Harvest nears completion in county

Over the past week an average of 3.9 days were suitable for fieldwork in the northwest district, according to Crop & Weather Information provided by the USDA. The agricultural summary is a weekly report as of November 21.

In the northwest district 93 percent of the corn and 95 percent of the soybean has been harvested. Ninety-seven percent of the originally intended winter wheat acreage is planted.

Northwest district farmers are making every effort to get the remainder of the crops harvested. Showers and damp, cloudy weather have continued to limit progress. Combines have left ruts in many fields where soils have been slow to dry out.

The topsoil moisture supply ratings averaged 18 percent very short, 8 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus in the northwest district. The northwest district remains the driest area, with ratings of short or very short totaling 26 percent. The wettest areas are in the northeast and west-central districts, both with surplus ratings of 53 percent.

Forty-five percent of the ground intended for spring crops has been worked at least once, similar to the 5-year average.

According the USDA Field Crops Report, the corn harvest advanced slightly to 93 percent complete in the northwest district and 94 percent statewide, nearly three weeks behind both last year and the 5-year averages when harvesting was virtually complete. Harvesting is least advanced in the central and northeast districts with 91 and 89 percent respectively. The north-central district is also at 93 percent. Other districts vary from 98 to 100 percent complete.

The northwest district continues as most advanced with 95 percent of the soybeans harvested. Eighty-six percent of the soybeans are harvested statewide, 13 days behind last year and over two weeks behind the 5-year average of 97 percent. Progress by area is least advanced in the west-central district, at 70 percent harvested, followed by the southwest district at 77 percent.

Sorghum harvesting is 95 percent complete in the northwest district. Progress by area varies from less than 70 percent harvested in the northeast and central districts to 100 percent complete in the southeast.

Ninety-seven percent of the originally intended winter wheat acreage is planted in the northwest district. Statewide, seventh-three percent is planted, about 3 weeks behind both last year and average when about 95 percent was in the ground. Plantings range from 50 percent complete in the west-central district to about 88 percent complete in the north-central and southeast district. Several reporters in the wettest areas do not expect any significant additional acreage of wheat to be planted.

About 70 percent of the intended crop has emerged in the northwest district and 66 percent statewide, also sharply behind last year and the 5-year average when about 86 percent had emerged statewide.

Condition of wheat in the northwest district is rated as 1 percent poor, 55 percent fair, 41 percent good and 3 percent excellent.

Hay supplies are rated as 2 percent short, 89 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus in the northwest district. Stock water supplies average 5 percent short, 92 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.

Northwest pasture condition is reported as 5 percent poor, 42 percent fair, 47 percent good and 6 percent excellent

Accumulated rainfall in Daviess County was 0.08 for the past week, between Nov. 15 and Nov. 21, and 2.66 for the past month, between Oct. 25 to Nov. 21.

Missouri temperatures during the past week averaged at least 7 degrees above normal in most areas of the state.