Missouri Crop Conditions Mellow As Second Cutting Of Alfalfa Begins

Below-average temperatures along with another week of below-average rainfall reduced crop conditions in some fields, while providing relief to other fields.  USDA’s weekly Crop Progress report indicated a four-point drop in the percentage of Missouri corn fields in good to excellent condition, now at 43 percent.  This time a year ago seven out of ten fields were in prime condition.  However, the number of fields in poor or very poor shape also decreased in the past week, with 13 percent currently in those categories.  Similar trends occurred among soybean fields, with 44 percent good to excellent against 14 percent in poor or very poor shape.  95 percent of Missouri’s soybeans are planted, with 89 percent emerged.

Winter wheat harvest is 46 percent complete, 17 points ahead of a year ago and 18 points better than the five-year average.  48 percent of remaining fields are in good to excellent condition, down seven points on the week, versus just seven percent in poor shape.

Even with moderate drought appearing in much of the Bootheel, condition ratings for their rice and cotton held on if not improved.  60 percent of rice fields are in good to excellent shape, up three points from last week, while just four percent are rated poor.  65 percent of cotton fields are good to excellent against just one percent in poor shape.  38 percent of cotton fields are squaring, 32 points better than a year ago and 17 points ahead of the five-year average.

Pasture conditions showed notable improvements even with precipitation averaging 0.53″ across the state last week.  37 percent of fields are in poor or very poor condition, down nine points from a week ago.  Just 21 percent of fields are in good condition.  With an average of 6.3 suitable for fieldwork, another five percent of Missouri alfalfa fields were cut for the first time this season, bringing the total to 90 percent.  Four percent of fields have already received a second cutting.  69 percent of other hay has been cut, up 20 points from a year ago and 15 points ahead of normal pace.

59 percent of Missouri farmers are lacking adequate hay supply, and 35 percent report a lack of adequate stockwater.  68 percent of the state’s topsoil and 73 percent of subsoil are short or very short on moisture.  Temperatures averaged 70.3°F last week, 3.2 degrees below normal.