As reported by NASS on July 8, 2013
HEAVY RAINS HALT FIELD ACTIVITY FOR MUCH OF THE STATE
Weather conditions varied across the state last week, with the state averaging about 3.5 days suitable for field work. However, much of middle and eastern Tennessee saw fewer days suitable for field work due to heavy rains, which caused flooding in some low-lying areas. Early last week some farmers were in the field trying to wrap up their wheat harvest and get the last of their soybeans planted. Though the rain did cause a slight setback, it was needed and corn, soybeans, and tobacco were rated in mostly good-to-excellent condition. Other farm activities that took place last week included spraying cotton for bugs, application of fungicide to corn and some second cuttings of hay. Cattle were rated in mostly good-to-excellent condition.
Topsoil moisture levels were rated 4 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 39 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 4 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 29 percent surplus. Temperatures across the state averaged about 5 degrees below normal. Precipitation varied greatly across the state with the east, plateau and middle parts of the state averaging well over 2 inches above normal precipitation for the week.
|
Percent Planted |
|||||
|
July 7, 2013 |
June 30, 2013 |
July 7, 2012 |
5 Year Average |
||
| Soybeans |
TN |
92% |
85% |
100% |
99% |
|
US |
96% |
92% |
100% |
98% |
|
|
Crop Condition % July 7, 2013 |
||||||
|
|
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
|
| Corn |
TN |
0% |
4% |
14% |
57% |
25% |
|
US |
2% |
6% |
24% |
51% |
17% |
|
| Cotton |
TN |
1% |
7% |
23% |
51% |
18% |
|
US |
9% |
15% |
32% |
34% |
10% |
|
| Soybeans |
TN |
0% |
4% |
16% |
59% |
21% |
|
US |
2% |
5% |
26% |
55% |
12% |
|
| Pasture |
TN |
0% |
2% |
16% |
65% |
17% |
|
US |
10% |
15% |
24% |
41% |
10% |
|
|
Crop Progress |
|||||
| July 7, 2013 | June 30, 2013 | July 7, 2012 | 5 Year Average | ||
| Soybeans Emerged |
TN |
78% |
67% |
100% |
92% |
|
US |
95% |
91% |
100% |
97% |
|
| Soybeans-Blooming |
TN |
5% |
N/A |
41% |
30% |
|
US |
10% |
N/A |
42% |
24% |
|
| Corn – Silking or beyond |
TN |
60% |
35% |
92% |
74% |
|
US |
6% |
3% |
46% |
20% |
|
| Corn-Dough or Beyond |
TN |
7% |
N/A |
20% |
9% |
|
US |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
| Cotton Squaring |
TN |
39% |
29% |
73% |
71% |
|
US |
51% |
37% |
67% |
63% |
|
| Cotton-Setting Bolls |
TN |
– |
– |
15% |
9% |
|
US |
10% |
6% |
21% |
18% |
|
| Wheat Harvested |
TN |
93% |
80% |
100% |
99% |
|
US |
57% |
43% |
78% |
64% |
|
County Agent Comments
Agriculture is slowing somewhat for the moment. Wheat harvest is continuing and is nearly 90 percent complete with good yields. Corn, cotton and soybeans are progressing normally. JC Dupree, Lauderdale County
The farmers finished wheat and beans by the 4th for the most part. Other activities included baling hay and spraying fields. Wheat yields were great! Jeffrey Via, Fayette County
A very good wheat harvest is just about finished. Producers are mainly planting soybeans to finish off a very late planting season. The corn crop is moving along well. There’s concern with stand counts in cotton. Also, with the cooler temperatures there are DD60 accumulation concerns. Walter Battle, Haywood County
All areas of Wilson County received rain this week with some areas receiving over 5 inches of rain. As rain was welcome last week, sunshine will be welcome next week. Wheat still needs to be harvested, which means late soybeans are yet to be planted. Corn and soybeans look good so far. The rain has been good for pastures. The peach crop is looking good, with the first peaches expected to be ready to pick next week. Ruth Correll, Wilson County
There was very little field work this week due to isolated showers that progressed into more continuous rain, which produced 2.5 to 3.0 inches of rainfall. Crops in low lying areas are once again standing or under water. About 90% of the wheat has been harvested, with about 85% of the soybeans planted. Producers were able to finish the canola crop before rains began. Much needed sunshine is on the prayer list in order to facilitate crop progress and drier field conditions. Pastures and stock are in excellent condition, producers need drier conditions to harvest second cutting of hay. Ed Burns, Franklin County
With frequent and sometimes heavy rain, a lot of wheat and first-cutting hay are still in the field. Lodging of wheat has also resulted from the winds and rain. Over eight inches of rain fell across most of the county, making for limited field activity and saturated soils. Some flooding of low-lying fields of soybeans, wheat and corn were reported. Otherwise, corn and soybeans are making good growth. John Wilson, Blount County
There was minimal activity during the week due to almost constant rainfall. Reports range from 6 to 10 inches of rain with standing water in fields becoming a concern. We still have some wheat to harvest and growers are worried that the wheat will sprout before they can get back in the fields. With limited fungicide applications, fruit growers have found black rot on grapes and sooty blotch and flyspeck on apples. Blueberries and blackberries are fair-to-good. Kim Frady, Bradley County
Tomatoes fighting very high disease pressure due to wet weather this growing season.
Anthony Carver, Grainger County
