News

A dry stretch affects planting in areas of MO

Dry conditions from southwest to northeastern Missouri are challenging some farmers as they try to finish spring planting.

In northeastern Missouri, farmer Brian Munzlinger tells Brownfield he’s having to re-evaluate planting depth for soybeans.

“I tried to get the screwdriver in the ground far enough to get moisture. That’s I gauge how deep to plant a crop. We’re just laying soybeans in about one inch and hoping there will be enough rain to bring them up.”

In central Missouri, farmer and Beck’s Hybrids Seed Advisor Clarissa Cauthorn says it is a similar situation. She says farmers who are still planting may want to slow down until more rain comes.

“We may have some stand assessments to take in the next week and a half. Some stuff is going to find moisture and some stuff isn’t,” she says. “We may be looking at a replant due to dryness instead of wet and cold for the last five to six years.”

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows Missouri with abnormally dry to severe drought in the last week.