Agricultural Summary

With the northern border of the state remaining dry, the rest of the state enjoyed scattered showers.  The precipitation helped pastures but limited producers to 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork.  Topsoil moisture supply was 30 percent very short, 37 percent short, 33 percent adequate.  Subsoil moisture supply improved to 63 percent very short, 29 percent short, 8 percent adequate. 

Field Crops Report

Corn mature was 91 percent, 13 days ahead of last year, and 26 days ahead of normal (5-year average).  Corn harvested at 53 percent, was 18 days ahead of last year, and 25 days ahead of normal.  Corn moisture at harvest was 15.9 percent, ranging from 13.1 percent in the west-central district to 17.6 percent in the north-central district.  Corn condition was 58 percent very poor, 26 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 4 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Soybeans turning color was 42 percent, 5 days ahead of last year, and 1 week ahead of normal.  Soybeans dropping leaves and beyond was 14 percent, 5 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal.  Soybeans mature was 2 percent, 4 days ahead of last year, and 3 days ahead of normal.  Soybean harvest began.  Soybean condition was 41 percent very poor, 33 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 6 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Cotton opening bolls was 55 percent, 5 days ahead of last year, and 3 days ahead of normal.  Cotton harvest began.  Cotton condition was 10 percent very poor, 30 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 18 percent good, and 2 percent excellent.  Rice harvested was 31 percent, 15 days ahead of last year, and 10 days ahead of normal.  Wind flattened some rice fields.  Rice condition was 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 23 percent excellent.  Sorghum turning color and beyond was 77 percent, 5 days ahead of last year, and 1 week ahead of normal.  Sorghum mature was 34 percent, 8 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum harvest was 6 percent, 9 days ahead of last year, and 3 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum condition was 28 percent very poor, 35 percent poor, 28 percent fair, and 9 percent good.  Alfalfa hay 3rd cutting was 78 percent, 3 weeks behind last year, and 13 days behind normal. 

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition improved from last week to 70 percent very poor, 22 percent poor, and 8 percent fair.  Some producers began inter-seeding to prepare for fall pastures.   Supply of hay and other roughages declined to 60 percent very short, 28 percent short, and 12 percent adequate.  Stock water supplies were 60 percent very short, 27 percent short, and 13 percent adequate. 

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 1 to 2 degrees above average.  Precipitation averaged 0.99 of an inch statewide.  The east-central district received 1.69 inches followed by the southeast district with 1.64 inches.