Half Of Missouri's Corn Now In The Bin

A recently harvested corn field in Lafayette County, Mo. (Photo by Kyle Hill, Alpha Ag Network)

Missouri’s corn harvest has crossed the halfway point, while soybean harvest set a faster pace in the past week. The weekly USDA Crop Progress report indicates that 56 percent of corn harvest is complete, six points better than last year and two points better than the five-year average. Four percent of the crop has yet to reach maturity. The last crop condition rating for corn has one-third of the crop rated good to excellent, two points down on the week, while 38 percent of the remaining crop is rated poor or very poor. Soybean harvest is 27 percent complete, seven points ahead of last year and 10 points better than the five-year average. 91 percent of the crop has dropped its leaves. 44 percent of the remaining crop is rated good to excellent, down four points, while 24 percent is considered poor or very poor. 14 percent of winter wheat has been planted, three points ahead of last year and in line with the five-year average, while two percent of the crop has emerged.

23 percent of the Bootheel’s cotton is out of the ground, 10 points faster than a year ago and three points ahead of average pace. 92 percent of bolls have opened, four points behind a year ago and just shy of the five-year average. Half of the remaining crop is rated good to excellent, against two percent poor. Rice harvest is now 79 percent complete, four points better than a year ago and six points faster than average.

While precipitation picked up last week, averaging 0.74″, the below-average rate along with another week of above-average temperatures caused a reversal of Missouri’s pasture conditions. Just 11 percent of fields are considered good quality, compared to 59 percent in poor or very poor shape. Just 29 percent of Missouri farmers are believed to have enough hay on hand, while 41 percent are believed to have enough stock water supply. Adequate moisture is reported in just 37 percent of Missouri topsoil and 30 percent of subsoil. Temperatures averaged 63.6°F across the state, four degrees above normal. An average of 6.4 days were suitable for fieldwork.