As reported by NASS on May 23, 2011

SOYBEAN PLANTING BEGINS IN EARNEST, CORN PLANTING STILL UNDERWAY

For most of last week, inclement weather stayed out of the way and allowed Tennessee farmers to plant. Crop producers were able to follow up with another productive week. Nearly half of the state’s cotton acreage and one-fourth of the soybean acreage were planted by week’s end. With the exception of low-lying fields affected by earlier flooding, most of Tennessee’s corn for grain acreage has been planted and row crop farmers have turned their attention to planting single-crop soybeans and corn silage. Besides planting, farmers were able to transplant tobacco and cut hay last week and the progress of both crops was near average. The state’s winter wheat continued to advance towards maturity with the majority of the crop in good condition as it began to ripen last week.

There was an average of 5 days suitable for fieldwork across the state. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 69 percent adequate and 31 percent surplus. Temperatures averaged 3 to 5 degrees below normal. Precipitation levels were below normal across the state.