Rainfall helped drought-damaged crops in Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Water-starved crops continued to improve last week as rain fell across much of the state, the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday.

Farmers averaged 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork.

Topsoil moisture ratings increased to 12 percent very short, 27 percent short, 53 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus.

The corn crop was rated 22 percent very poor, 22 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 26 percent good and 6 percent excellent. The crop is 88 percent dented and 53 percent mature. Though the maturation process is about five days ahead of last year, the progress of harvest is merely average because the rain has slowed drying of the crop.

Ninety-five percent of the soybean crop is setting pods, four days ahead of last year and six days ahead of average. But the rain has slowed drying of the bean plants. The overall condition generally improved with 13 percent of the crop rated very poor, 21 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 24 percent good and 6 percent excellent.

Seventy-two percent of the sorghum crop is turning color, three days ahead of last year and the average.

The crop is rated 13 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 20 percent good and 2 percent excellent.

Among other crops:

-- Fourteen percent of the cotton crop has set bolls, two days ahead of last year but four days behind average. The crop is rated 9 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 49 percent good and 6 percent excellent, virtually unchanged from a week ago.

-- The rice crop was rated 1 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 57 percent good and 25 percent excellent.

-- The third crop of alfalfa is 80 percent cut, a few days behind normal.

-- Pasture conditions showed a substantial improvement with 29 percent rated very poor, 32 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 12 percent good and 1 percent excellent.