First Crop Conditions of 2021 Released

The first weekly Crop Progress and Condition report of 2021 shows corn planting underway in parts of Missouri. The USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service indicates that the first one percent of Missouri corn was in the ground as of Sunday, starting ahead of last year but behind the five-year average of two percent. Winter wheat is starting the year in better shape than a year ago, with 54 percent in good to excellent condition, versus six percent poor or very poor. Last year the wheat crop started April with 41 percent in good or excellent shape and ten percent poor or very poor. However, conditions dropped from last week as a result of no precipitation for much of the state and slightly cooler than average temperatures, around 49-point-four degrees. An average of just four-hundredths of an inch of rain fell statewide, well below the average rate of 97-hundredths for the last week of March. Still, five percent of Missouri’s topsoil and subsoil have surplus moisture, compared to three percent of topsoil and five percent of subsoil with a shortage.

Pastures are 60 percent good to excellent and nine percent poor or very poor, also a better start than last year. 11 percent of Missouri farmers reportedly have a shortage of hay supply compared to nine percent with a surplus. Two percent report a surplus of stock water, compared to one percent with a shortage. An average of four-point-eight days were suitable for fieldwork.