For the week ending August 23, 2015, a strong storm system early in the week brought significant rain, wind, and cooler temperatures to many parts of the State, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rainfall amounts varied with the heaviest precipitation occurring across the central and northeast.
Temperatures averaged four to eight degrees below normal, as overnight lows fell into the upper 40s to low 50s during the week. There were 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 6 percent very short, 22 short, 67 adequate, and 5 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 6 percent very short, 23 short, 69 adequate, and 2 surplus.
Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 18 fair, 59 good, and 18 excellent. Corn dough was at 81 percent, near 80 last year and 79 for the five-year average. Dented was at 28 percent, ahead of 12 last year, but near 26 average.
Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 19 fair, 58 good, and 18 excellent. Soybeans blooming was 97 percent, near 100 last year and average. Setting pods was at 90 percent, near 91 last year and 92 average.
Spring wheat mature was at 99 percent, ahead of 90 last year, but near 97 average. Harvested was at 86 percent, well ahead of 54 last year, and ahead of 81 average.
Oats harvested was at 95 percent, near 91 last year and 94 average.
Barley mature was at 95 percent, ahead of 87 last year, but equal to the average. Harvested was at 74 percent, well ahead of 47 last year, but near 72 average.
Sorghum condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 27 fair, 67 good, and 5 excellent. Sorghum headed was 94 percent, equal to last year and near 95 average. Coloring was at 19 percent, behind 38 last year, and well behind 39 average. Mature rated 1 percent, near 0 last year and average.
Sunflower condition rated 0 percent very poor, 2 poor, 20 fair, 74 good, and 4 excellent. Sunflowers blooming was at 93 percent, ahead of 82 last year, but near 90 average. Ray flowers dried was at 15 percent, ahead of 2 last year, but near 14 average.
Alfalfa conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 6 poor, 28 fair, 55 good, and 10 excellent. Alfalfa hay second cutting rated 96 percent complete, ahead of 89 last year, but near 94 average. Third cutting was at 30 percent, equal to last year, but behind 45 average.
Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions were rated 2 percent very poor, 8 poor, 30 fair, 54 good, and 6 excellent.
Stock water supplies rated 5 percent very short, 18 short, 73 adequate, and 4 surplus
