Harvest Remains Behind Pace Amid Another Dry Week

With most of Missouri going a second week without a drop of rain, harvest continues to progress at a steady pace, with most crops still behind average pace.  USDA’s weekly crop progress report shows corn harvest now at 53 percent complete, three points behind average pace and nine points behind last year’s mark.  93 percent of the crop is considered mature.  The last crop condition ratings of the season are unchanged from a week ago with 50 percent rated good to excellent against 24 percent poor or very poor.  Soybean harvest continues to trek ahead of recent levels with 22 percent out of the ground.  This time a year ago, 20 percent was out of the ground, and the five-year average is 18 percent.  88 percent of the crop has dropped their leaves.  Like corn, conditions for soybeans are unchanged with 49 percent rated good to excellent versus 18 percent poor or very poor.

Harvest in the Bootheel remains ahead of normal pace for rice but behind for cotton.  78 percent of rice is out of the ground, three points ahead of average and 12 points better than last year.  Cotton harvest is 14 percent complete, five points better than last year but ten points behind normal.  The remaining crop appears to be stronger, with 60 percent rated good to excellent, compared to 12 percent poor or very poor.

Pastures continue their freefall through the season with only 19 percent of fields in good condition.  60 percent is considered poor or very poor, a 13-point jump for the week.  47 percent of Missouri farmers are lacking adequate hay supply, and 46 percent report a lack of stock water.  Only 23 percent of topsoil and 28 percent of subsoil have adequate moisture.  All seven days last week were suitable for fieldwork, with average temperatures about a half-degree below normal at 58.6°F.