Rains slow row crop harvest

Missouri

Rainfall during the week ending Oct. 22 allowed only 3.5 days suitable for fieldwork and hampered row crop harvesting, although the moisture proved beneficial to winter Wheat stands, according to the Missouri Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Oct. 23.

Topsoil moisture supply showed improvement in all districts, rated statewide at 23 percent very short, 24 percent short, 48 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Despite the improvement, the west-central, central, east-central, and southwest districts remain mostly short to very short in topsoil moisture, with the west-central and southwest about 90 percent short to very short. Subsoil moisture and hay supplies are concerns across much of the state heading into winter.

The corn harvest is 89 percent complete, showing progress of only 1 point over last week, although it is still 2 days ahead of last year and nearly 1 week ahead of normal. The northwest district is 68 percent harvested, the north-central 87, and the northeast 92, with all other districts almost completely finished.

The soybean crop is 93 percent mature with 64 percent harvested, slightly behind last year but 4 days ahead of the usual harvest pace of 57 percent complete. Harvest is most advanced at 72 to 73 percent done in the central, northeast, and east-central districts, while the three southern districts are all lagging last year's progress.

Seventy-seven percent of the sorghum crop has been harvested, 3 days behind last year but 3 days ahead of normal.

Ninety-three percent of the rice crop has been harvested, 4 days behind last year but 5 days ahead of normal. Cotton harvest, at 49 percent complete, is 10 days behind last year and 6 days behind the five-year average. Condition of the crop is reported as 1 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 63 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Winter Wheat seeding is 61 percent complete, 2 days behind last year but 3 days ahead of average. Wheat emergence of 31 percent is slightly behind last year and the five-year average. Condition of the crop is rated 6 percent poor, 47 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.

Pasture condition rates 36 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 15 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Rainfall during the week helped improve general pasture condition, but was too late in most areas to help cool season grass growth. Many cattle producers in central and southern areas are requesting drought assistance while being forced to trim herd numbers due to lack of stock water and hay supplies.

Date: 10/26/06

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