Dry weather helps progress of planting

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Farmers have almost completed planting of some spring crops thanks to dry weather most of the week, the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday. Farmers had an average of 5.8 days suitable for field work last week, the service said. Ninety-seven percent of the ground intended for spring crops has been worked at least once, several days ahead of the five-year average. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent surplus, 62 percent adequate, 28 percent short and 6 percent very short.

The service said 98 percent of corn acreage has been planted and 88 percent has emerged. Corn condition is rated 5 percent excellent, 50 percent good, 40 percent fair and 5 percent poor.

Sorghum planting is 67 percent finished, five days ahead of last year and a week ahead of the five-year average, the service said. Soybean planting is 65 percent complete with emergence at 33 percent complete.

The wheat crop is rated 7 percent excellent, 46 percent good, 37 percent fair, 9 percent poor and 1 percent very poor, about the same as last week, the report said.

Also, rice planting is 99 percent complete, about the same as last year and 10 days ahead of the average.

Pasture condition was reported 4 percent excellent, 43 percent good, 38 percent fair, 12 percent poor and 3 percent very poor.