As reported by NASS on November 21, 2011

END OF HARVEST DRAWS NEAR.  The harvest season in Tennessee is almost complete. Given a few more sunny days, farmers will most likely be wrapping up row crop harvest for 2011. Ninety-nine percent of the cotton acreage has been harvested and only four percent of the soybean acreage still remains. Farmers also made notable progress seeding winter wheat last week. Most of the winter wheat has emerged with over seventy percent rated in good-to-excellent condition. Pastures remained in mostly fair-to-good condition. Tobacco growers continued to prepare their crop for market.

There were 4 days suitable for fieldwork across the state. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent very short, 16 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Across Tennessee last week, temperatures averaged 5 to 6 degrees above normal. Rainfall averaged above normal for the entire state.

County Agent Comments

“Harvest of all crops is essentially done. Still a few isolated acres of beans and cotton to harvest. Wheat seeding is done since we received 4 to 6+ inches of rainfall county-wide on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Will need some sunny dry days over the next 7 to 10 days to completely finish up harvest. Wheat that is planted and up is looking good while this week’s rain should bring the rest that has been planted up.” Tim Campbell, Dyer County

“The farmers in Fayette County have all but finished harvesting their crop. Like the past month, we received another front this week that brought a lot of wind, some rain and cooler temps. The temperatures have been warmer than usual but then rains have helped.” Jeffery D. Via, Fayette County

“Abundant rainfall has replenished the soil moisture levels this week, as some areas were experiencing dry soil conditions.” David Cook, Davidson County

“Still a few acres of beans to harvest. Recent rains have helped pastures.” Kevin Rose, Giles County

“We are almost through with all crops and most of the wheat is up.” Larry Moorehead, Moore County

“Rain starting the middle of the week kept field work to a minimal. Most producers are reporting finished with row crop harvest and planting wheat. A few producers are trying to finish up beans and cotton and wheat; however, the outlook of rain for the start of the week will have them waiting on better weather. Double crop soybeans have fared well with yields in the mid 30’s to mid 40’s, several producers reporting wheat beans doing better than single crop. About a thousand acres of canola was plated this fall and is in excellent condition. Nursery producers are beginning to dig B&B and bare root stock.” Ed Burns, Franklin County

“Winter hay feeding is in full swing. Still a few beans to harvest and some may still try to sow wheat.”

Scott Chadwell, Putnam County

“Getting wet. Happy Turkey Day!!!” Joe E. Hall, Anderson County

“Most producers are finished with fall harvest tasks. Rainfall of between one and two inches fell again this week. Low temperatures reached the mid-twenties on Wednesday.” John Wilson, Blount County

“Two inches of rain this week has stopped soybean harvest. Pond and creek levels are good.”

John Goddard, Loudon County