News

Missouri’s 2015 planting challenges

Corn and soybean planting are on pace nationally but in Missouri, not so much. Lots of rain has made planting a challenge.  Gary Marshall, Missouri Corn Growers Association CEO, tells Brownfield Ag News it’s affecting farmers across the state. Marshall says, “A lot of what’s already been planted along rivers and streams we’re suffering from a little bit of flooding, not too much, but much more of a problem is seep water. That causes standing water in corn which is never good. So, we’re seeing that happening across the state.”

But, Marshall says Missouri farmers have been down this road before, “We know how to deal with this. We’ve had this problem many times over the last several years. The farmers are really, really good about knowing what to do and I’m sure they’re going to try to sock some more corn in the ground and they still need to get their beans planted, too.”

Gary Wheeler, CEO of the Missouri Soybean Association says it’s just very wet in northern Missouri, especially the northwest, and in Central Missouri. Wheeler tells Brownfield, “Southeast Missouri, looking fairly good. We have some water standing in certain areas but southwest and southeast Missouri, I think’s, pretty good. But, you know, it’s definitely an odd May and June.”

Wheeler says there are some reports of stem rot in soybeans.

“Talking to a lot of my board members,” says Wheeler, “They’re just spot planting right now just to get some (soybeans) in the ground because they’re so antsy. You know, if this continues and moves on into June 15, June 20, then it could mean something hurtful to the marketplace.”

As of Sunday, corn planting in Missouri was just 87% complete and soybean planting was just 23% finished.