Two-Thirds Of Corn, Rice Starting In Strong Condition

The first crop condition ratings for Missouri’s corn and rice are showing a strong start for both commodities.  The weekly USDA Crop Progress Report indicates that 60 percent of Missouri’s corn is rated good to excellent, versus nine percent poor or very poor.  69 percent of rice in the Bootheel is considered good to excellent, against just three percent poor.  There aren’t any comparisons to conditions from a year ago, when corn emergence was at 27 percent, 51 points behind this year and 19 points shy of the five-year average.  Rice emergence a year ago was at 14 percent, trailing this year by 63 points and the five-year average by 27 points.  96 percent of corn and 92 percent of rice have been planted across the state.

62 percent of Missouri soybeans are in the ground as of Sunday, 45 points ahead of a year ago and 38 points better than the five-year average.  36 percent of the crop has emerged, compared to five percent a year ago and the five-year average of eight percent.  69 percent of cotton is planted, 26 points ahead of last year and 28 points faster than normal.  77 percent of winter wheat has headed, 20 points better than a year ago and 13 points ahead of the five-year average.  61 percent of the crop is good to excellent, five points lower than last week, while 12 percent remain poor or very poor.

Wet conditions for parts of the state delayed alfalfa cutting, with the first five percent mowed in the past week.  This time a year ago, 10 percent had already been trimmed, with the five-year average at eight percent.  Two percent of other hay has been cut.  Pastures weakened again this week with expanding drought conditions, as 37 percent of fields are rated good to excellent versus 23 percent poor or very poor.  52 percent of farmers report lacking adequate hay supply, while 20 percent say they lack adequate supplies of stock water.

Precipitation around the state averaged 0.51″ above normal for the week at 1.52″.  That resulted in 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork, with three percent of Missouri soil indicating a surplus of moisture.  However, 40 percent of topsoil and 43 percent of subsoil remained short or very short of moisture.  Temperatures were 8.6 degrees above normal at 71.5°F.