Agricultural Summary

Corn crop condition declined precipitously while soybeans hung on for a good rain.  Although there were widely scattered showers across the eastern 2/3 of the state, continued dry weather allowed 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork.  Although unthinkable, topsoil moisture declined to 84 percent very short, 14 percent short, and 2 percent adequate.  Creek beds, streams, and pools were dry.  Subsoil moisture followed suit with 78 percent very short, 20 percent short, and 2 percent adequate.  

Field Crops Report

Corn silked was 88 percent, 12 days ahead of last year, and 15 days ahead of normal.  Corn dough stage and beyond was 43 percent, 15 days ahead of last year, and 17 days ahead of normal.  Corn dented 12 percent, 16 days ahead of last year, and 18 days ahead of normal.  Corn condition was 38 percent very poor, 34 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 6 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  The northeast, west-central, central, and southwest districts rated 80 percent or greater poor and very poor.  A portion of the corn meant to be harvested for grain, will be cut for silage due to the low yield and to meet the growing demand for livestock feed.  Soybeans blooming and beyond were 45 percent, 1 week ahead of 2011 and 10 days ahead of normal.  Soybeans setting pods and beyond were 7 percent, 4 days ahead of last year, and 5 days ahead of normal.  Soybean condition was 25 percent very poor, 34 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 9 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  The northwest and central districts rated 70 percent poor and very poor, followed by the north-central district at 60 percent poor and very poor.  Cotton squaring and beyond was 90 percent, 8 days ahead of last year, and 3 days ahead of normal.   Cotton setting bolls and beyond was 19 percent, 1 day behind last year, and 6 days behind normal.  Cotton condition was 12 percent very poor, 30 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 15 percent good, and 2 percent excellent.  Rice headed was 9 percent, 15 days ahead of last year, and 3 days ahead of normal.  Rice condition was 5 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 20 percent excellent.  Sorghum headed was 31 percent, 17 days ahead of last year, and 11 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum turning color was 2 percent, 16 days ahead of last year, and 8 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum condition was 14 percent very poor, 33 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 12 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Alfalfa hay 2nd cutting was 97 percent, 18 days ahead of last year, and 30 days ahead of normal.  Alfalfa hay 3rd cutting was 26 percent complete, 11 days ahead of last year, and 17 days ahead of normal.  Extreme drought limited 3rd cutting in some areas. 

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition now 60 percent very poor, 32 percent poor, 7 percent fair, and 1 percent good, was reported to have ‘burned up’ in many areas of the state.  Supply of hay and other roughages was 33 percent very short, 39 percent short, 27 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.  Stock water supplies were 36 percent very short, 41 percent short, and 23 percent adequate.  The central, south-central, and southeast districts were greater than 80 percent short and very short.  

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 1 to 4 degrees above average around the state except the southeast district enjoyed 2 to 4 degrees below average.  Precipitation averaged 0.61 of an inch.  Butler County received 4.48 inches of rainfall.