AUTUMN GETS COOL GREETING THIS WEEKEND

Autumn arrives Friday, and Old Man Winter may be close on its heels.

The National Weather Service is calling for unseasonably lower temperatures and possible early frost in parts of Missouri and Illinois.

Autumn officially arrives at 6:13 a.m. Friday as chilly Canadian air that hit northern areas of Missouri and Illinois Wednesday is pushing into the central and southern areas of the two states.

Chances of rain or drizzle are the outlook through Saturday, although slightly higher temperatures are forecast for later in the weekend.

Lows could dip into the low-30s, bringing frost to the region's northern areas and prompting some concerns among farmers.

Although Southeast Missouri and the Bootheel might escape the frost, the unseasonably cool weather could affect the large cotton crop.

Michael Milam, agronomy specialist in Dunklin County, said: "The main concern here is defoliation. The defoliation chemicals don't work well when the temperature is under 60 degrees."

Cotton is defoliated before harvest, which is not expected to get under way in earnest until next month.

"We have already seen some harvested cotton, but not much," said Milam.

The cotton problem could become worse if a heavy frost hits before the defoliation process. "Frost can actually kill the plant," added Milam. "Then, there will be problems in harvesting."

"Frost is not something we want at this time," said Terry Birk, director of the Farm Service Agency office in Jackson. The federal agency used to be called the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service.

"A killing frost will stop the maturing process in soybeans and corn," said Birk. "This could be devastating for late-planted crops."

Fortunately, said Birk, much of the corn in this area was planted in April, and already is being harvested. More than 90 percent of the corn crop has been harvested in Southeast Missouri. But some corn, and a lot of soybeans, were planted in June.

"These are the crops which will be affected by frost," said Birk."

Ripening of soybeans has been helped by the weather of past few days -- cooler and with some rain. The late beans are still growing. A frost will stop that growth.

That's the concern of many farmers from the central and northern areas, said Greg Herberk of the Missouri Agriculture Statistics Services based at Columbia.

"Corn is only three percent harvested in the northern area of the state," said Herberk. "And it's only 38 percent mature. A heavy frost would halt the maturing process."

Northern soybeans are also threatened by heavy frost. The statistical service reports that statewide only 22 percent of soybeans are turning color. "That's about 10 days later than the five-year average," said Herberk.

Meanwhile, the cooler weather shouldn't affect the apple crop, which is in full harvest.

"Actually, cold temperatures will enhance the color," said David Diebold of Diebold Orchards Inc. near Benton.

Watermelon producers could be affected by frost, but the majority of the watermelon crop has been harvested, Milam said.