Cool, wet weather hampers area crops

A cool, wet spring is hampering the planting and growth of Southeast Missouri row crops and causing price rallies in the grain market.

"Right now, there is speculation that we may come up short on a crop because of the weather," said Anthony Ohmes, a regional agronomist for the University of Missouri Extension in the southeast region.

Recent crop supply and demand reports citing increases in per-bushel prices are based on factors such as the condition of corn, which is lacking in growth development so far this season in much of the Midwest, and behind-schedule planting of soybeans.

On Tuesday, the extension's Agricultural Electronic Bulletin Board, an online network that pulls agricultural statistics from several sources, showed prices for corn up 7 cents per bushel from Monday. Soybeans increased by 15 cents per bushel, and wheat rose 18 cents per bushel from Monday to Tuesday.

Many farmers are watching the market closely after last year's bumper crop of corn and soybeans pushed prices down by about half from 2013 levels.

Ohmes said farmers want plentiful yields, but not too plentiful to cause market extremes. Any control of yields this year may depend on weather the next few weeks.

"After mid-June, possible yields for soybeans will start going down," Ohmes said. "The plants need a full growing season."

In Southeast Missouri, quite a few fields remain unplanted with soybeans because of wet ground and in some cases, standing water.

That also is the case statewide. Soybean planting in Missouri was only 23 percent complete through May 31, according to the most recent United States Department of Agriculture's crop progress report issued Monday.

At the same time last year, 74 percent of the state's soybean crop was planted. Corn planting also is behind last year's pace, at 87 percent complete. Rice planting reached 87 percent complete, according to the report, but like corn, is behind in growth development because of cool temperatures and excess rain. Statewide rainfall totals in May averaged 1.44 inches above normal, according to the USDA report.

Farmers in several Southeast Missouri counties also are keeping an eye on the condition of grain sorghum, or milo, planted this year. Early-season agricultural reports indicated farmers in states such as Missouri and Arkansas greatly would increase their planting of milo as demand from China pushed per-bushel prices to a premium and corn prices had yet to see a recovery.

Ohmes said planted acres of milo in counties such as Mississippi, New Madrid, Scott and Stoddard are up significantly compared to years past. But milo plants, like corn, can become stressed when wet, heavy soil blocks oxygen from reaching roots.

The region may get a break from rain the rest of this week, as clouds are expected to clear today, leading to sunny skies Thursday and temperatures reaching the mid-80s. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast Friday through Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

eragan@semissourian.com

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