As reported by NASS on August 26, 2013
CROPS RECEIVE SOME MUCH NEEDED HEAT
This past week farmers across the state received a slight reprieve from the rain, with an average of 5 days being suitable for field work. Cotton received some much needed heat units, although the crop still lags almost two weeks behind normal development. All crops remain in good-to-excellent condition. The corn crop is maturing and is not quite ready for harvest. Other farm activities last week included harvesting tobacco and silage, applying pesticides, and cutting hay.
Topsoil moisture levels were rated 2 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 2 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Temperatures averaged near normal for west and middle Tennessee and averaged slightly below normal for the Plateau and east Tennessee. Rainfall averaged below normal across middle and west Tennessee and over the plateau, while east Tennessee experienced slightly above normal rainfall.
|
Crop Condition % August 25, 2013 |
||||||
|
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
||
| Corn |
TN |
0% |
2% |
11% |
49% |
38% |
|
US |
4% |
10% |
27% |
44% |
15% |
|
| Cotton |
TN |
2% |
6% |
21% |
53% |
18% |
|
US |
8% |
12% |
33% |
39% |
8% |
|
| Soybeans |
TN |
0% |
5% |
12% |
55% |
28% |
|
US |
3% |
10% |
29% |
46% |
12% |
|
| Pasture |
TN |
0% |
2% |
14% |
61% |
23% |
|
US |
13% |
18% |
28% |
34% |
7% |
|
|
Crop Progress |
|||||
| August 25, 2013 | August 18, 2013 | August 25, 2012 | 5 Year Average | ||
| Soybeans-Blooming |
TN |
91% |
80% |
100% |
99% |
|
US |
96% |
92% |
99% |
98% |
|
| Soybeans – Setting Pods |
TN |
77% |
61% |
94% |
91% |
|
US |
84% |
72% |
95% |
90% |
|
| Corn-Dent or Beyond |
TN |
79% |
65% |
98% |
89% |
|
US |
23% |
11% |
73% |
45% |
|
| Corn-Mature |
TN |
6% |
2% |
74% |
40% |
|
US |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
| Cotton-Setting Bolls |
TN |
90% |
83% |
99% |
99% |
|
US |
90% |
85% |
96% |
93% |
|
| Cotton-Bolls Opening |
TN |
1% |
0% |
33% |
18% |
|
US |
10% |
8% |
23% |
20% |
|
County Agent Comments
The farmers in Fayette Co. have had a good week to work in the field. They have been spraying pests, applying fungicides to beans and the hay producers have been cutting/baling hay. Corn is drying fast but still a ways from harvest. Some are thinking about harvesting at high moistures and drying to get premiums. Jeffrey Via, Fayette County
Things are progressing nicely. The cotton was able to get some much needed heat units. There is some notice of stink bugs in soybeans. There are 170+ bushel dry-land corn fields. Livestock and forage producers are cutting hay weekly. Most are very happy with the forage production this year. Walter Battle, Haywood County
The overall cotton picture is looking rough. Environmental factors plus the pest pressure has done a number on our cotton production this year. Jake Mallard, Madison County
Producers are making the second post-emerge herbicide application to double-crop soybeans. Fungicides are also being applied to soybeans for frogeye leaf spot and in late planted corn for southern rust. Sudden Death Syndrome is showing up in many soybean fields across the county this week. Jeff Lannom, Weakley County
We have had rain all week. The Bermuda maggots are in every field in the county. We plan to cut it and see what happens after that. Larry Moorehead, Moore County
The scattered showers everyday this week has been a nightmare for the tobacco harvest. Most producers have at least some tobacco stuck out that got rained on. The pastures look great for August, but the weeds are growing too. Most producers clipped or sprayed pastures multiple times this summer. Jason Evitts, Trousdale County
Rains continue to plague field activities, with isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms producing from 0.5 to 2.5 inches depending on location. Corn slowly continues to progress toward maturity, a few acres are planned for harvest in the coming week to meet early contract obligations. Soybean producers continue to apply fungicides to double crop beans as they hit the R-3 stage. Hay producers began cutting hay Friday as the forecasters call for a few days of clear weather. Ed Burns, Franklin County
Corn silage harvest gained momentum as well as second-cutting hay harvest. Cooler temperatures and available moisture have improved cool-season pastures. John Wilson, Blount County
We have dried out some. We are experiencing lots of diseases. We lost lots of peaches. We are also seeing tomatoes go down quickly. First cutting of hay is almost done. However 15 percent has not been harvested. Neal Denton, Knox County
