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Soybean planting nears completion, Wheat harvest kicks off
Missouri
Missouri farmers were again hampered by wet weather in their efforts to harvest Wheat and hay and finish late row crop planting during the week ending June 20, but progress still compares favorably with recent years, according to the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service, June 21.
An average of 3.2 days were suitable for fieldwork, ranging from one day in the northwest and north-central districts to around 5 days across the southern third of the state. The topsoil moisture supply ratings averaged 6 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus. The northwest, north-central and west-central districts continue to be the wettest areas, with surplus moisture ratings of around 50 percent, well above all other districts.
Fourteen percent of the corn is silked, well ahead of last year and the average for this date when silking was just beginning. Corn in the northern half of the state has generally not begun silking, while 54 percent of the crop has reached that stage in the southeast district. Condition of the crop is reported as 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 57 percent good and 20 percent excellent, similar to a week ago but with wider extremes in the lower and upper condition ratings. The northwest district has some of the lowest rated corn with 17 percent poor or very poor but the same general area has considerable good or excellent corn where fields were not hurt by hail, wind or flooding in recent weeks.
Fourteen percent of the corn is silked, well ahead of last year and the average for this date when silking was just beginning. Corn in the northern half of the state has generally not begun silking, while 54 percent of the crop has reached that stage in the southeast district. Condition of the crop is reported as 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 57 percent good and 20 percent excellent, similar to a week ago but with wider extremes in the lower and upper condition ratings. The northwest district has some of the lowest rated corn with 17 percent poor or very poor but the same general area has considerable good or excellent corn where fields were not hurt by hail, wind or flooding in recent weeks.
Ninety percent of the expected soybean acreage is planted, similar to last year but 3 days ahead of average. Much of the remaining acreage to be planted will be double-crop soybeans following the Wheat harvest although single-crop planting is still going on in many northern counties. Planting ranges from 57 percent complete in the southwest district to 87 percent or more in all other districts, with the southeast the most advanced at 95 percent. Eighty- three percent of the beans are emerged. Condition of the crop is rated as 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 56 percent good and 11 percent excellent.
Ninety-four percent of the intended acreage of sorghum has been planted, slightly ahead of last year and the 92 percent average. Heading is still just beginning, similar to normal for this date. Sorghum condition is rated as 3 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 63 percent good and 7 percent excellent, nearly the same as the previous week. The rice crop is rated as 1 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 52 percent good and 30 percent excellent, a minor improvement from a week earlier. Forty-four percent of the cotton is squaring, 6 days ahead of last year but a day behind the 5-year average. Condition of the crop is rated as 1 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 63 percent good and 9 percent excellent, close to the ratings of a week earlier.
Thirty-eight percent of the winter Wheat is harvested, 4 days ahead of last year and 1 day ahead of average. Although progress is ahead of normal, some reporters are concerned that delays caused by wet weather could result in some loss of test weight and reduction in both quantity and quality due to diseases. However, average condition is still similar to a week ago, with 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 52 percent good and 7 percent excellent. Harvesting by area ranges from barely beginning in the northwest and north-central districts to 83 percent in the southeast district.
Pasture condition is reported as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 61 percent good and 17 percent excellent, about the same as the high ratings of a week earlier. Poor pastures are mostly confined to small areas of the southwest and south-central districts.
Date: 6/24/04
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