APPLETON CITY, MO. (RFD NEWS) — Fall harvest is moving quickly across Missouri, but producers are still dealing with high input costs, dry conditions, and uncertainty in the cattle market.
Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report from west-central Missouri to discuss harvest progress and the challenges farmers and ranchers face.
“Harvest is progressing,” Hawkins said. “People are doing what they do, and that’s getting the job done.”
Corn Harvest Moves Ahead
In an interview with RFD News, Hawkins said grain harvest is progressing rapidly in his part of the state after a hot, dry end to summer, particularly the corn crop.
“Statewide, corn harvest is almost half done,” Hawkins said. “So we’re running quite a bit ahead of pace.”
He said corn yields have looked good so far, while soybean yields remain a question because of the timing of planting and the dry conditions.
Missouri experienced another hot, dry August, Hawkins said, while the rainfall producers typically receive around the Missouri State Fair was limited.
“That has impacted and will impact soybean yields, and it’s really impacted fall pasture,” he said.
Cattle Producers Face Uncertainty As Heat Pressures Pasture
Hawkins said producers in the cattle business have seen declining fall pasture conditions in recent years, even though early-season rainfall has supported grass and hay production.
He also pointed to the impact of prolonged heat during the start of calving season.
“When calving season started in August, there were people who lost calves,” Hawkins said. “We saw fetuses aborted because we just stayed so hot for so long as calving season kicked off.”
Uncertainty surrounding the cattle market is also affecting producer decisions.
Hawkins said some producers who would normally consider retaining heifers are instead holding onto calves while they wait to see how the market develops after recent announcements on beef imports.
“So much uncertainty. It’s really just rocked our worlds,” Hawkins said.
He said some producers are delaying decisions and holding cattle longer, hoping the market will continue to rebound.
“Uncertainty just leads to some paralysis,” Hawkins said.
Fuel and Input Costs Remain a Concern
High fuel prices are adding another layer of pressure as producers work to get the crop out of the field.
Hawkins said persistently high input costs remain a common concern among Missouri Farm Bureau members, including fertilizer and fuel.
“People are frustrated, but at the same time, they’ve got a crop to get out,” Hawkins said. “There’s work to still be done on the farm, so they still have to purchase fuel.”
Despite the cost pressures, Hawkins said producers are focused on completing harvest.
“People’s heads are down; they’re getting the job done, just as we always do in the farm and ranching community,” he said.
Mississippi River Supports Grain Movement
Hawkins said he is not currently hearing major concerns about Mississippi River conditions affecting grain transportation.
Heavy rainfall farther north in the Upper Midwest could help maintain water levels on the river, which is an important transportation route for Missouri grain and fertilizer moving into the Midwest.
Hawkins recently toured a grain-handling facility in central Missouri and said trucks were moving steadily as harvest progressed.
