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Rains help pastures, crops
Missouri Significant rainfall arrived during the week ending Aug. 26, helping soybeans, sorghum, pastures, third-cutting hay, and late-planted corn, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Missouri Field Office, Aug. 27. Rainfall was locally heavy. Flash flooding occurred in parts of Greene and Polk Counties, where 12 to 15 inches of rain fell, causing damage to buildings and crops. By contrast, the southeastern quarter of the state was left mostly dry. An area encompassing the southeast district, southern counties in the east-central district, and the eastern half of the south-central district is suffering from moderate to extreme drought. Dryland crops are under severe stress, while pastures are in very poor condition with little to no grass growth. Topsoil moisture at the state level is rated 27 percent very short, 35 percent short, 35 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus, a substantial improvement from last week. There were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork. The corn crop is 78 percent dented, 8 days behind last year and 3 days behind normal. Thirty percent is mature, 8 days behind last year and 4 days behind the five-year average of 39 percent. Harvest has started in every district. The southeast district is 26 percent complete, while producers in northern areas are just starting to combine the earliest-planted fields, seed corn fields, and fields lodged from wind. Silage harvest is virtually complete, as most corn is too dry for forage. Overall the state is 5 percent harvested, 4 days behind last year but slightly ahead of normal. The condition rating is 7 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Eighty-nine percent of the soybean crop is setting pods, 2 days behind last year but marginally ahead of average. Ten percent is turning color, the same as normal. Four percent is dropping leaves compared with both last year and normal at 2 percent. Soybean condition is rated 8 percent very poor, 18 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 30 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. Sorghum heading is at 90 percent with 44 percent turning color, both about 2 weeks behind last year and several days behind average. Nine percent has reached maturity, 6 days behind last year and slightly behind normal. Harvest has begun in south-central and southeastern counties. Sorghum condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 43 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Rice heading is virtually complete with 2 percent harvested, while condition rates 2 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 23 percent excellent. The cotton crop has completed setting bolls with 40 percent opening, about 11 days ahead of last year and 2 weeks ahead of average. Additional moth flights are bringing increased populations of bollworms and budworms to Dunklin County. Cotton condition is rated 10 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 29 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. The third cutting of alfalfa is 81 percent complete, 13 days behind last year but even with the five-year average. Pasture condition is rated 23 percent very poor, 30 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 12 percent good, and 1 percent excellent, a slight improvement from last week. Supplemental feeding is widespread in the southeastern district as well as portions of the east-central and south-central districts. The driest areas are seeing ponds and small creeks dry up, sapping stock water supplies. One report in the south-central district indicated some producers are selling more cattle than usual in response to drought conditions. Date: 8/30/07
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