Crop conditions across Missouri improved in the past week with temperatures and rainfall both above normal. USDA’s weekly Crop Progress report indicates that 63 percent of the state’s corn is rated good to excellent, a two-point increase from last week and 35 points better than a year ago. Seven percent is considered poor or very poor. Soybeans also enjoyed a two-point increase to 58 percent good to excellent, versus six percent poor or very poor. Winter wheat is one point better than a week ago at 39 percent good to excellent versus 11 percent poor or very poor. The Bootheel continues to struggle, with rice unchanged at 54 percent good to excellent compared to eight percent poor or very poor. Cotton dropped another two points, with just a quarter of the crop now rated good while 38 percent remain poor or very poor. Temperatures averaged 73-point-seven degrees last week, one-and-a-half degrees above normal. Precipitation was two-tenths of an inch above normal at one-point-one-six inches, with just over five days suitable for fieldwork.

All but six percent of Missouri’s corn has emerged, just above the five-year average and well ahead of last year’s 76 percent. The warmer temperatures helped to speed up soybean planting, now 78 percent complete. That’s six points above average and 27 points better than a year ago. 59 percent of the crop has emerged, also ahead of the five-year average and a year ago. Winter wheat harvest is 14 percent complete. In the Bootheel, rice planting is now 95 percent complete, with 87 percent emerged, and 82 percent of cotton has been planted. No bales have squared yet, keeping Missouri cotton well behind the pace.

Pastures improved by three points last week, with 69 percent in good to excellent condition against three percent poor or very poor. 80 percent of alfalfa has received its first cutting, and half of other hay has been cut. Two percent of Missouri farmers reportedly have a shortage of hay supply, compared to eight percent with a surplus. Eight percent of farmers also have a reported surplus of stock water supply. Ten percent of topsoil and 15 percent of subsoil have excess moisture, but some areas are drying out, with short moisture supply reported in four percent of topsoil and one percent of subsoil.