This year’s corn crop is looking good, thanks to a cool, wet summer. Early summer rains delayed planting for many farmers.
Harvest should begin this week and next in some fields, according to Anthony Ohmes. He’s a regional agronomy specialist at the University of Missouri Extension office in Cape Girardeau County.
“We’ve definitely had much cooler days and evenings,” Ohmes said. “Pollination has done better than in a hot, dry environment like last year. So corn overall looks really good.”
He said the wet conditions bring increased risk for ear rot, but right now there’s not a high level of concern.
Ohmes said soybeans are also behind schedule, but that shouldn’t be a concern in places like southeastern Missouri where frost doesn’t become a concern until later in the year.