As reported by NASS on August 22, 2011
RAINFALL NEEDED TO MAINTAIN CROPS
Precipitation across Tennessee last week was sparse, leaving all areas needing a good general rain. Farmers expressed concern that conditions will deteriorate rapidly without significant rainfall, soon. Despite these dry conditions the majority of the corn, soybean, cotton, and tobacco crops remain in good-to-excellent condition. Pastures are not fairing as well, with the majority of the acreage in fair-to-good condition. Some cattle producers are feeding hay. Farm activities last week included equipment maintenance, topping tobacco, harvesting tobacco, hay, and corn silage, and spraying fungicides and insecticides.
There were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork across the state. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 19 percent very short, 43 percent short and 38 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 16 percent very short, 41 percent short and 43 percent adequate. Temperatures were near or slightly above normal across the state for week ending August 21, 2011. Precipitation was non-existent in some areas, while other areas received as much as an inch and a half.
|
Crop Progress |
|||||
|
August 21, 2011 |
August 14, 2011 |
August 21, 2010 |
5 Year Average |
||
| Corn – Dough |
TN |
96% |
90% |
99% |
97% |
|
US |
73% |
52% |
86% |
73% |
|
| Corn – Dent |
TN |
77% |
62% |
95% |
87% |
|
US |
33% |
17% |
51% |
37% |
|
| Corn – Mature |
TN |
21% |
12% |
50% |
32% |
|
US |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
|
| Cotton – Setting Bolls |
TN |
99% |
93% |
99% |
97% |
|
US |
94% |
88% |
93% |
90% |
|
| Cotton – Bolls Opening |
TN |
2% |
NA |
25% |
13% |
|
US |
16% |
11% |
20% |
16% |
|
| Soybeans – Setting Pods |
TN |
82% |
72% |
92% |
89% |
|
US |
83% |
70% |
90% |
88% |
|
| Soybeans – Dropping Leaves |
TN |
3% |
n/a |
13% |
10% |
|
US |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
|
|
Crop Condition % August 21, 2011 |
||||||
|
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
||
| Corn |
TN |
2% |
8% |
24% |
53% |
13% |
|
US |
6% |
11% |
26% |
44% |
13% |
|
| Cotton |
TN |
0% |
1% |
23% |
64% |
12% |
|
US |
22% |
19% |
28% |
25% |
6% |
|
| Soybeans |
TN |
2% |
7% |
26% |
55% |
10% |
|
US |
4% |
10% |
27% |
46% |
13% |
|
