News

Missouri crop report with grower weighing in

Missouri got nearly two-inches of rain last week and there was also flooding that got in the way of field work. Soybean planting in Missouri progressed by 11 percentage points this past week but is still about 20 points behind average at 73-percent complete. Jay Schutte, who farms in north-central Missouri near Mexico got his first beans planted July 4th and 5th – three-hundred acres with about 12-hundred acres to go, “But,” he tells Brownfield Ag News, “We’ve got a very strong chance of rain tonight. I’ve seen anywhere from 70% to 90% and I’ve heard anywhere from two to four inches. So, this might be the end of planting season for 2015.” Schutte adds, “We’re just of the opinion that if we get hit with another rain, we’re going to be well beyond that July 15th (reporting cut-off) and we may as well just wrap it up.”

Statewide, 60% of beans had emerged, 33% behind the average. Schutte tells Brownfield his corn looks “terrible” and height varies, “We were lucky enough in our area to get a good stand but I’ve heard of some people talking about corn that’s not much more than waist high and it’s starting to tassle. Right now in the area I know of at least three spray planes that are in the area putting urea on the fields because so much nitrogen was lost because of all the rain.”

Statewide, corn planting reached 97%, close to the average of 100%. Emergence is just four-percentage points behind average.

AUDIO:  Interview with Jay Schutte (3:00 mp3):