Weather taking toll on state crops

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Heat and dry weather are taking a toll on row crops and pastures, with most of the state receiving little or no rain over the last week, the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service reported this week.

Temperatures across most of the state averaged slightly lower than normal over the last week. Rainfall for the week averaged 0.43 inches over the state, with virtually no measurable rainfall over the northwest and north-central districts.

Eighty-one percent of the corn has silked, about one day behind last year but two days ahead of average. Its condition was rated 72 percent fair to excellent, a decline from last week.

Forty percent of the soybean crop has bloomed, one day ahead of last year but three days behind normal. The crop was rated 74 percent fair to excellent, also a decline from last week.

Cotton was rated 6 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 40 percent good and 2 percent excellent. Eighty-nine percent of the cotton is squaring, eight days behind normal.

Rice condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 41 percent good and 27 percent excellent. Eighty-nine percent of the second alfalfa crop and 22 percent of the third crop has been cut, a few days ahead of average.