News

Rain delays planting in parts of Missouri

The weather and planting progress have changed this week.  Missouri was blanketed last week by cooler weather along with frost and freeze warnings, limiting fieldwork to fertilizer applications.  But toward the Bootheel, Stoddard County farmer Charlie Kruse says some of his neighbors have planted corn, and he’s catching up.

“We started this [Monday] morning then got a shower and got rained out for a while and we started back planting again just a little while ago,” said Kruse, from the seat of the tractor while doing field work.  “The first day.  It feels pretty good to get out in the field after this winter.”

Last week, the northwestern and southern parts of the state got most of the rain.  Statewide, Missouri’s topsoil moisture is 90 percent short to adequate, but Kruse would just as soon make more progress on getting his corn in.

“Well, you know farmers are never happy, that’s what my dad always told me, and right now we wouldn’t mind seeing the rain hold off for a few days,” said Kruse, “but I’m sure by the end of the week we’ll be maybe hoping we get a shower.”

Looking at the entire state, Missouri’s corn planting is 26 percent done.  Just 9 percent of the rice is in.  Winter wheat is 84 percent fair to good.  It’s 6 percent excellent.

AUDIO: Charlie Kruse (3 min. MP3)