Some progress although rain slows planting

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Heavy rains last week over all but southern Missouri slowed soybean and sorghum planting, but farmers' progress remained better than average for most crops, the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service said Tuesday.

An average of 2.7 days were suitable for fieldwork, from a low of 1.1 days in east-central Missouri to more than five days across the southern third.

Some fields of corn or soybeans that sustained hail or flood damage will likely be replanted with soybeans, the service said.

The corn crop was 96 percent emerged, two weeks ahead of last year.

Condition was rated as 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 62 percent good and 13 percent excellent.

Sixty-two percent of the soybean crop is in the ground, about one day ahead of last year and ahead of the five-year average of 57 percent. Bean planting is furthest along in the northwest district, where it is 83 percent complete.

Sorghum planting is 68 percent complete, four days ahead of last year and the five-year average. Rice planting is done and the crop is 98 percent emerged, two weeks ahead of normal.

Cotton is 99 percent planted, a week ahead of last year's pace and slightly ahead of the average.

Almost all the state's pasture land is rated between fair and excellent, with only 6 percent rated at either very poor or poor.