Heavy rains hamper harvesting grain crop

As muddy fields dry, Missouri farmers race to draw grain from the fields and get it to market. At the request of Richard Fordyce, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) announced that Missouri grain haulers will be allowed to haul corn, soybeans and other grain crops at heavier than normal weights by granting a waiver to transport grain to storage facilities. The waiver, in effect through midnight, Dec. 14, 2014, allows farmers to increase the weight allowable for shipment of corn and other commodities by 10 percent. Overweight permits are not required. All other traffic and motor carrier regulations remain in place.

With MoDOT’s declaration, participating farmers will be required to abide by the following:

• A loaded, gross weight no greater than 10 percent above the gross licensed weight of the commercial motor vehicle;
• Transport of commodities from the farm to another facility, transportation between facilities and empty return trips on non-interstate highways within the state;
• When crossing a bridge, the driver must restrict the vehicle speed to no more than 30 miles per hour and must center the truck between two lanes of the bridge. The truck driver must yield to oncoming traffic.

Missouri’s corn crop is expected to set a new statewide record according to the Oct. 10 forecast from the United States Department of Agriculture. Show-Me State growers are on track to harvest a projected 599 million bushels of corn, easily surpassing the previous record of 466.5 million bushels set in 2004. Nationwide, corn farmers are expected to harvest 14.5 billion bushels. This is also a new production record.

For waiver questions, call MoDOT Motor Carrier Services at 1-800-877-8499.

Missouri Waterfowl Hunting Forecast: Loads of Ducks!

The 2014-15 waterfowl hunting season could be one of the best in memory as North American waterfowl continue to benefit from favorable nesting conditions in the north-central United States and Canada. Resource Scientist Andy Raedeke, with the Missouri Department of Conservation, stated DUCK CREEK Conservation Area is a special bright spot this year. Renovations there are complete, and hunters will find excellent moist-soil vegetation and good to very good corn in most of the hunting pools of Units A and B. All the wells are up and running, and all of the hunt units will be available this year. The recent red-oak survey indicates an above average production of acorns in the green-tree reservoirs, Pools 2 and 3. The wade-in Pools 7 and 8 also indicate a good a production of acorns as well. Pool 1 reservoir currently has an adequate water supply to flood the timber, however, there will be a couple of weeks delay flooding these pools until the trees begin to go dormant in mid to late November. There is no ADA blind available at Duck Creek.