The ITLUS tour spent the past few days in Northwest Missouri where maize was tassling and soybeans were at various stages of early development.

Meanwhile winter wheat harvesting began on the farm of Kevin and Ashley Markt in North west Missouri yesterday. Kevin only considers harvesting at under 15% moisture content and cutting was delayed yesterday by rain in the forenoon. Price is based at 13% moisture.

The crop of soft winter wheat yielded about 104 bushels per acre (2.83 t/ac) on average with better patches up on 107 bushels (2.91 t/ac).

This was one of the few crops of wheat in this part of northwest Missouri and the straw was baled into small square bales and sold to locals for $5 per bale.

The picture shows the teraced nature of cropland in the area with the teraced contours used to slow water flow to prevent erosion.

There would appear to be little signs of drought stress yet in crops but local farmers are still fearful of July heat and drought but forecast rain may alay these fears in the short term.

Full reports to come in the Irish Farmers Journal in the coming weeks.

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Wheat harvest about to start in Dakota

Mixed crop advancement in Missouri and Iowa