As reported by NASS on May 16, 2011

 LAPSE IN RAIN SETS OFF MOST PRODUCTIVE FARM WEEK OF THE SEASON

 Dry weather early last week triggered a big round of productive fieldwork for Tennessee producers. The vast majority of the state had not seen 4 consecutive days of dry weather since early April. In areas where flood waters receded and fields had dried, farmers were busy planting field crops and cutting hay. Two-thirds of the state’s corn acreage was planted by week’s end. Producers were also able to make measureable gains in planting single-cropped soybean and cotton acreage for the first time this season, while hay cutting and tobacco transplanting also began in earnest last week. Although farmers made large increases in planted acreages last week, all spring field crops continued to lag behind normal progress. The winter wheat crop appeared to respond well to fungicide applications and was rated in mostly good condition after several weeks of excessive rainfall and flooding.

There was an average of 5 days suitable for fieldwork across the state last week. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 69 percent adequate and 31 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 61 percent adequate and 39 percent surplus. Temperatures averaged 3 to 5 degrees above normal. Precipitation levels were slightly below normal for West and Middle Tennessee, while East Tennessee received near-normal rainfall.