Missouri Crop Conditions Continue Recovery, But Rain Beginning To Delay Some Progress
For the first time in six weeks, more corn and soybean fields in Missouri are rated good to excellent than poor or very poor. USDA’s Crop Progress report indicates that as of Sunday, 38 percent of corn and 38 percent of soybean fields are in good to excellent shape, compared to 36 percent of corn and 26 percent of soybeans in poor or very poor condition. However, another week of rain following damaging drought conditions have caused corn progress to fall off the pace. While 84 percent of corn is doughing, five points ahead of a year ago and six points better than average, 30 percent of the crop has reached the denting stage. While in line with last year, that is two points behind normal pace. Soybeans remain ahead of normal pace, with 91 percent blooming and 71 percent setting pods.
82 percent of the Bootheel’s cotton have set their bolls, just ahead of average and last year’s progress. 78 percent of rice has headed, 10 points better than a year ago and six points ahead of normal. 63 percent of cotton is rated good to excellent, down seven points from last week, while five percent is rated poor. 76 percent of rice is considered good to excellent, up a point on the week.
Just over a fifth of Missouri pastures are now good to excellent, up eight points from a week ago. 47 percent of fields are poor or very poor, an 11-point improvement. 52 percent of alfalfa fields have received a third cutting, while five percent still need their second. Just 24 percent of Missouri farmers are believed to have adequate hay supply, while 65 percent have adequate or surplus stock water. With above-average rainfall again last week averaging close to 1.8 inches statewide, 11 percent of topsoil and four percent of subsoil have surplus moisture, compared to 21 percent of topsoil and 47 percent of subsoil still short or very short. Just 3.3 days were suitable for fieldwork. Temperatures last week were 0.7 degrees below normal at 75.4°F.
