August 6, 2013

A large portion of the state received an inch or more of rain and cooler temperatures last week, reducing crop stress as pods were actively developing in soybeans and corn pollination was coming to an end, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Portions of the extreme southeast had 3 or more inches while the southern Panhandle was mostly dry.  

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 15% very short, 34% short, 49% adequate, and 2% surplus. Statewide, subsoil moisture supplies rated 27% very short, 43% short, 30% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Crop Progress and Condition

• Corn condition rated 4% very poor, 7% poor, 21% fair, 48% good, and 20% excellent. Irrigated corn conditions rated 85% good or excellent, compared to the average of 76%. Dryland corn conditions rated 43% good or excellent, compared to 62% average. Corn silking was 93% complete, behind 99% last year but near 95 average. Corn in dough was 14%, behind 71% last year and 37% average.
   
• Soybean conditions rated 2% very poor, 5% poor, 24% fair, 57% good, and 12% excellent. Ninety-one% of the crop was blooming, near 94% last year and the average of 90%. Fifty percent of the crop was setting pods, behind 59% last year but near the average of 51%.
   
• Sorghum conditions rated 6% very poor, 15% poor, 28% fair, 40% good, and 11% excellent. Sorghum heading was 34%, behind 56% last year and the average of 41%.
   
• Wheat harvest was 93% complete, behind 100% last year and 97% average.

• Oat harvest was 85% complete, behind last year’s 99% and near the 88% average.
   
• Dry bean conditions rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 16% fair, 69% good, and 12% excellent. Dry beans blooming were 84%, near 83% last year and 84% average. Thirty-nine percent of the crop was setting pods, near 40% last year and the average of 40%.
   
• Alfalfa conditions were 6% very poor, 9% poor, 31% fair, 48% good, and 6% excellent. Alfalfa second cutting was 91% complete, behind last year’s 99% and the average of  95%. Third cutting was 17% complete, behind 76% last year and 35% average.