News

Missouri soil moisture down, wheat rating up

Warm, dry conditions for most of the month had an impact on Missouri’s soil moisture levels.

The USDA says a generally warm, dry March for most of the state pulled top and subsoil moisture below a month ago and a year ago, with about 90% of Missouri experiencing some form of abnormally dry conditions.

Even then, winter wheat ratings improved, with 71% of the crop called good to excellent, 2% more than at the end of February and 18% above the end of March 2023.

The USDA’s weekly crop progress and condition reports resume next Monday.