Drier But Cooler Week For Crop Progress

Most crops across Missouri had to deal with no rain over the past week with temperatures nearly four degrees below normal. USDA’s Crop Progress Report indicates that row crops did take the conditions in stride, with the first two percent of corn reaching maturity. While that is behind the five-year average of nine percent, corn denting is almost 70 percent, four points better than the average, and doughing is in line at 91 percent. 73 percent of the crop is in good to excellent condition, down three points from last week, while six percent remains poor or very poor. Soybeans are also ahead of pace, with four-fifths of the crop setting pods and 93 percent blooming. 74 percent of beans are good to excellent, while just four percent is rated poor or very poor.

Most of the precipitation that fell in Missouri last week did so in the Bootheel, helping improve crop conditions there. Half of the state’s cotton is in good condition while 13 percent is poor or very poor, both improvements from last week. Rice conditions diverged, with 69 percent good to excellent against nine percent poor or very poor. Crops there remain behind pace with 93 percent of cotton squaring, 73 percent setting bolls, and 86 percent of rice heading.

Pasture quality decreased five points last week, with 54 percent in good to excellent condition versus 16 percent poor or very poor. Over three-fourths of the state’s alfalfa fields have received their third cutting, five points better than the five-year average. 13 percent of farmers reportedly lack adequate hay supply, compared to 11 percent with a surplus. Eight percent are short of stock water, compared to two percent with a surplus. 35 percent of Missouri’s topsoil and 24 percent of subsoil lack adequate moisture, compared to a surplus in just three percent of topsoil.