MISSOURI: Montgomery Archives

Missouri News Horizon

Missouri farmers are way ahead of schedule.  The state ag statistics office reports that corn farmers already have 50 percent of their crop in the ground, more than two weeks ahead of schedule. That’s a good thing according to state statistician Bob Garino, who said, “Well, you know, everyone’s got their stuff planted.  They won’t have to worry about delays that could possibly be caused by rain, if we got some rains say around this time or a little later.”

Garino says about the same amount of corn is planted this year as last year.  He says if the weather stays consistent, the state could be looking at a record corn harvest.

But it’s been cold overnight recently.  Garino said there hasn’t been any reports of frost damage on the early crops. But Garino says some farmers are waiting for warmer weather.

“Even with the warm weather, I know some folks weren’t lured into planting earlier in Missouri.  I was talking to a couple people and they said we’re just going to wait anyway even though they got all their fieldwork done, but they wanted to wait just in case because you never know.” 

Garino said earlier planting means a longer growing season, and a longer growing season can mean good crop yields if the weather’s right.