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An early spring for Missouri farmers

Missouri farmers made good planting progress in April.

In northern Missouri, Wes Shoemyer says it’s the fastest he’s ever planted a crop. He started planting corn and soybeans in early April and finished up April 26.

“I’ve never been done by May 1 and have had years I didn’t think of starting until mid-May,” he says. “I think we may need a rain to cover up some mistakes though. We’re hoping and praying for a rain before long.”

Shoemyer says there’s not much rain in the forecast, but he is not worried yet. He says emergence is good with no frost damage. It’s also been an early planting season for farmers in the Bootheel including Hudson Byrd.

“A lot of farmers in our area, if they’re in the field on April 14 they’re elated,” says Byrd. “This year, people were in the fields on April 5.”

He says there’s not much corn left to plant on his farm, but 30% of the soybean crop needs to be seeded. 

“We just had a little rain move through, but by Monday or Tuesday everyone should be back in the field. The 10 – 14 day window in May should get everyone wrapped up with planting in our area.”

Byrd says there’s no frost damage to the crop, but the cool weather has slowed corn and soybean emergence.

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