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Dry wx helps Missouri planting but risks are strong

Dry weather has helped Missouri farmers get their crops planted but extension experts say the lack of soil moisture could become a real problem.

Adam Casner, who farms in Carrollton, in west-central Missouri, tells Brownfield all his corn is planted and he’s got three-fourths of his soybeans in the ground, “Everything’s, honestly, ahead of schedule. It’s still pretty early and there’s quite a few guys around here done planting beans or at least pretty close to done. The dry weather has allowed everybody to get things planted pretty timely.” Casner says he has caught some timely rains but hopes for more.

University of Missouri extension specialists say there’s a threat of rootless corn, low soybean emergence and uneven stands and there’s little hay for cattle farmers because of inadequate soil moisture in much of the state. Calls to MU extension are mostly about drought concerns.

Warm weather and high winds have increased evaporation from the surface and subsoil moisture levels are down. MU climatologist Pat Guinan says “crop water must come from the sky (this year), not from deep roots.”

AUDIO: Interview with Adam Casner, Tuesday, May 15th~