Much of state's farmland still hurting for rain

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Rainfall last week helped crops in some parts of Missouri, the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday, but dry soil conditions persisted across much of the state. Farmers averaged 6.6 days suitable for field work last week, up from a week before. Topsoil moisture averages dropped to 20 percent adequate, 40 percent short and 40 percent very short. Corn condition declined slightly to 7 percent excellent, 37 percent good, 36 percent fair, 13 percent poor and 7 percent very poor. Thirty-three percent of the soybean crop is blooming, two days ahead of last year. Conditions declined slightly from last week with 6 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 36 percent good and 3 percent excellent.

Sorghum condition was rated 3 percent excellent, 34 percent good, 45 percent fair, 14 percent poor and 4 percent very poor, also down slightly from last week.

Among other crops:

-- Cotton squaring was at 82 percent, on pace with last year but behind the five-year average. Cotton was rated 8 percent excellent, 42 percent good, 29 percent fair, 16 percent poor and 5 percent very poor, similar to the previous week.

-- Ninety-nine percent of winter wheat is harvested.

-- Condition of the rice crop was rated 23 percent excellent, 55 percent good, 18 percent fair, 3 percent poor and 1 percent very poor, about the same as the week before.

-- The second crop of alfalfa hay was 85 percent cut, the third crop was 9 percent cut and 93 percent of other hay was cut, several days ahead of the average for all.

-- Pasture condition was rated 1 percent excellent, 13 percent good, 31 percent fair, 33 percent poor and 22 percent very poor, down from a week ago.