Danny Kuenzel farms with family in Franklin and Gasconade counties. He grows corn and soybeans, with some in the Missouri River bottom and some on the hill ground. He serves on the board for the Missouri Corn Growers Association and the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council.

A very wet rainfall pattern we have been having since the first week of April, but due to a good stretch of weather in March most are done with fertilizer application. Planters were rolling pretty hard this week to get some things planted before the rains came on April 19-20. Almost 2 inches of rain over Easter weekend, so I feel there won’t be much going on this week. Might be able to spray if it dries off a bit late week. Wheat in our area looks really good. We shall see how it turns out!

Some field operations going on this week but not much. Planters rolling in a few select sandy fields. We tried working ground on Thursday and Friday, but it was just too wet to work good. Lots of people were running spray rigs. That’s about all you can do at this point. Another week of wet weather forecast for central Missouri. Lots of people repairing damage from the 10 to 12 inches of rain that fell three weeks ago. Some fields got hit pretty bad, and recovering always takes extra time.

Nothing good to say here in central Missouri. Wet, wet and more wet. Nothing going on here, no spraying, no nothing. Just looking for dry weather hopefully soon! Early corn looks good, for now. Early beans are up, but with the wet cold weather, who knows?

Well, at least this week in central Missouri we had a little break — not much, but at least some. Sprayers are running nonstop when weather permits. Planters were out here and there trying to find dry ground. We actually got back in the field Mother’s Day, May 11. Hopefully the rain misses us all week. Early corn and beans look good at this point.

Finally a week of decent weather here in central Missouri. Lots of sprayers running in our world, spraying both corn and beans. Planters are running, but most are looking for dry ground to plant here and there. Early corn needs some dry weather and warm temperatures to get going, and beans look good for the most part, but warm temperatures would help!

This week in central Missouri it’s still wet but not crazy wet. We have been making progress on planting, but many farms are wet. Sprayers are out in full force on beans and corn both trying to keep up with the weather. Early planted beans are looking really good, but corn really needs some hot, dry weather but looks good for all the bad weather it has been through. Wheat is headed out but looks to be a good crop from what I’m seeing!

Another week of wet weather here in our world. The rain we have received has been fairly light, but when trying to finish planting it’s just enough to slow planters! All corn is planted in our area. With the warmer temps, it’s starting to look a lot better after the cool wet spring. Beans that are out of the ground look really good, while some like us still got some wet ground to finish. Top-dressing corn will be on the agenda the next couple weeks as well as post-spraying of corn.

So wet, wet and more wet — not sure the faucet gets turned off, but hope not this summer! We are struggling to get things sprayed here. Lot of acres to be post application, but it needs to dry up first. Corn looks better than it did, but top yield has been taken off. Looking at trendline yields at best here in central Missouri. Beans are looking good that were planted early, but anything planted the week of June 1 may be a replant because of about 8 to 9 inches of rain last week!

We just cannot seem to get dried out here in central Missouri — always catching rain. Corn for the most part has been top-dressed with fields looking pretty good, with others having a lot of uneven growth. Soybeans need some warm dry weather, but early ones are looking pretty good with lots of post spraying going on to stay ahead of the weeds. Wheat is really starting to turn, but with all the wet weather not sure how yields and quality will turn out.

Well, finally had a week of dry, hot weather, but here again no rain in sight the next 10 days other than hot and humid! Post-spraying of beans and some replant from the weekend of June 1-2, which resulted in 7-8 inches of rain. Wheat is starting to dry down, with some being harvested with good yields and test weight, at least from what we are hearing. Since the high heat and humidity have come on, corn is really growing fast, with some like ours tasseled this week.

Hot, dry week of weather here in central Missouri. At least some got beans replanted for the most part. Wheat has been cut with yields and test weight better than expected for all the moisture we had! Early corn has started tasseling. Really could use some rain at this point, believe it or not. Lots of soybeans being post sprayed and are starting to look good.

Really nice weather here in central Missouri. Most of the corn is tasseling with a lot of uneven fields to say the least, but we could really use a good rain! Complaining all year “no more water,” but here we are. Early beans look really good, but as far as the rest go they are at different stages of growth because of the wet weather — from replant to ankle-high. Sprayers are still out playing catch up on fields, but overall things are slowing down.

Really nice week of weather here in central Missouri, scattered showers bringing much-needed rainfall for corn and beans. Post spraying of beans is mostly done, but with all the rainfall weed pressure is high, with some fields being spot-sprayed again. Fungicide on corn is in full force, but we are not seeing much disease at this point!

Rain showers on and off this week from time to time made for some much-needed moisture. Early corn should be far enough along for some decent yields while later-planted is starting to tassel. Early beans are looking great while the later planted are catching up and starting to look a lot better with the moisture we have been getting. Some will start spraying fungicide on beans within the next week the way they are looking!

