Staunton to Hannibal

By Randy Darr President of Soil-Right Consulting, Inc.

Drove over 300 miles yesterday from Staunton, IL to Hannibal, MO and back to home.  Soybean harvest is well under way.  Soils are very dry to the north of us in the I72 corridor.  Many afraid to plant wheat due to the lack of moisture.  Yields of corn and soybeans have been surprisingly high, but, not near USDA estimates.  Some are taking a blood bath depending on soils ability to shed water and hold it.  Higher yields have depended on soils ability to shed water, which promoted root growth early, which in turn promoted the crops ability to live through the drought