News

A mixed MO crop, thanks to the recent rains

A farmer in mid-Missouri says the corn looks phenomenal in mid-to-late July, but the soybeans are struggling.

Jay Schutte, who farms in Audrain County, tells Brownfield there’s been too much rain.

“We have weak stands in our soybeans and we’re getting to the part of the year where we’re cleaning out planters and we won’t try to replant in the soft areas. What it is is what it is and we’ll just have to make due.”

Schutte says the corn might be the best crop they’ve ever had.

“The corn is just a super dark green color. We’re going into the reproductive phase now, some of it is in the blister stage and other corn fields are in the milk stage.”

But he says there’s a lot of growing season left and an active weather pattern can always change the outlook.

USDA’s latest crop progress and conditions report says 87% of Missouri’s corn is silking, ahead of average for this time of year, with 51% of the crop in dough stage. Corn conditions are rated 78% good to excellent.

The report says 26% of the state’s soybeans are setting pods, well ahead of average and 79% of the crop is rated good to excellent.

Cotton squaring is at 83% with 18% of the crop setting bolls, behind average. Cotton conditions are rated 61% good. In Missouri, 23% of the rice is headed with the crop rated 74% good to excellent.

Winter wheat harvest has mostly wrapped up in Missouri.