Experts: Timely rains have helped local crops

Early August rains, after a dry July, came just in time to fill corn ears and set soybean pods, according to a University of Missouri agronomist.

"Timing of these rains could not be better," Bill Wiebold with MU Extension plant science said in a news release. "These rains set the table for excellent possibilities."

Rains fell and continued in a large midsection of Missouri starting Wednesday night. Rains of 1 to 3 inches fell on cropland in an area from north of Missouri 36, from St. Joseph to Hannibal, and to Interstate 44 from Joplin to St. Louis.

Jefferson City and much of Central Missouri received 1-2 inches of rain.

"Small areas received 4 to 5 inches of rain," Pat Guinan, MU Extension climatologist, said in a press release.

About a third to half of corn yield has been stored in the kernels, according to Wiebold. With the rain, the amount of stored yield can increase to three-fourths in the next 10 to 12 days.

"Soybean plants had not begun to store much yield," Wiebold said. "This is a critical time for soybean pod set. You must have pods if you want yield, as pods provide a place to store yield."

In dry weather, soybean plants flower, but shed pods in drought.

"Most pod loss would occur in the next 10 days," Wiebold said. "Rain helps pod set to increase yields. Corn growth was further along. However, these rains keep corn yield engines humming."

With 64 percent of Missouri corn still in dough stage, kernel fill can continue.

"We still need 3 to 4 inches of evenly spaced rain in August to push yield to record highs," he added. "Rain and sunlight fuel photosynthesis, which creates yield."

Some corn yield may have been hurt by dry weather in July. July moisture is most critical for corn yield potential. August rain is critical for the soybean crop.

Wiebold said that without rain, optimistic early estimates of crop yields could not have happened. Corn yield depends first on kernel set on the corncob. That occurs at pollination, usually in early July. After kernels are in place, July rains begin filling those embryonic kernels. Without water, yield cannot increase.

A wet June started what was being called the best-looking corn crop ever. Some farmers reported that every seed planted came up. Although it was dry, the second-coolest July on record helped cut water loss.

Then the early August thunderstorms formed in Kansas and moved along a cool front across Missouri.

"Rains came when they were needed," Wiebold said.