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Missouri crops impacted as drought intensifies across the state

Extended periods of high temperatures and a lack of rainfall are impacting crop and field conditions around the state. Tony Hancock with the Missouri Department of Agriculture tells Brownfield it doesn’t take long to see a change.  “The last two weeks have definitely brought drought for sure down in southern Missouri,” he says.  “It’s intensified a lot, and it’s spread over the whole state.”

According to the latest crop report from the USDA, 35 percent of pasture conditions are rated good, and only 1 percent are rated excellent. 

He says it’s especially dry in parts of the state where soils are thin. “There is very little green to be seen,” he says. “Several guys are starting to feed some hay now. Luckil,y we do have a lot of hay around.”

The USDA has 66 percent of Missouri’s corn crop rated mature, with 17 percent of the crop harvested.  Thirty-three percent of soybeans are dropping leaves, and harvest is 4 percent complete.

The cotton crop has 55 percent is opening bolls. Rice harvest is 45 percent complete, well ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Winter wheat planting is 2 percent complete.