Corn Quality Impacted By Damp Conditions

Over 60 percent of Missouri’s corn is in good or excellent condition, but a larger portion of the crop is showing signs of weakness.  That’s according to the season’s first corn condition ratings in the weekly update to USDA’s Crop Progress Report.  As of Sunday, eight percent of the crop was considered poor or very poor, up from four percent a week ago.  Conditions overall are slightly lower than a year ago.  92 percent of corn was planted, with 83 percent emerged.

Soybean planting is just shy of half complete, now four points behind average.  38 percent of the crop has emerged.  Progress remained slow in the past week as a result of above-average precipitation for much of the state, with the state average just shy of 1.2 inches.  Temperatures last week were below-normal at 65.8°F, and just over two days were suitable for fieldwork.

The Bootheel continues to witness below-average precipitation, allowing cotton planting to near completion at 98 percent.  68 percent of the crop is rated good against seven percent poor, much better than a year ago when just 36 percent of cotton was considered good.  Rice emergence is at 96 percent, with 65 percent good to excellent versus five percent poor.

Winter wheat quality in the state remains steady, with 57 percent considered good or excellent versus six percent poor.  96 percent of the crop has headed.  Nearly a fifth of Missouri alfalfa has received its first cutting, well below the average of 43 percent and last year’s 31-percent figure.  14 percent of other hay has been cut.  However, pasture conditions are better with 77 percent rated good to excellent, compared to five percent poor or very poor.

11 percent of Missouri farmers reportedly have a shortage of hay supply, compared to four percent with a surplus.  One in eight Missouri farmers are believed to have a stock water surplus.  42 percent of the state’s topsoil and a quarter of the subsoil has surplus moisture, compared to one percent of each reported short on moisture.