Dry weather creates ideal conditions for harvesting but not for planting

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Recent dry, sunny weather has made ideal harvest conditions for area farmers.

"I was really concerned up until a few weeks ago because of how late we planted and how delayed we were in the beginning of the planting season with all of our corps," said Sam Atwell, agronomy specialist and county program director for New Madrid County and the Southeast Region.

Only 0.63 inch of rainfall in Sikeston was recorded in September by the Sikeston Power Plant, which serves as an official observer for the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky. In Mississippi County, 1.26 inches of rain was recorded in September.

Atwell said the dry, warm weather is wonderful because it speeds the harvest, and the quality of crops is better.

For the most part, it's a good time of year to be that way, he said.

"When you have a really nice, uniformly dry fall, it cures a lot of ill you've had earlier, and that's what we're having," Atwell said.

Atwell said he isn't saying the crops are having a record year or exceptional yields, but working conditions for the harvest are about as good as anyone could ask.

"We're having good, normal yields," said Atwell, who has worked in the farming industry in Southeast Missouri for 45 years.

Another benefit to a dry harvest season is less wear and tear on vehicles, and crops can dry in the fields versus having to dry them in grain bins that use electricity and gas.

"It's a cost savings, and all those savings add up in the end, and every bit helps," Atwell said.

The conditions also can allow farmers to harvest nearly 100 percent of their crop, which is rarely the case, Atwell said. Normally, growers will lose 5 percent to 10 percent or more of their crop because of bad conditions, or they use extra fuel to pull vehicles through a muddy field.

"That's the beauty of a nice, dry year, where you can move the big equipment without any mud," Atwell said.

The cotton harvest is underway, Atwell said.

"A lot is harvested already -- compared to a couple of years ago, we were harvesting in November," Atwell said. "It's the earliest harvest on cotton that I've seen in years and to be as nice and dry as it's been."

The only downfall to the fall crispness is it might be too dry for farmers who want to plant wheat, Atwell said.

In its Oct. 5 Crop Progress and Condition Report, USDA said the Missouri corn harvest is 67 percent complete, compared to 42 percent this time last year. The state's soybean harvest, at 17 percent complete, outpaces last year's harvest by nine percentage points.

In a normal year, this would be good news for those planting wheat in harvested fields.

"Farmers have an old saying: 'Plant in the dust, and the bins will bust.' That's pushing it this year," said Greg Luce, adjunct professor in the University of Missouri Division of Plant Sciences.

Lack of precipitation throws a curve into wheat planting because seeds won't germinate without enough moisture. Small rains might wet the soil where the seed is planted, but not where roots grow. Newly sprouted seeds could die if they don't get enough rain, Luce said.

Wheat can be planted through late October in most of the state and into November in southern Missouri, he said. Producers should increase seeding rates 10 to 15 percent on late-planted wheat.

Soybean harvest season continues longer than normal this year because of a wide range of planting dates. Soybean harvested in mid- to late October will be from fields most affected by the lack of rain in late summer and fall.

The University of Missouri Extension contributed to this report.