Rains across much of the state provided much needed moisture to most farmers. These rains also brought with them cooler temperatures with many areas reporting frost. Corn, soybean, and cotton harvests continued with most farmers continuing to post favorable yields. The added soil moisture from the recent rains have helped in the emergence of early planted winter wheat. Pasture conditions improved slightly after the rains, but frost kept pastures from making any big improvement and effectively put a stop to the grazing season in many areas. There were 5.2 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was rated 20 percent very short, 24 percent short, 53 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 22 percent very short, 34 percent short, 43 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.

CROP PROGRESS

Corn (harvested) – 96 percent this week, 92 percent last week

Cotton (bolls opening) – 97 percent this week, 93 percent last week

Cotton (harvested) – 52 percent this week, 35 percent last week

Soybeans (dropping leaves) – 96 percent this week, 92 percent last week

Soybeans (harvested) – 62 percent this week, 50 percent last week

Winter Wheat (planted) – 34 percent this week, 23 percent last week

Winter Wheat (emerged) – 11 percent this week, 7 percent last week

CROP CONDITIONS

Corn – 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 56 percent good and 27 percent excellent

Cotton – 4 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 52 percent good and 15 percent excellent

Soybeans – 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 48 percent good and 13 percent excellent

Wheat – 3 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 60 percent good and 9 percent excellent

Pasture – 19 percent very poor, 38 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 12 percent good and 2 percent excellent

CATTLE REPORT

Compared to last week, feeder steers were mostly 2.00-3.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs were 2.00-4.00 higher, and heifers over 600 lbs were mostly steady.

Good demand for feeder cattle this week, with the best demand continuing to be

noted on preconditioned cattle weaned a minimum of 30 days. Slaughter cows

were unevenly steady, and slaughter bulls steady to 2.00 lower.

STATE AVERAGES

Steers (M&L 1-2) This Week Prior Week Last Year

300-350 lbs 140.61 139.71 158.61

350-400 lbs 142.84 139.16 154.77

400-450 lbs 144.34 139.63 151.28

450-500 lbs 137.67 132.82 149.50

500-550 lbs 136.49 131.34 143.26

550-600 lbs 131.04 127.88 143.37

600-650 lbs 126.27 122.07 138.41

650-700 lbs 125.68 122.61 137.44

700-750 lbs 124.35 123.68 132.22

750-800 lbs 120.63 118.21 127.71

Heifers (M&L 1-2)

300-350 lbs 123.22 118.92 137.08 230.01

350-400 lbs 123.66 116.68 134.29

400-450 lbs 119.01 114.09 134.31

450-500 lbs 117.55 114.20 128.29

500-550 lbs 115.81 111.25 126.75

550-600 lbs 112.98 111.64 123.79

600-650 lbs 114.19 110.70 123.73

650-700 lbs 113.06 107.82 119.57

700-750 lbs 106.60 111.26 119.47

750-800 lbs 104.45 99.91 113.57

WEELY COW SUMMARY

Slaughter Cows Average High Low

Breakers 39.00-54.50 44.00-45.00

Boners 37.00-57.00 50.50-64.00 31.00-45.00

Lean 32.00-45.00 22.00-37.00

Slaughter Bulls Average High Low

Yield Grade 1’s 60.00-78.00 82.00 51.00-70.00