Corn Harvest Begins With Most Of Missouri Receiving No Rain

Corn tasseling in a field in Lafayette County, Mo. (Photo by Kyle Hill, Alpha Ag Network)

One of the driest weeks of the year coincided with the start of Missouri’s corn harvest. With just an average of 0.02″ of rain last week, farmers rolled out their combines to collect the first two percent of the state’s corn haul for the year, according to the weekly USDA Crop Progress update. Just under a third of the crop is mature, while 87 percent has dented. The lack of rain for nearly all of the state resulted in weaker conditions, as 40 percent of corn is now poor or very poor, compared to 32 percent good to excellent. Soybeans also saw a drop in quality, with 45 percent rated good to excellent against 23 percent poor or very poor. The first eight percent of the crop has dropped their leaves, while six percent of the crop has yet to set any pods.

The Bootheel’s rice harvest is now five percent complete, three points ahead of normal pace. 94 percent of the crop has headed, four points behind a year ago and three points off the average pace. Conditions dropped six points on the week, with 75 percent now rated good to excellent. Cotton saw an eight-point drop in quality, with 67 percent of the crop now rated good to excellent. However, the amount in poor condition also dropped to two percent. 18 percent of cotton bolls have opened, two points better than a year ago but five points behind normal.

88 percent of alfalfa has received its third cutting, four points better than a year ago and three points faster than normal pace. Despite rain being non-existent for most of Missouri, the number of pastures in good to excellent shape increased three points to 23 percent. However, 43 percent of pastures were rated poor or very poor, up two points on the week. Only 24 percent of Missouri farmers have adequate hay supply, while 58 percent appear to have enough stockwater on hand. Just over half of Missouri topsoil is considered to have adequate or surplus moisture, along with 45 percent of subsoil. 6.7 days were suitable for fieldwork last week, with the average temperature 71.9°F.