Does anyone remember the drought of 2012? Or have the recent rains washed your memories away. Here’s a refresher. By August of 2012, 93% of the state was in extreme drought, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared all of Missouri a disaster area and the governor declared a state of emergency. Ag producers worried about their crops and livestock and water districts and municipalities worried about their water supplies.
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Is the drought finally over with all the rains we’ve been getting lately? No, not yet, according to Kirby Payne of the Missouri Farm Service Agency in Gallatin.
Rain amounts for the year from January to May came to 7.55 inches; 5.97 inches in June; 1.83 inches in July; 6.5 in August; 4.69 inches in September; and so far in October we have had 5.34 inches. The total is: 31.88 inches of rain and the area is still 3.13 inches short for the year.
Fall harvest was delayed by heavy rainfall late last week, according to the USDA Missouri Crop Progress and Condition. Farmers are getting back in the field this week; however, progress remains behind normal. Corn harvest was 58% and would be 75% complete by now, going by the five-year average. Soybean harvest was 25% complete, barely half of the five-year average of 46% complete.
“We’re looking at record corn and soybean yields in the United States,” said University of Missouri Extension ag economist David Reinbott. “While demand is starting to come back, it is just not coming back as fast as the increase in supply, so it is going to continue to put pressure on our prices.”
Reinbott expects December corn futures to be between $3.15 and $3.50.
With potential record yields still in fields, crop farmers fret with wet weather in October, especially in northern and mid-Missouri areas that also had a wet September.
“With this much rain, it takes a week to get into fields again after the last rain,” said Mr. Wiebold. “That’s on deep, well-drained soils. It takes longer on claypan soils with no internal drainage.”
Reinbott says farmers need to utilize their storage this fall. Most farmers he’s talked to have sold as much as they can and will store the rest. He recommends farmers stay in close contact with their grain elevators and keep track of basis bids.