As reported by NASS on September 17, 2012
VERY BUSY WEEK OF FARMING!
Corn and hay harvest were still going strong last week but were accompanied by the start of soybean and cotton harvests. Dark tobacco harvest continued to run behind schedule. Growers reported struggling to get the heavy leaves into the barn. Scarcity of labor has also contributed to the delay. Cotton was opening with defoliation underway. The soybean crop was filling pods nicely. Pastures were in good condition for this time of year but weedy. Insects, particularly armyworms, were present.Six days were suitable for fieldwork last week. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 3 percent very short, 24 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 12 percent very short, 28 percent short, 59 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Temperatures and precipitation averaged below normal across the state.
|
Crop Condition % September 16, 2012 |
||||||
|
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
||
| Cotton |
TN |
1% |
4% |
27% |
58% |
10% |
|
US |
12% |
18% |
27% |
32% |
11% |
|
| Soybeans |
TN |
2% |
9% |
27% |
50% |
12% |
|
US |
15% |
21% |
31% |
28% |
5% |
|
| Pasture |
TN |
4% |
13% |
35% |
44% |
4% |
|
US |
28% |
28% |
25% |
17% |
2% |
|
Condition Definitions
v Very Poor – Extreme degree of loss to yield potential, complete or near crop failure. Pastures provide very little or no feed considering the time of year. Supplemental feeding is required to maintain livestock condition.
v Poor – Heavy degree of loss of yield potential which can be caused by excess soil moisture, drought, disease, etc. Pastures are providing only marginal feed for the current time of year. Some supplemental feeding is required to maintain livestock condition.
v Fair – Less than normal crop condition. Yield loss is a possibility but the extent is unknown. Pastures are providing generally adequate feed but still less than normal for the time of year.
v Good – Yield prospects are normal or above normal. Moisture levels are adequate with only light disease and insect damage. Pastures are providing adequate feed supplies for the current time of year.
v Excellent – Yield prospects are above normal and crops are experiencing little or no stress. Pastures are supplying feed in excess of what is normally expected at the current time of year.
|
Crop Progress |
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|
September 16, 2012 |
September 9, 2012 |
September 16, 2011 |
5 Year Average | ||
| Corn for Grain Harvested |
TN |
79% |
64% |
54% |
52% |
|
US |
15% |
10% |
5% |
5% |
|
| Soybeans Dropping leaves |
TN |
46% |
29% |
37% |
48% |
|
US |
57% |
36% |
28% |
37% |
|
| Soybeans Harvested |
TN |
4% |
– |
1% |
4% |
|
US |
10% |
4% |
4% |
4% |
|
| Cotton Bolls Opening |
TN |
81% |
63% |
63% |
67% |
|
US |
59% |
46% |
65% |
51% |
|
| Cotton Defoliated |
TN |
29% |
– |
24% |
27% |
| Cotton Harvested |
TN |
3% |
– |
1% |
4% |
|
US |
6% |
4% |
8% |
7% |
|
County Agent Comments
“Soybean and cotton harvest is underway in the county. With recent rains, yield or both crops should be above average. Pastures in Lauderdale County are having severe issues with armyworms. Beef cattle producers are making several applications of insecticides for control.” J.C. Dupree, Jr., Lauderdale County
“Thursday night/Friday morning rain will help fill some soybean pods. Rain was not needed at this stage on cotton as most is opening and some has been defoliated. Rainfall will certainly benefit pasture.”
Richard Buntin, Crockett County
“The farmers in Fayette County have finished harvesting corn for the most part. They have been busy defoliating cotton and plan to start harvest at the end of the week. Beans are also being harvested along with hay.” Jeffery Via, Fayette County
“Excellent harvest weather allowed corn producers to push closer to completion this week. Many producers completed corn harvest on their operation and have moved on to soybeans. Some later planted acreage of corn remains and later maturing soybeans are turning yellow and dropping leaves. Early maturing soybeans are yielding in the 25 to 40 bushel per acre range.” Jeff Lannom, Weakley County
“Corn harvest going strong, beans are beginning to drop leaves and several acres of late hay being harvested.” Kevin Rose, Giles County
“Corn is averaging around 50 bushels. The first soybeans were harvested this week. Fall hay is turning out good making our hay barns look a lot better than they did after a disastrous spring cutting.” Larry Moorehead, Moore County
“Harvested tobacco is suffering from barn burn damage due to poor curing conditions. Much of the tobacco being harvested is almost too big to hang due to tremendous rebound growth following rain.” David Glover, Smith County
“Tobacco harvest is stalled due to shortage of labor and what was good tobacco is standing in the field ruining. Corn is being harvested but very low yield. Soybeans seem to be the only bright spot and looks like they will have a good to excellent harvest. Cattle remain in good condition, with good pastures except for heavy weeds and hay seems to be plentiful thanks to a good fall harvest.” Ruth Correll, Wilson County
“A dry week with excellent weather made for a busy week for producers. Corn harvest is beginning to wind down with about 75% of the crop harvested and a number of producers reporting finished or near finished with harvest. Soybean harvest picked up this week with good to excellent yields ranging from 35 to 65 bushels per acre. Stink bug and soybean looper populations reaching threshold levels in several fields. Disease pressure has been very light. Cotton harvest is beginning, producers have been busy applying defoliants. Hay harvest was in full swing, pastures have responded well to weather conditions.” Ed Burns, Franklin County
“Lots of hay was baled this week. Quantity was good, quality was fair. Corn silage finished up this week. Most was fair in quality. Beans look OK for now. Rain is needed.” John Goddard, Loudon County
