News

Missouri corn planting window still open

It was rainy and wet last week in Missouri and corn planting is behind. But state extension specialist Bill Wiebold says his five-year research on planting dates shows yield begins to drop when corn is planted in that first week of May and beyond, “Now, I’m talking about central Missouri, central and north Missouri. The southern part of the state would see a little bit bigger decline earlier than that first of May.”

As of Sunday, according to the USDA, just 8% of Missouri corn was planted. Last year, nearly one-fourth of the crop was in the ground and the five-year average is 30%.

Wiebold says there’s still time to plant corn which shouldn’t be rushed when the ground is wet, “The weather pattern doesn’t seem to break yet but what I’ve learned here in Missouri is it can change on a dime. So, yeah, I don’t think we have to be too concerned yet.”

Spring tillage in Missouri is 25-percent complete, behind the average of 44-percent. Winter wheat conditions are mostly fair to good at this point.

AUDIO:  Interview with Bill Wiebold (5:00 mp3):