Missouri Soybean Harvest Passes 80 Percent Complete

Just a fifth of Missouri’s beans remain in the ground as the end of harvest nears.  USDA’s Crop Progress report indicates that soybean harvest is 81 percent complete, three points behind the five-year average and six points behind a year ago.  Corn harvest is at 94 percent complete, in line with a year ago and just ahead of the average pace.  The Bootheel’s cotton harvest is 86 percent complete, two points behind normal but 10 points ahead of last year.  86 percent of winter wheat has been planted and 72 percent has emerged, both ahead of a year ago and the five-year average.  The crop strengthened in the past week, with 64 percent rated good to excellent versus just four percent poor.

51 percent of pastures are rated good to excellent, up one point from last week, while a tenth of fields are considered poor.  Five percent of Missouri farmers reportedly are short on hay supply, compared to five percent with a surplus.  Four percent lack adequate stock water, compared to two percent with a surplus.  About 4.6 days were suitable for fieldwork last week, with temperatures 3.7 degrees above normal at 48.8°F.  Precipitation was below average at 0.54″.  Missouri topsoil is enjoying a net surplus of moisture, with seven percent above normal compared to five percent short or very short.  However, just two percent of subsoil appears to have surplus moisture, compared to 11 percent short or very short on moisture.