Hot, dry weather stressing Missouri crops

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Another week of hot, mostly dry, weather is beginning to stress the state's corn and soybean crops.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports crop conditions are worst in southwest Missouri where 84 percent of the corn crop is now listed in the 'very poor" category which signals heavy yield reduction or even crop failure. Soybeans in the southwestern portion of the state are also fairing poorly with 91 percent of the crop listed as "poor" with yield reductions expected.

Overall, the state's corn crop was rated as 28 percent very poor to poor, while 46 percent was rated "good" to "excellent". Likewise, 47 percent of the soybean crop statewide is listed as "good" to "excellent". Farmers' fields statewide are beginning to become seriously dry, with 69 percent of the top soil moisture in the state rated as "short" to "very short."