HARVEST OF CORN ADVANCES

JACKSON -- Corn and soybean yields in Southeast Missouri may be down this fall.

"The corn harvest is winding down in many areas," said Gerald Bryan, an agronomy specialist with the University of Missouri Extension Service. "What we're seeing is a wide variation in the corn harvest, ranging from 50 to 200 bushels an acre. Overall, the corn crop may be down by as much as 30 percent."

"Soybeans could be better," he said. "The bean crop has improved substantially since we had some early September rains. We're not seeing a lot of disease in the crop, and we may recoup with a decent harvest."

Bryan cited two weather conditions for decreased yields of corn. "Most of the corn was planted later than normal due to rainy weather and wet ground," he said. "Then we were hit with some hot weather and drought conditions during the critical, developmental stages in July and early August."

He said the corn harvest is 50 to 80 percent complete.

"It depends on where you are," he said. "Some farmers south of Jackson are finished with the corn harvest, and overall, the harvest in those areas are from 80 to 90 percent complete. In the hill areas and bottoms north of Jackson, harvesting is probably no more than 50 percent complete," said Bryan.

Corn from non-irrigated fields has produced from 50 to 80 bushels an acre. "These same fields have produced well over 100 bushels an acre in other years," said Bryan.

He cited one example of a "variety plot."

"We recently checked one of the variety plots in the bottoms," he said. "This year the plot produced between 105 and 110 bushels per acre. The same field a year ago produced more than 135 bushels per acre."

Meanwhile, irrigated corn is good as ever, said Bryan.

"Some farmers south of here have been seeing yields from 150 to 200 bushels an acre," he said. "That's as good as you can expect."

Nationally, the corn crop is expected to be down. In its September crop report, the U.S. Agriculture Department predicted corn yields to be about 8 percent down from that of a year ago.

Statewide, the corn harvest is about two weeks ahead of last year, with 50 percent of the crop rated only fair and only 20 percent rated good.

"In a few areas around St. Joseph, farmers are looking at 25 bushels an acre," said Bryan.

Some area corn fields didn't make it. A lot of hill corn was cut to grind into silage for cattle feed.

About 31,000 acres of corn were planted this year in Cape Girardeau County.

The story is about the same statewide for soybeans: 50 percent fair, 25 percent good, and 10 percent poor.

Soybean harvest is just around the corner in the southeast area, said Bryan. "Some of the early soybeans are just about ready," he said. "The beans are starting to turn throughout the area, but some crops are turning prematurely."

He credited the early maturity to hot weather.

"Development is ahead of last year's crop," he said. "And soybeans in most districts have shown some improvements following rains in the area in early September. We're not seeing a lot of disease in the beans this year. There is some stem canker and sudden death syndrome, but overall, things are looking pretty good."

Bryan said he is concerned, however, that some of the beans may have been hurt by the more recent hot weather that forced the early maturity. "This could result in lower yields, and smaller beans," he said.

Some milo is being harvested, said Bryan.

"The milo crop is looking pretty decent in our area," he said. "The heads are full, and we'll probably do okay with the crop."

"We don't have any cotton in the immediate area," said Bryan. "But I've been in contact with some agents in the Bootheel areas, and the reports are pretty good."

He said some farmers were forecasting yields of about two-thirds of a bale per acre while others are looking at expectations of a bale to a bale and a half per acre.

"Agents say that more than 30 percent of the crop is rated at good or better, with only 10 percent poor." said Bryan.

Farmers made good progress with corn and milo harvesting during the past week. The Missouri Agricultural Statistics Office in Columbia reported Monday that an average of 5.9 days were suitable for fieldwork.