Crop Conditions Continue Recovering From Solstice Plunge

Multiple rainstorms last week, particularly for Central and Southern Missouri, provided more support for crops struggling amid drought conditions.  The weekly USDA Crop Progress report indicates a five-point bump in the number of corn fields in good or excellent condition, now at 30 percent.  There are slightly more fields in poor or very poor shape; however, that number is down six points on the week to 31 percent.  81 percent of corn is silking and just over a fifth of the crop is in the doughing stage.  We also had a five-point bump in the past week for good to excellent soybeans, now at 31 percent.  That figure is better than the percentage of fields in poor or very poor condition, at 28 percent.  56 percent of beans are blooming, while 19 percent are setting pods.

The Bootheel’s cotton was the only major crop to indicate lower quality week over week, with 68 percent of fields in good to excellent shape versus three percent poor.  While squaring is still ahead of pace at 87 percent, just 10 percent of cotton have set bolls; this time a year ago, 45 percent of the crop had done so.  Rice remains on a stellar trajectory, with 79 percent of fields in good to excellent condition and less than one percent considered poor.  30 percent of the state’s rice has headed, double last year’s pace.

Hay cutting remains ahead of pace with 84 percent of alfalfa receiving a second cutting, and 12 percent already cut a third time.  92 percent of other hay has been cut.  Pastures in good condition doubled for a second straight week, now at eight percent.  However, 72 percent of fields are rated poor or very poor, up slightly from a week ago.  Just 20 percent of Missouri farmers are believed to have enough hay on hand, while 43 percent report having adequate moisture.  One-quarter of topsoil and 22 percent of subsoil are considered to have adequate moisture.  6.1 days were suitable for fieldwork.