As reported by NASS on June 6, 2011

WEATHER CHANGES COURSE FOR FARMERS

Tennessee farmers took advantage of unseasonably hot and dry weather to make progress planting cotton and soybeans last week. Hay producers also made use of the dry conditions and were able to cut significant amount of the state’s hay acreage. By week’s end, corn planting was virtually complete. The warm weather also sped up the maturation of the winter wheat crop, which will approach harvest readiness in the coming week. Tobacco transplanting continued and had reached the five-year average pace by week’s end. Despite a week of steady progress, the cotton and soybean crops still lagged behind their five-year averages.

There was an average of 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork across the state. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent very short, 23 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 12 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus. Temperatures averaged a full 10 degrees above normal across the state. Precipitation levels were well below normal, with most places receiving very little to no rainfall.