Rain, rain and more rain, but at least we are getting not too much in our world right now! Just the right amount. Things are looking really good for now, corn should be at trend lines or maybe 10 to 15 above, but way too uneven to be a great yield. Soybeans are really growing, and some of us will be spraying fungicide this week on early beans. The later-planted are looking very good for now, but who knows about August!

The first part of the week here in central Missouri was very hot, but by Thursday a cool front came through. We did not receive any precipitation. Early corn is starting to dry down. Some people will be chopping silage soon. While early beans continue to look good, some fungicide application will be going on this week. With cooler temps in the forecast, hopefully we get some rain for our bean crop.

Cooler temps first part of the week were a welcome relief from the heat, although we missed most of the rain, which we desperately need for a good crop of beans. Silage choppers should be hitting the field pretty quick this week the way the corn looks, but most likely a month out before combines hit the corn field. Beans need a rain really bad to fill pods for a good crop. I’m sure the sprayers will be out applying fungicide this week as a lot of beans are ready for applying.

Sunny, hot and humid is all I can say. The corn crop is drying down slowly but surely while most fungicide has been applied to beans. Early beans look really good yet, but we need a good soaking rain to make them good along with all the later-planted that have a ways to go.

Well, in east central Missouri we are very dry, to say the least. Rain would be welcomed sooner than later. Spotty showers are happening, but not too much in our area. The big problem is so many acres of beans and corn were replanted in late June, so if there’s no rain it means nothing to harvest! We shall see what happens in the long term.

Really nice weather here in central Missouri for the last week — cool nights with mild temps make for some great outdoor work getting done. Not much corn picked yet. It will be a couple weeks before combines roll. Beans continue to look good, but we need a good rain to make the crop!

Nice weather here in central Missouri with no rain in sight! Beans are starting to turn rather quickly with the dry weather. The big question is what will bean yields be? Some yield reduction will happen depending upon when your planting dates are and what conditions were like at planting. Later-planted corn and beans are not great with no rain. Some have been picking corn on a limited basis — mostly early varieties — with moisture being dry and average yields a bit above trendline.

Lots of combines out hitting the cornfields. What we have picked has been really good so far. Early-planted is really dry with above trend-line yields. Later-planted corn remains to be seen yet! Early June corn or later yields might be disappointing at this time with no rain. Beans are a bit off — maybe later next week. My friend is cutting some this week; he was a bit earlier than us. They look good, but let’s see how they yield!

Well, it was supposed to be cooler, but with the humidity here in central Missouri, not so much! Very little rainfall to speak of here. Early-planted cornfields are disappearing very fast, with yields in some places way above trend lines. Some beans are ready to cut, while most fields need another week or two to mature. Lack of rain and hot, dry conditions for the last seven to eight weeks will most likely make for some disappointing yields in our area. A few have been blessed with rainfall, but it’s a very limited area that received it!

Early-planted cornfields are disappearing fast with good yields, but June-planted corn yield potential is not so great. Bean yields are all over the board. What we have cut so far are 25-30% below trend line yields. It might get better once we get to earlier-planted, but the hot, dry August sure took its toll on yields! The worst part is beans are just so small wherever you cut.

Another week of dry weather here in central Missouri with no rain in the forecast to speak off. Temps in the upper 80s. It’s not bad, but some fall weather would sure be welcome! Not many cornfields left; most are cutting beans. Early-planted has been close to trend line yields with some exceptions where you caught rain. Later-planted needs to be seen what will happen with those yields — my opinion is not very much!

Combines rolling and fields are disappearing very fast. Corn for the most part is done, but some switched to beans so have a little left to pick. Beans are really dry, but with the good weather combines keep rolling through fields. Yields are all over the board depending on planting date and if you were lucky enough to receive rainfall at the right time.

Very productive week here in central Missouri with many bean fields disappearing fast. Yield reports are all over the board. If you got lucky and caught rain, they aren’t too bad, but lots of other places are seeing 30-40% reduction in trend line yields. Finally got some measurable rainfall for the first time in eight weeks.

Finally received some much-needed rainfall Oct. 18-19 — almost 2 inches, the first decent rain in about 10 weeks. Combines are starting to see the end, but there are still beans to cut yet. This week seems to look pretty wet. Some fertilizer being applied, but not a lot — people are waiting to see if the price drops. Fall tillage is being done but on a limited basis.

Nothing done this week with the rain and cloudy conditions. Some fertilizer being spread, but not much because of the high prices. Some soybeans left yet to cut, but overall things are winding down.

Overall, this cropping season has been very challenging to say the least. Early-planted corn was really good, as were early-planted beans. That being said, later-planted crop yields were all over the board depending upon if you received rainfall in a timely manner. Some farms were way below trendline yields and some way above. Too much rain in April, May, June and into July made it hard to get weeds under control without breaking the bank, not to mention getting crops planted. Then we had a hot and dry August with limited rainfall in certain areas, making later-planted corn and beans really struggle. Overall, I’d give our growing season a 5 out of 10. Hopefully next year will be normal, but not sure what that is anymore!