Hot Start To Summer Scorches More Missouri Fields

Soybeans emerging in a field in eastern St Charles County, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Hill, Alpha Ag Network)

Temperatures three degrees above normal last week caused even more Missouri fields to fall into poor or very poor condition. The weekly USDA Crop Progress and Condition report has 70 percent of Missouri pastures in poor or very poor shape, compared to just two percent in good condition. This time a year ago, just seven percent of fields were in poor shape, as flash drought conditions were beginning to materialize in Southwest Missouri. Only 20 percent of Missouri farmers are believed to have enough hay supply, while 35 percent have enough stock water on hand. 57 percent of Missouri alfalfa fields have received their second cutting, 23 points ahead of last year and 19 points better than the five-year average. 84 percent of other hay has been cut, eight points ahead of normal. Wheat harvest in Missouri is 88 percent complete, 14 points above average pace and three points ahead of last year.

More Missouri corn and soybean fields are in poor or very poor condition than good to excellent. 37 percent of corn and 34 percent of beans are in poor or very poor shape, compared to last week’s figures of 25 percent for corn and 27 percent for soybeans. 23 percent of corn and 24 percent of beans are rated good to excellent. Corn silking is just ahead of normal pace at 21 percent, more than double last year’s pace of ten percent. 95 percent of soybeans have emerged, with 22 percent blooming. Two percent of the crop is already setting pods.

While moderate drought returned to the Bootheel, more cotton fields were in good to excellent shape. 66 percent of fields are in the top two categories, while six percent are rated poor or very poor. 70 percent of rice fields are good to excellent, down four points, while two percent remain poor or very poor. 72 percent of cotton bolls are squaring, 25 points ahead of average as well as last year’s progress. 12 percent of rice is heading, eight points better than normal.

Rainfall across Missouri hit the average mark at 0.87 inches; however, nearly all of the precipitation was within 40 miles of the Iowa border. Temperatures averaged 78.8°F last week, nearly three degrees above normal. Only 20 percent of topsoil and 17 percent of subsoil have adequate moisture. 5.8 days were suitable for fieldwork last week.