At Long Last, More Than Three Days Suitable For Planting

Missouri farmers finally had more than three days suitable for planting last week, as enough time passed between rain systems to allow more seed to be planted.  USDA’s Crop Progress Report indicates that corn planting is 27 percent complete as of Sunday, just over half the normal pace and 19 points behind a year ago.  The first three percent of the crop has emerged, when normally one-sixth of the crop has done so.  Soybean planting is resembling a normal pace, with five percent in the ground, one point off the five-year average and four points behind a year ago.

The Bootheel finally saw some planting progress, with the first eight percent of cotton planted, along with rice planting at five percent.  Cotton planting is in line with the five-year average, while normally over half of Missouri rice is in the ground and nearly a quarter has emerged.  One percent of rice is starting to grow.

One-tenth of Missouri’s winter wheat has emerged, 18 points behind a year ago and 24 points behind normal.  Conditions continue to improve with 68 percent now rated good to excellent, up nine points from a week ago, while four percent remain listed in poor or very poor shape.  Pastures also saw improvement, with 59 percent in good or excellent condition against just two percent poor.  11 percent of Missouri farmers are reportedly lacking adequate hay supply, compared to three with a surplus.  Just one percent is lacking adequate stock water, compared to nine percent with a surplus.  Only one percent of topsoil and three percent of subsoil is lacking adequate moisture, compared to surpluses seen in 27 percent of topsoil and 14 percent of subsoil.  Rainfall was once again above-average at 1.48″, and temperatures remained below average by 1.4 degrees, averaging 57.5°F.