Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending August 23, 2015.
For the week ending August 23, 2015, cool, wet conditions dominated the weather pattern, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture rated 3 percent very short, 20 short, 72 adequate, and 5 surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 6 percent very short, 21 short, 72 adequate, and 1 surplus.
Field Crops Report: Corn condition rated 2 percent very poor, 8 poor, 31 fair, 47 good, and 12 excellent. Corn dough was at 87 percent, equal to last year and near the five-year average of 89. Dented was 53 percent, ahead of 48 last year, but near 57 average. Mature was 8 percent, near 12 last year, but behind 20 average.
Soybeans condition rated 1 percent very poor, 7 poor, 36 fair, 49 good, and 7 excellent. Soybeans blooming was 91 percent, near 94 last year and 93 average. Setting pods was 71 percent, behind 76 last year, but near 72 average. Dropping leaves rated 3 percent, near 0 last year and 2 average.
Sorghum condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 26 fair, 59 good, and 10 excellent. Sorghum headed was 89 percent, ahead of 78 last year and 79 average. Sorghum coloring was 29 percent, ahead of 20 last year and average. Mature rated 1 percent, equal to last year and average.
Sunflowers condition rated 1 very poor, 2 poor, 30 fair, 60 good, and 7 excellent. Sunflowers blooming was 78 percent, ahead of 70 last year, but near 79 average. Ray flowers dried rated 10 percent, ahead of 2 last year, but behind 20 average.
Alfalfa hay conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 6 poor, 34 fair, 54 good, and 5 excellent. Alfalfa third cutting was 93 percent, ahead of 82 last year and 84 average. Fourth cutting was 28 percent ahead of 13 last year and 14 average.
Cotton condition rated 0 percent very poor, 11 poor, 26 fair, 52 good, and 11 excellent. Cotton squaring was 92 percent, near 94 last year and 96 average. Setting bolls was 63 percent, ahead of 53 last year, but behind 73 average. Bolls opening rated 4 percent, behind 10 last year, but near 8 average.
Livestock, Pasture and Range Conditions: Pasture and range condition rated 2 very poor, 7 poor, 31 fair, 50 good, and 10 excellent.
Stock water supplies rated 3 percent very short, 8 short, 87 adequate, and 2 surplus.
