According to the USDA's crops progress report, which was released on Monday, in Missouri, 83 percent of the corn acreage and 72 percent of soybeans are in very poor or poor condition. Both figures are the worst for any major agricultural state. Optimism for a good corn yield is dwindling, but Southeast Missouri State University’s Michael Aide says there is still hope for soybeans.
“There’s still time to make a reasonable crop pending very good weather from here on out. If, and this is a big if, if this rain we just received is the end of it, and we go back to a very dry period, then we there will be low yields in soybeans as well,” Aide said.
Aide says irrigation will help mitigate some problems, but adds the heat will still take a toll on soybean yields.