As reported by NASS on August 5, 2013
ROW CROP CONDITIONS REMAIN OUTSTANDING
Going into August, row crops are rated in mostly good-to-excellent condition. Tennessee’s first snapshot that translates these condition ratings into yield and production prospects for these crops will be released at 11:00 A.M on Monday August 12. Cattle also are rated in good-to-excellent condition. Silage harvest began last week, and farmers continue to scout fields and apply herbicides as necessary. The soybean crop is blooming and setting pods, and cotton is setting bolls and could use some heat. Corn is mostly in the dough-to-dent stage. Tobacco is being topped and its condition has improved.
There were 4.5 days suitable for field work this past week. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 6 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 5 percent short, 89 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Temperatures averaged near normal across the state this past week. Rainfall averaged near normal for east Tennessee and the plateau, below normal for middle Tennessee, and average for west Tennessee.
|
Crop Condition % August 4, 2013 |
||||||
|
|
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
|
| Corn |
TN |
0% |
2% |
13% |
54% |
31% |
|
US |
3% |
8% |
25% |
46% |
18% |
|
| Cotton |
TN |
1% |
4% |
19% |
54% |
22% |
|
US |
7% |
14% |
34% |
35% |
10% |
|
| Soybeans |
TN |
0% |
4% |
14% |
57% |
25% |
|
US |
2% |
7% |
27% |
51% |
13% |
|
| Pasture |
TN |
0% |
3% |
15% |
66% |
16% |
|
US |
11% |
15% |
29% |
37% |
8% |
|
|
Crop Progress |
|||||
| August 4, 2013 | July 28, 2013 | August 4, 2012 | 5 Year Average | ||
| Soybeans-Blooming |
TN |
56% |
41% |
89% |
83% |
|
US |
79% |
65% |
93% |
85% |
|
| Soybeans – Setting Pods |
TN |
31% |
19% |
70% |
60% |
|
US |
39% |
20% |
69% |
51% |
|
| Corn – Silking or Beyond |
TN |
96% |
92% |
100% |
99% |
|
US |
86% |
71% |
98% |
89% |
|
| Corn-Dough or Beyond |
TN |
74% |
56% |
93% |
82% |
|
US |
18% |
8% |
58% |
31% |
|
| Corn-Dent or Beyond |
TN |
32% |
13% |
69% |
46% |
|
US |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
| Cotton Squaring |
TN |
88% |
77% |
100% |
100% |
|
US |
94% |
89% |
97% |
94% |
|
| Cotton-Setting Bolls |
TN |
49% |
20% |
79% |
81% |
|
US |
53% |
39% |
71% |
70% |
|
County Agent Comments
As of right now, this is excellent weather for all crops. Corn, cotton and soybeans are in great condition, as well as pastures and beef cattle. We should have a good harvest this fall. JC Dupree, Jr Lauderdale County
The farmers in Fayette Co. did some spraying this week but wet conditions kept many out of the fields. We are getting flushes of weeds and insects. Hay producers need a break in the weather to cut and bale hay. Jeffery D. Via, Fayette County
The rain this week is helping with grain size in the corn, and wheat and beans continue to grow rapidly. Plant bugs are still the big pest in cotton, with stink bugs coming in a close second. It seems like each week we are still fighting the plant bugs even after spraying. Pastures benefited from the rain to help with the re-growth and cattle are still looking pretty good. We need some DD60’s this coming week to help the row crops. Jake Mallard, Madison County
Giles County continues to receive rain each week with another inch predicted this week. Many producers with an irrigation system have only used it once or twice this summer. Kevin Rose, Giles County
Our barns are full and we are stacking hay outside. Pastures are great and corn is probably looking better than we thought a month ago. It’s hard to get hay baled due to the rains. Larry Moorehead, Moore County
Tobacco has turned around from a month ago. Water damaged tobacco is stunted but is looking much better. Pasture weeds are thriving due to all the rain, herbicides being applied. Other crops look good.
Jason Evitts, Trousdale County
Soybeans and corn are in good condition as of this week. Finding more insect pressure in soybeans and producers are spraying. Tobacco has been topped except for the late patches. Ruth Correll, Wilson County
Mid-week showers produced from 0.50 to 1.75 inches of rain depending on location, with most locations reporting receiving about an inch of rain. The last of the wheat finally harvested early in the week and the last of the soybeans planted. Soybean producers continue to apply post-emergence herbicides to double crop beans and fungicides to single crop beans. Livestock producers continue to try to harvest second cutting between showers. Ed Burns, Franklin County
Corn silage harvest began this week. Stalks and leaves still green but grain is ready. Still have some first cutting grass hay still standing. Spotty showers have held up most field work. John Goddard, Loudon County
