Warm, dry weather helps Missouri harvest

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Warm, dry weather helped the harvest across Missouri, offsetting interruptions from last week's rain, the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday.

Farmers averaged 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork, the service said. Topsoil moisture ratings were 10 percent very short, 26 percent short, 59 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.

About 96 percent of the corn crop was mature, four days ahead of last year and the 5-year average of 93 percent. Harvesting progress meanwhile varied from less than 25 percent complete in the northwest to more than 70 percent in the south.

Soybean condition was rated as 11 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 27 percent good and 6 percent excellent, a slight improvement over last week.

Ninety-six percent of the sorghum crop was turning color and 81 percent was mature, four days ahead of normal. The crop was rated 11 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 44 percent fair, 22 percent good and 3 percent excellent. Growers harvested 41 percent of the crop, a few days ahead of last year.

Among other crops:

-- Eight-seven percent of the cotton crop had bolls that were opening, five days ahead of average. The crop was rated 4 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 54 percent good and 5 percent excellent, up slightly from last week.

-- The rice crop was rated 1 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 26 percent excellent, similar to a week ago.

-- Pasture conditions were rated 18 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 18 percent good and 1 percent excellent, similar to a week ago.