News

MO crop update: corn needs rain as soybeans, cotton and rice hold strong

A farmer in northeast Missouri says it’s been dry during corn pollination.

“We have our fingers crossed for a rain,” says Jody Ketsenberg. “But the soybeans look as good as ever. They are set up for some really good yields, and August will determine that.”

In southeast Missouri, Aaron Porter says up to five inches of rain fell on the farm late last week, which flooded fields and relieved some irrigators.

“A lot of the problem with irrigation when we’ve been as dry as we were iswe can’t get the water through the field. The soil is real fluffy from not getting any packing rains and so, it was real hard to get in the water through. We’ve spent a lot of money on electricity and fuel trying to trying to push the water through.”

Porter says cotton looks as good as it has compared to recent years, the corn is variable and the soybeans are starting to catch up.

USDA says 19 percent of Missouri’s soybeans are setting pods, ahead of the average, with conditions rated 57 percent good to excellent. Sixteen percent of the state’s corn is in dough stage, also head of average, with conditions rated 68 percent good to excellent.

The USDA says four percent of Missouri’s cotton is setting bolls, with conditions rated 84 percent good to excellent. The rice crop is 16 percent headed, with conditions rated 86 percent good to excellent.

Hear Brownfield’s interview with Aaron Porter.

Hear Brownfield’s interview with Jody Ketsenberg.