FARMERS AHEAD OF LAST YEAR IN FIELD WORK

JACKSON -- Farmers are ahead of last year in the amount of fieldwork already completed this spring statewide, but unless the rain stops, area farmers are going to be a little late in the very near future.

"Compared to last year, farmers here are ahead," said Terry Birk this week. "But, right now, we're in a wet period, and not much is being accomplished."

Birk, of the Cape County ASCS office, said some corn has been planted, but not much.

"Farmers here like to see their corn in the ground by mid-April," said Birk. "And, we have only about five percent of our crop planted. That translate into about 1,500 acres."

Statewide about 21 percent of corn has been planted.

Birk added that the weather forecast is calling for more rain later this week.

"We're not at the critical stage for corn yet," said Birk. "But, we'll be a little late."

Farmers still have plenty of time for milo and corn.

"Milo should be planted about the first of May," said Birk. "And, soybeans are planted after milo."

Meanwhile, the remainder of the state is well ahead of a year ago says the Missouri Agriculture Statistics Office.

Seventy-four percent of the ground intended for spring crops has been worked at least once by the end of last week - more than three weeks ahead of last year and 13 days ahead of normal, the office said Monday.

The topsoil moisture supply was 38 percent short, 50 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated as 32 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Those readings were taken before much of the state received rain during the weekend.

Twenty-one percent of the intended corn acreage is planted, two weeks ahead of a year ago and six days ahead of the five-year average. The southwestern district was 42 percent planted and the northwestern district is only nine percent planted. Eighty-six percent of the oats have been sown, 11 days ahead of a year ago and six days ahead of the five-year average.

Wheat condition was five percent poor, 45 percent fair, 48 percent good and 2 percent excellent.