Rain Brings Planting Progress To A Crawl Except For Bootheel
Missouri farmers had ample reason to get as much crop in the field as they could before last week’s rain arrived. Statewide, Missouri averaged over 2.3 inches of precipitation, limiting days suitable for fieldwork to just under two. As a result, just six percent of corn and eight percent of soybeans could be planted last week. That leaves corn planting at 90 percent complete, just one point ahead of last year and two better than the five-year average. Soybean planting is 44 percent complete, also two points better than the average and seven points ahead of a year ago. 77 percent of corn and 27 percent of soybeans have emerged.
Planting progress continued in the Bootheel, which received less than a half-inch of rain. Cotton planting is 85 percent complete, 18 points above average and 57 points better than a year ago. Rice planting is 95 percent complete, with 85 percent emerged. Both are also well ahead of year-ago and five-year average levels. Rice conditions ebbed slightly, with 62 percent rated good or excellent compared to five percent poor.
Winter wheat saw a drop in conditions as a result of the rain. 56 percent is rated good to excellent, down six points from last week, while six percent is considered poor. 91 percent has headed, just ahead of year-ago and five-year average levels. Pasture and hay conditions also slipped, with 73 percent rated good to excellent versus four percent poor or very poor. Alfalfa cutting remains behind with 12 percent receiving its first mow. Other hay is at nine percent cut. One in eight Missouri farmers are believed to have a shortage of hay supply, while three percent have a surplus. One in ten Missouri farmers are believed to have a surplus of stock water. Despite the ample rainfall, two percent of Missouri topsoil is still considered short on moisture. By comparison, 42 percent of topsoil and nearly a fourth of subsoil have surplus moisture. Temperatures last week averaged 69.4°F, nearly three degrees above normal.
