Another Damp, Mild Weekend For Missouri Crops

Crop conditions across Missouri remained steady, while progress for most crops continued trailing previous levels amid another damp week with cooler temperatures. USDA’s weekly Crop Progress update indicated that as of Sunday, 64 percent of Missouri’s corn was silking, and close to a fifth has entered doughing stage. This time a year ago, 77 percent was silking and 21 percent was doughing. 62 percent of corn is rated good to excellent, up one point from last week, while the amount in poor or very poor shape remained at nine percent. A third of soybeans have bloomed, down 17 points from a year ago and 12 points off the five-year average. Just ten percent are setting pods, down nine points from a year ago and five points behind average. Conditions were unchanged from last week. Winter wheat harvest is 96 percent complete.

Cotton squaring in the Bootheel is nearly complete, well ahead of last year’s 38 percent and the five-year average of 70 percent. 38 percent of the crop has set bolls, also well ahead of last year’s nine percent and the five-year average of 24 percent. However, conditions slipped, with 67 percent rated good against seven percent poor. 18 percent of rice has headed, three points ahead of average and 11 better than last year’s progress. 69 percent remain in good or excellent condition, compared to just two percent poor.

Hay cutting remains behind pace. 63 percent of alfalfa has received its second cutting, while 85 percent of other hay has been cut. 73 percent of pastures are in good to excellent shape, up two points from last week, while five percent are listed in poor or very poor condition. One in ten Missouri farmers have a surplus of hay supply, compared to eight percent with a reported shortage. 14 percent of farmers have a surplus of stock water, compared to one percent with a shortage. Average rainfall around the state was nearly three times the normal rate last week at 1.88 inches. One-fifth of Missouri topsoil and 14 percent of Missouri subsoil are running a surplus of moisture, compared to two percent of topsoil and three percent of subsoil lacking moisture. An average of 3.4 days were suitable for fieldwork, and temperatures last week averaged 75.2°F, three degrees below normal.