Missouri crops need more rain

Scattered rain showers haven't improved soil moisture levels in drier parts of the state, the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service said Monday.

Deteriorating pasture conditions and declining soil moisture supplies are a concern, the service said.

Topsoil moisture conditions are rated 10 percent very short, 39 percent short, 50 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus, a decline of 11 points in the adequate and surplus categories.

In Cape Girardeau County, rainfall for the year is nearly 9 inches below normal, said Terry Birk, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's farm service agency in the county. Cape Girardeau County receives 28.9 inches of precipitation on average through the first seven months of the year. The county has received 20.22 inches so far this year, Birk said.

"We could use a good rain," he said.

That's particularly the case for the soybean crop, Birk said. "A lot of soybeans are blooming and setting pods right now," he said.

How much rain falls on those fields in the coming weeks will affect the soybean yield, Birk said.

"This time of year we could use 2 inches a week, and we are not getting anywhere near that," he said.

Rain has been scattered across Southeast Missouri, with some areas getting precipitation while other areas remain dry, Birk said.

Farmer John Lorberg said his soybean fields at Whitewater recently received 2 inches of rain while fields he owns in the Gordonville area didn't receive a drop.

But Lorberg said both his corn and soybean crops on his Gordonville farm have benefited from an underground irrigation system he installed.

"I have some fantastic-looking corn," he said.

Most area farmers, however, rely on Mother Nature for timely rain, he said.

The statistics service said reports from northern Missouri indicate short hay production and poor pasture conditions are forcing cattle producers into supplemental feeding. If conditions don't get better, the agency said, some producers may have to consider selling some herds.

However, the state's crops are still doing OK.

The corn crop statewide is 87 percent silked and 34 percent is in dough stage, both nearly even with normal. The crop condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 45 percent good and 17 percent excellent.

Fifty-one percent of the soybean crop has bloomed, the same as the five-year average. The crop's condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 48 percent good and 8 percent excellent.

Forty percent of sorghum is headed, about two days behind last year but slightly ahead of normal. Sorghum is rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 51 percent good and 6 percent excellent.

Rice heading is at 24 percent, three days ahead of normal. The crop is rated 2 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 60 percent good and 24 percent excellent.

About 95 percent of cotton has squared, in line with the average, and 61 percent is setting bolls, slightly ahead of normal. Cotton condition is rated 4 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 51 percent good and 5 percent excellent.

The wheat harvest is almost done, with just a few fields remaining.

Second-cutting alfalfa is 88 percent harvested, and the third cutting is 15 percent done. Ninety-three percent of other hay has been cut.

Pasture condition is rated 5 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 31 percent good and 8 percent excellent.

Southeast Missourian staff writer Mark Bliss contributed to this report.