Dryer Week Speeds Up Wheat Harvest
Two-thirds of Missouri’s wheat has been harvested, keeping the state in-line with historical averages. USDA’s weekly crop progress report indicates that the harvest is 24 points better than a year ago. Half the crop is in good or excellent condition, a five-point jump from last week. 11 percent is in poor or very poor shape.
Farmers took advantage of five-point-eight days suitable for fieldwork and near-average temperatures of 75 degrees to advance the harvest and put more beans in the ground. Soybean planting is up to 94 percent complete, 19 points better than a year ago and eight points ahead of the five-year average. 87 percent of beans have emerged, and six percent have bloomed. Conditions are the same as a week ago at 63 percent good to excellent versus five percent poor or very poor. About seven percent of corn is tasseling, nearly double a year ago but behind the five-year average of 17 percent. Conditions weakened by two points, with 68 percent good to excellent and six percent poor or very poor.
Bootheel crops remain behind pace, with cotton planting 95 percent complete and 12 percent of the crop squaring. On average, cotton planting should be complete, along with 38 percent of the crop squaring and the first one percent already setting bolls. Cotton in good condition improved to 34 percent in the past week, but the amount in poor or very poor condition also increased back to 38 percent. Rice is also behind with none of the crop yet to head. However, conditions improved with 58 percent of the crop in good to excellent condition versus eight percent in poor or very poor shape.
Pasture conditions reversed course in the past week, falling five points to 66 percent good or excellent. However, just three percent is rated poor or very poor. 96 percent of alfalfa has received its first cutting, and 37 percent has received its second. Three-fourths of other hay has been cut. With just 62-hundredths of an inch of rain last week, three percent of Missouri farms are believed to have a shortage of hay supply, compared to nine percent with a surplus. Two percent lack adequate stock water, compared to four percent with a surplus. 23 percent of the state’s topsoil and 13 percent of subsoil lack adequate moisture, versus six percent of topsoil and eight percent of subsoil with a surplus.