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Missouri drought shifts harvest plans

Drought in some areas of Missouri is changing harvest plans for growers in its path.  Some corn will make no yield at all, according to agronomist Ryan Dunsbergen.

“There are a lot of people who are green baling their corn,” Dunsbergen told Brownfield Ag News Tuesday.  “Crop insurance adjusters have zeroed them out and they’re not planning on pulling anything off much for yield.”

It’s the result of a weather pattern that’s been all-too-common in Missouri this growing season.  “No rain and high heat,” said Dunsbergen.

There have just enough cool mornings with plenty of dew to have resulted in more cases of gray leaf spot, which, if untreated will weaken stalks, he said.

“In fields that have some decent yield potential, we’ve still got to get the crop in the bin,” said Dunsbergen, who is with Golden Harvest Hybrids.

“It’s turned kind of into a really tough year in a lot of areas.”

AUDIO: Ryan Dunsbergen (4 min. MP3)