Agricultural Summary

Seasonal temperatures returned with scattered showers across the state.  Irrigation was in full swing in the southeast district.  Little rainfall allowed 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork statewide with the northern districts observing less than 4 days suitable and the southern districts with nearly a week available.  Topsoil moisture supply was 7 percent very short, 16 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus.  The southeast district was 85 percent short and very short followed by the south-central district at 82 percent.  Spring tillage was 92 percent, 23 days ahead of last year, and 28 days ahead of normal (5-year average). 

Field Crops Report

Corn planted was 93 percent, 15 days ahead of last year, and 20 days ahead of normal.  Corn emergence was 74 percent, 11 days ahead of last year, and 16 days ahead of normal.  Condition was 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 12 percent excellent.  Rain was needed in the southeast to improve corn condition.  Corn replanting occurred in northern districts.  Army worms were reported in the central and south-central districts.  Soybeans planted were 37 percent, 17 days ahead of last year, and 2 weeks ahead of normal.  Soybeans emerged were 13 percent, 9 days ahead of 2011, and 11 days ahead of normal.  Cotton planted was 68 percent, nearly 1 week ahead of last year and normal.  Rice emerged was 94 percent, 29 days ahead of last year, and 25 days ahead of normal.  Rice condition was 8 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 3 percent excellent.  Sorghum planted was 41 percent, 23 days ahead of 2011, and 17 days ahead of normal.  Winter wheat headed and beyond at 97 percent and, with the exception of the north-central and central districts, was nearing completion across the state.  Wheat turning color was 46 percent, 16 days ahead of last year, and 22 days ahead of normal.  The northwest and north-central districts were 5 and 4 percent respectively.  Wheat condition was 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 15 percent excellent with the Bootheel ranking 26 percent poor and very poor.  Alfalfa hay 1st cutting was half-way complete, 23 days ahead of last year, and 20 days ahead of normal.  Other hay cut was nearly a quarter complete, 22 days ahead of last year, and 19 days ahead of normal. 

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition declined to 1 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. This was due to dry conditions in the east-central, southwest, and south-central districts as well as the eastern portion of the west-central district. 

Weather Summary

Temperatures dropped back to normal to 2 degrees below normal.  Precipitation also declined averaging only 0.63 of an inch statewide although Caldwell, Clark, Knox, Cass, Oregon, and Mississippi counties received over 2.00 inches.