Agricultural Summary

All districts, except the southwest, remained dry, allowing for 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork statewide.  Topsoil moisture supply remained less than ideal at 40 percent very short, 42 percent short, 17 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.  The 5-year average for topsoil moisture supply at this time of year was 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 24 percent surplus.  Subsoil moisture supply was unseasonably low at 23 percent very short, 44 percent short, 32 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. 

Field Crops Report

Corn condition was 3 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 43 percent good and 6 percent excellent.  There were several reports of poor root development in existing fields.  Rain was needed to prevent further reduction in corn yields.  Soybeans planted were 88 percent, 16 days ahead of last year, and 24 days ahead of normal (5-year average).  Although statewide emergence was 67 percent, 13 days ahead of last year, and 16 days ahead of normal, dry conditions caused uneven emergence in some fields.   Soybean condition was 4 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 45 percent fair, 32 percent good, and 4 percent excellent.  Cotton condition was 5 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 48 percent fair, 24 percent good, and 2 percent excellent.  Rice condition was 5 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 12 percent excellent.  Sorghum planting was 89 percent, 21 days ahead of last year, and 24 days ahead of normal.  Condition was 2 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 47 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 2 percent excellent.  Winter wheat turning color was nearly complete, with harvesting at 33 percent, 18 days ahead of last year, and 19 days ahead of normal.  Wheat condition was 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 15 percent excellent.  Alfalfa hay 1st cutting was 95 percent, 32 days ahead of last year and normal, and the second cutting was 18 percent, 18 days ahead of last year, and 22 days ahead of normal.  Other hay cut was 69 percent, 26 days ahead of 2011, and 29 days ahead of normal.  There have been some reports of reduced hay yields due to lack of moisture. 

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition continued to decline to 15 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 25 percent good, and 3 percent excellent.  Supply of hay and other roughages was 10 percent very short, 20 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.  Stock water supplies were 6 percent very short, 20 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 3 percent excellent.  The south-central district had reports of some producers culling herds due to 81 percent very short to short hay supply, 68 percent very short to short stock water supply, and 87 percent very poor to poor pasture conditions.   

Weather Summary

Normal temperatures returned, averaging 1 degree below to 1 degree above normal.  Precipitation averaged 0.67 of an inch statewide.