Jefferson City, MO – The heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the Midwest have so far not delayed crop harvests in Missouri. Last year's drenching rains led to late corn and soybean harvests and prevented farmers in Missouri from planting winter wheat. Gene Danekas with the U.S.D.A. says this year's situation is not as severe.
"42 percent, almost half of the corn, has been harvested, that's well over 3 weeks faster than we were last year," says Danekas. "I know there's some wet fields, especially after this last week, so that'll probably slow them down somewhat."
But Danekas says most of the state's soybean crop has not been harvested yet, and a return of wet weather patterns could cause more delays and again threaten the state's winter wheat crop. Farmers were able to replant some corn lost earlier this year to heavy rain and flooding.