Soybeans are beginning to bloom in Missouri, alongside the first tassels of corn and, finally, the first squares on the state’s cotton plants. USDA’s weekly crop progress report indicates that the first one percent of soybeans have bloomed. That’s better than a year ago but just behind the five-year average. Almost three-fourths of soybeans have emerged, ahead of both a year ago and the five-year average. Soybean planting is 89 percent complete. 63 percent is in good to excellent condition, up five points from a year ago, with five percent in poor or very poor condition. 96 percent of corn has emerged and four percent are already tasseling, ahead of a year ago and in line with the five-year average. Conditions improved significantly in the past week, with 70 percent in good or excellent condition compared to six percent poor or very poor.

Cotton is finally beginning to square in the state. The pre-bloom stage is present in four percent of Missouri’s crop, half the figure of a year ago and well behind the five-year average of 28 percent. A tenth of the crop is still not yet planted. Conditions also improved significantly in the past week, with 31 percent good compared to 30 percent poor or very poor. Also in the Bootheel, all but three percent of Missouri’s rice has emerged. 54 percent of the crop is good to excellent against just eight percent poor or very poor.

Wheat harvest is in line with the five-year average at 41 percent, including 27 percent in the past week. 45 percent of the crop is good to excellent while ten percent is poor or very poor.

Hay production is ahead of pace as well. 92 percent of alfalfa has received its first cutting, and 23 percent has been cut a second time. 64 percent of other hay has been cut. 71 percent of pastures are in good to excellent condition, while three percent remain poor or very poor. Three percent of Missouri farmers are believed to have a shortage of hay supply, while a tenth have a surplus. Two percent are now short on water supply, compared to five percent with a surplus.

Soils are beginning to dry out, with 13 percent of topsoil and five percent of subsoil short on moisture. Eight percent of each are retaining a surplus. Precipitation was half the normal rate last week with just 55-hundredths of an inch. Temperatures were just above average at 74-point-seven degrees. Missouri had an average of five-point-eight days suitable for fieldwork.