  The northeast district was 24 percent short followed by the central district at 21 percent short.

Field Crops Report

Corn harvested was 93 percent, 6 days ahead of last year, and 1 month ahead of normal with the northwest district increasing 11 points from last week.  Soybeans dropping leaves were 97 percent.  Soybeans mature were 89 percent, 3 days behind last year, but 3 days ahead of normal.  Soybeans harvested were 70 percent, moving 16 points from last week.  This was 2 days behind last year, but 10 days ahead of normal.  Cotton harvested was 73 percent, 13 days behind last year, but 11 days ahead of normal.  Rice harvested was 87 percent, 24 days behind last year, and 4 days behind normal.  Sorghum mature was 96 percent, 6 days behind last year, but 1 week ahead of normal.  Sorghum harvested was 76 percent, 5 days behind last year, and 13 days ahead of normal.  Winter wheat planted was 60 percent, 4 days behind last year, but 6 days ahead of normal.  Winter wheat emergence was 31 percent, 1 day behind last year, but 3 days ahead of normal.  Emergence in the south-central, the northwest, and northeast districts was 56, 54, and 42 percent, but rain was needed for good establishment in the north.  Winter wheat condition was 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 60 percent fair, 33 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.   

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture conditions were 33 percent very poor, 29 percent poor, 27 percent fair, and 11 percent good.  Stock water supplies were 12 percent very short, 36 percent short, 51 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.  Hay feeding was prevalent across much of the state, and some producers began to worry about winter hay supplies.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 4 to 6 degrees below normal with some nightly lows slightly below freezing.  Precipitation averaged 0.55 of an inch at the state level.  The east-central district averaged more than one inch.  Over the previous 4 weeks, the state averaged 1.14 inches of precipitation with the northwest and west-central districts receiving 0.27 and 0.37 of an inch respectively.