Agricultural Summary

Harvest continued unimpeded with dry conditions across most of the state while wetter conditions in the southeast limited progress.  There were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork statewide.  Topsoil moisture supply continued to decline to 46 percent very short, 34 percent short, 18 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.  This week marked the greatest quantity reported in the very short topsoil moisture category all crop year.  The west-central, north-central and northeast districts were greater than 70 percent very short.  Subsoil moisture supply was 30 percent very short, 42 percent short, and 28 percent adequate.  The northeast, west-central, and southwest districts were all greater than 50 percent very short.  Ground worked fall tillage was 59 percent, 3 days behind last year, but 2 weeks ahead of normal.  Off-farm storage availability was 11 percent short, 85 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.  On-farm storage availability was 14 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. 

Field Crops Report

Corn harvest, at 96 percent, was nearly complete, 4 days ahead of last year, and over a month ahead of normal (5-yr historic average).  Soybeans mature were 96 percent, 4 days ahead of normal.  Soybeans harvested were 82 percent, 4 days behind last year, but 9 days ahead of normal.  Cotton harvested was 83 percent, 13 days behind last year, but 12 days ahead of normal.  Rice harvested was 95 percent, 3 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum harvested was 86 percent, 8 days behind last year, but 13 days ahead of normal.  Winter wheat planted was 77 percent, 5 days behind last year, but 9 days ahead of normal.  Wheat emergence was 46 percent, 3 days behind last year, but 4 days ahead of normal.  Wheat condition was 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 49 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Some emergence issues were reported due to dry weather in the west-central district where wheat condition was already 61 percent poor and very poor.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture conditions declined to 36 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 25 percent fair, and 11 percent good.  The northeast, west-central and southwest districts were greater than 60 percent very poor and greater than 90 percent poor and very poor.  Stock water supplies were 15 percent very short, 35 percent short, 49 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.  The north-central, the northeast, and the west-central were 70 percent or greater short and very short.  Precipitation was needed to fill ponds so they will not freeze solid this winter.  Hay and other roughage supply was 6 percent very short, 28 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus with the west-central district 66 percent short to very short.  Hay feeding was prevalent across much of the state. 

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 2 degrees below to 2 degrees above normal.  The southeast, or Bootheel, was normal to 2 degrees below average.  Northern districts experienced the first scattered nightly freezes of fall.  Precipitation was excessively lacking with the state averaging 0.16 of an inch.  The Bootheel averaged 0.78 of an inch with Dunklin and Pemiscot Counties receiving over an inch.