Most districts need rain, except southeast

Missouri

Row crop harvesting and winter Wheat planting are nearly complete with the exception of the southeast district during the week ending Nov. 19, according to the Missouri Field Office, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nov. 20.

The Bootheel saw substantial rainfall on already saturated soils, keeping soybean and cotton harvest well behind normal. Statewide, topsoil moisture supply is rated 14 percent very short, 30 percent short, 47 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. There is a stark contrast in the moisture situation among districts. The west-central, central, and southwest districts remain quite dry and in dire need of rain to fill dry ponds; the southeast has surplus moisture and needs dry weather to resume field work. There were 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork, with an extreme of only 1.5 days in the Bootheel.

Corn harvest is 98 percent complete, on pace with last year and the five-year average. Only a few scattered fields have yet to be picked in northern districts.

Soybean harvest is 92 percent done, 10 days behind last year and slightly behind normal. All districts are 95 percent complete or higher except the soggy south-central and southeast districts at 56 and 77 percent.

The cotton harvest moved only 1 point over last week to 72 percent complete, 1 month behind last year and 19 days behind the five-year average of 92 percent. Ninety-eight percent of the sorghum crop is harvested, slightly behind last year but 6 days ahead of average.

Winter Wheat seeding is 91 percent complete, 2 weeks behind last year but 2 days ahead of average. Much of the Wheat yet to be planted is in the southeast district, where 81 percent is seeded, while all other areas are 92 percent done or better. Wheat emergence of 79 percent is 8 days behind last year but similar to the 80 percent normal. Condition of the crop is rated 8 percent poor, 45 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 3 percent excellent.

Pasture condition is reported at 31 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 18 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, a slight improvement from the previous week but still mostly poor or very poor in the northeast, west-central, central and southwest districts. Low stock water supplies, limited hay availability, and high hay prices are stressing cattle producers in those areas heading into winter.

Date: 11/22/06

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