Harvest underway: Mixed ratings on corn; soybeans, cotton, rice and sorghum are faring well statewide

With the prospect of weekend rains, Southeast Missouri farmers were busy in their fields. A harvester begins down another row of a corn field Thursday morning .

Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

SIKESTON — The corn harvest is underway across Missouri, and so far, there are mixed ratings on its condition.

Corn dented reached 91 percent which was 3 percentage points ahead of the prior week. Corn matured reached 49 percent, 24 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Corn harvested progressed to 2 percent this week. Corn condition was rated 20 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 24 percent good and 5 percent excellent.

For the week ending Sept. 2, temperatures last week averaged 77.7 degrees, 2.7 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 1.90 inches statewide, 1.04 inches above normal. There were 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA’s Missouri Crop Progress and Condition report

Topsoil moisture supply was rated 12 percent very short, 36 percent short, 51 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated 29 percent very short, 37 percent short and 34 percent adequate.

In other crop condition reports, soybeans, cotton, rice and sorghum are faring well statewide.

Soybeans setting pods progressed to 93 percent, 8 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans coloring reached 18 percent, 11 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves progressed to 2 percent this week. Soybean condition was rated 9 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 35 percent good and 8 percent excellent.

Cotton bolls opening reached 52 percent, 6 percentage points ahead of last week. Cotton condition was rated 10 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 13 percent excellent.

Rice harvested progressed to 1 percent this week. Rice condition was rated 11 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 22 percent excellent.

Sorghum headed progressed to 93 percent. Sorghum turning color progressed to 68 percent, while sorghum matured reached 14 percent and sorghum harvested reached 1 percent this week.

Sorghum condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 30 percent good, and 3 percent excellent.