(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.)--Thanks to the marvels of modern technology and long working hours, Missouri grain farmers took advantage of last week's drier weather to make significant harvest progress.

A week ago, frustrated farmers were facing a corn harvest 36 days behind normal with only 49 percent of the crop harvested.  Adding to their woes, the soybean harvest was lagging 22 days behind the norm at 33 percent complete.  However, aided by modern technology, farmers across the state have been able to perform under these tough circumstances.  Missouri’s corn harvest improved 13 points to 62 percent complete, while soybean harvest surged 31 points to 64 percent complete for the week ending Nov. 8.

“Although Mother Nature has limited our time in the fields, with the break in rains, elevators extending hours and relaxed weight limits for grain trucks, we were able to make up a lot of ground last week,” said Kenny McNamar, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council chairman and farmer from Gorin, Mo.  “Missouri farmers have done a tremendous job of working under the constraints beyond our control to provide a quality product for our customers.”

Larger equipment armed with technology that optimizes efficiency ensures growers can deliver to the marketplace.  Biotechnology has also contributed to the farmers’ ability to supply the world with food, feed and fuel by improving crop quality and yield.

“Many farmers across the state were forced to plant this year’s crop later than they would have liked due to the weather,” said Keith Phillips, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council chairman and farmer from Kahoka, Mo.  “Recent advancements in biotechnology, genetics and crop protection have helped to create opportunities for farmers to maximize yield potential, even in a challenging growing season like we experienced in 2009.”

Corn production in Missouri is forecast at 438 million bushels, 15 percent above last year’s crop.  Soybean farmers are expected to produce 233 million bushels statewide, 22 percent above the 2008 harvest.  If realized this would be the third largest corn crop and largest soybean crop on state record.

Updates on Missouri’s crop status can be found online at http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Missouri/index.asp.  Additional information on Missouri’s corn farmers and the grain they produce is available at www.mocorn.org.  To learn more about soybeans in the Show-Me State visit www.mosoy.org. 

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