Missouri Drought Caused Corn Fields Not to Pollinate

USDA revealed Missouri contains the worst corn in the country in the latest Crop Progress and Conditions Report. But farmers are still trying to understand how much the rampant drought has impacted the crop. Missouri farmers in pockets of severe drought are discovering a new, major problem: entire fields that didn’t pollinate.

Despite some corn fields holding on to their green colors, the plants didn’t weather the drought as well as hoped. Peeling back the husks reveals extensive damage, diminishing harvest outlooks. The pollination concern is widespread, leaving barren plants and less-than-ideal yields. Farmers report the absence of rain, more than the heat, caused plants to abort kernels. USDA reports 25% of Missouri’s corn is rated good to excellent, significantly lower than the national rating.

Read more on Missouri corn damage here.