As reported by NASS on July 1, 2013
2013 CROPS IN GOOD SHAPE COMING INTO JULY
This past week was a peculiar one in regards to weather conditions, marked by spotted showers across the state. On average, farmers had five-and-a-half days suitable for field activity. Many farmers were active harvesting the wheat crop, with harvest jumping 39 percent from the previous week. Heavy wheat stands led to thick stubble which had to be burned in order for soybeans to be planted. The corn crop has begun to pollinate and is rated in mostly good-to-excellent condition. Farmers have wrapped up tobacco transplanting and the first hay cutting, with even a few reports of second hay cuttings taking place.
Topsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 9 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Temperatures across the state last week averaged near normal. Precipitation averaged below normal across middle Tennessee and the plateau, while east Tennessee received above normal and west Tennessee was near normal.
|
Percent Planted |
|||||
|
June 30, 2013 |
June 23, 2013 |
June 30, 2012 |
5 Year Average |
||
| Soybeans |
TN |
85% |
73% |
100% |
95% |
|
US |
96% |
92% |
100% |
98% |
|
|
Crop Condition % June 30, 2013 |
||||||
|
|
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
|
| Corn |
TN |
0% |
5% |
16% |
56% |
23% |
|
US |
2% |
6% |
25% |
51% |
16% |
|
| Cotton |
TN |
1% |
8% |
24% |
51% |
16% |
|
US |
4% |
13% |
36% |
38% |
9% |
|
| Soybeans |
TN |
0% |
4% |
15% |
66% |
15% |
|
US |
2% |
5% |
26% |
55% |
12% |
|
| Pasture |
TN |
0% |
2% |
18% |
67% |
13% |
|
US |
10% |
15% |
24% |
41% |
10% |
|
|
Crop Progress |
|||||
| June 30, 2013 | June 23, 2013 | June 30, 2012 | 5 Year Average | ||
| Soybeans Emerged |
TN |
67% |
54% |
97% |
85% |
|
US |
91% |
81% |
99% |
94% |
|
| Corn – Silking or beyond |
TN |
35% |
6% |
84% |
54% |
|
US |
3% |
– |
22% |
9% |
|
| Cotton Squaring |
TN |
29% |
15% |
56% |
49% |
|
US |
37% |
23% |
47% |
45% |
|
| Wheat Harvested |
TN |
80% |
41% |
100% |
94% |
|
US |
43% |
20% |
73% |
52% |
|
County Agent Comments
“Continuing to see some skippy stands of cotton. Wheat harvesting really picked-up last week. Due to really heavy stands, there are some serious stubble issues in regard to planting soybeans. Quite a few fields have been burned. I’m hearing wheat yields of 75+ bushels.” Walter Battle, Haywood County
“It has been a nice hot week getting wheat out of the field and soybeans planted. Producers are working hard on finishing the task. We are having a little trouble with snails covering cotton and soybeans plants in a few areas in the county. Pest levels are low right now, but the weeds are looking like a battle we will face all season. Wheat yields are looking great in the county. Cattle are good-to-excellent and pastures are starting to get a little weedy but are still pretty good.” Jake Mallard, Madison County
“Producers have made a big push this week and many have completed wheat harvest. Excellent wheat yields have been reported and some producers have resorted to burning wheat stubble in order to deal with the high amount of residue in getting soybeans planted. Plenty of sunshine and dry conditions have aided farmers in a full week of field work, but corn that is beginning to pollinate could use a slow, soaking rain.” Jeff Lannom, Weakley County
“Wheat harvest is about over and most of the soybeans are planted. Our wheat yields are running from 80 to 100 bushels. First cutting hay is up and we have some second cutting already up. Hay yields have been good.” Larry Moorehead, Moore County
“Spotty rains with parts of the county receiving some significant rain and some receiving only brief showers or no rain. Wheat harvest has begun but is not very far along. Producers are very pleased with yields so far. Corn ranges from just emerging to tassel. Soybeans and tobacco are reported as looking very good but at stages that need moisture. Some young corn was reported with slight twisting. Pastures still look good with summer grasses filling a gap. Dairy producers continue planting sudan, sorghum and milo.” Ruth Correll, Wilson County
“A few isolated pop-up showers in areas briefly slowed field activities for some but for the most part producers made excellent progress this week. Temperatures were above normal with highs in the low to mid 90’s and lows in the mid to upper 60’s. Wheat harvest is all but over with about 75% of the crop harvested. Yields have been good with an estimated county average of 80 bushels per acre. Canola producers were all but finished with harvest with good yields averaging 70 bushels per acre. Soybean producers have made good progress planting double crop beans, with most producers reporting they should finish up the first week of July. Cotton made good progress with good moisture and hot weather. The bulk of the crop is squaring. Pastures continue to flourish with producers beginning to harvest warm season hay and second cutting of cool season grasses.” Ed Burns, Franklin County
“The wet spring has caused diseases in many vegetable crops. These diseases are very hard to control.”
Anthony Carver, Grainger County
“Lots of daily showers/storms this week. Wheat harvest and soybean planting is off and on due to rain showers. Very little hay cut this week due to poor drying conditions. Cool season hay is way past maturity and much is still standing in the fields. A one inch pounding rain yesterday, in 1/2 hour, washed out many roads and created gullies. Emerged corn and beans look great. Grain farmers are concerned about fertilizer leeching out too early.” John Goddard, Loudon County
