Hurricane Isaac brings much-needed moisture
The remnants of Hurricane Isaac brought significant precipitation to the state last week.
Statewide rainfall averaged 3.18 inches, pushing topsoil moisture levels to 19 percent very short, 28 percent short, 51 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.
This is the largest percentage of cropland in the adequate and surplus topsoil moisture categories since the middle of May.
Temperatures averaged 76.1 degrees, 3.2 above normal.
When conditions allowed, producers continued harvesting corn acreage. Twelve percent of the crop has been reported to be harvested. This compares to 2 percent last year, and the five-year average, also at 2 percent.
Corn conditions were rated at 41 percent very poor, 34 percent poor, 21 percent fair and 4 percent good.
With the increased precipitation levels, soybean conditions improved a bit to 19 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 42 percent fair, 17 percent good and 1 percent excellent. Forty-one percent of the soybean crop is turning yellow. This compares to 20 percent last year and the five-year average of 23 percent. Seven percent of the soybeans have started to drop leaves.
Pasture conditions have improved significantly to 41 percent very poor, 31 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 7 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.