Missouri farmers are getting closer to the end of harvest season and are seeing the effects of this summer’s drought in their production numbers. Corn production in the state is better than last year’s dismal average for bushels per acre but still about 10 percent below what the average should be. Marlowe Schlegel, an agricultural statistician for the state, says soybean production is down about 18 percent from last year’s near average harvest. He blames a devastating drought in July and August that decimated the beans. Schlegel says soybean harvest nationwide is down, and that has helped push prices higher. However, he says it will vary from farmer to farmer whether or not the higher prices will make up for the smaller harvest amounts. He adds producers who feed grain to their cattle won’t have to worry about a supply situation because of better production elsewhere making up the difference.
