Missouri Corn Condition Improves As Doughing Begins

Soybeans emerging in a field outside Kaskaskia, Illinois. (Photo by Kyle Hill, Alpha Ag Network)

The first two percent of Missouri corn has reached the doughing stage in the past week, showing promise during a damp week that some fields are still on a normal pace of development. The weekly Crop Progress report from USDA indicates that 39 percent of corn is tasseling as of Sunday, 15 points off last year’s mark and 24 points behind the five-year average. Corn showed continued improvement, with 61 percent rated good or excellent compared to nine percent poor or very poor. Soybean pod-setting remains slow, with just four percent of the crop reaching that stage in the past week. A fifth of the crop has bloomed, and 96 percent has emerged. Normally, 30 percent of the crop has bloomed and six percent are setting pods. 56 percent of soybeans are rated good to excellent against eight percent poor or very poor.

The Bootheel’s cotton remains well ahead of pace, with 23 percent already setting bolls, and 94 percent squaring. Usually, 57 percent of the crop has squared, and 14 percent have set bolls. Conditions slipped amid dryer conditions in the southeast, as 69 percent of cotton is rated good while seven percent is poor. The first three percent of rice has headed, in line with last year but six points off the average. 69 percent is rated good to excellent, compared to just three percent rated poor.

Winter wheat harvest is now 88 percent complete, seven points off the average and six points behind a year ago. Close to half of Missouri alfalfa has received its second cutting, while 82 percent of other hay has been cut. Pastures remain at 71 percent good to excellent, while three percent are now considered poor. Eight percent of Missouri farmers are reportedly short on hay supply, compared to five percent with a surplus. 11 percent report a surplus of stock water, while just one percent are short. Precipitation across the state averaged 1.41 inches, 0.61″ above normal. One-fifth of Missouri topsoil and one-sixth of subsoil are running a surplus on moisture, compared to shortages for four percent of topsoil and five percent of subsoil. An average of 4.3 days were suitable for fieldwork last week, and temperatures were 2.2 degrees below normal at 75.6°F.