As reported by NASS on September 3, 2013
CORN HARVEST HAS BEGUN
Corn harvest for grain began on a limited scale last week, well behind both last year and the 5-year average. Despite the delay, producers are happy with early yields. Hot, dry weather across the state resulted in 6.5 days suitable for field work. Row crops are rated in good-to-excellent condition and, despite cotton development being behind, producers expect strong yields. Other activities that took place last week included applying pesticides, cutting hay and harvesting tobacco.
Topsoil moisture levels were rated 15 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 6 percent short, 88 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Temperatures averaged 2 to 4 degrees above normal across Tennessee last week. Rainfall averaged 0.14 inches below normal across middle Tennessee and 0.34 to 0.57 inches below normal across the remainder of the state last week.
|
Crop Condition % September 1, 2013 |
||||||
|
|
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
|
| Corn |
TN |
0% |
2% |
11% |
48% |
39% |
|
US |
5% |
11% |
28% |
42% |
14% |
|
| Cotton |
TN |
2% |
6% |
24% |
51% |
17% |
|
US |
9% |
14% |
32% |
36% |
9% |
|
| Soybeans |
TN |
0% |
5% |
13% |
55% |
27% |
|
US |
4% |
11% |
31% |
43% |
11% |
|
| Pasture |
TN |
1% |
3% |
15% |
63% |
18% |
|
US |
15% |
19% |
28% |
32% |
6% |
|
|
Crop Progress |
|||||
| September 1, 2013 | August 25, 2013 | September 1, 2012 | 5 Year Average | ||
| Soybeans-Blooming |
TN |
91% |
80% |
100% |
99% |
|
US |
96% |
92% |
99% |
98% |
|
| Soybeans – Setting Pods |
TN |
90% |
77% |
99% |
96% |
|
US |
98% |
84% |
92% |
96% |
|
| Soybeans- Dropping leaves |
TN |
2% |
NA |
14% |
15% |
|
US |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
| Corn-Dent or Beyond |
TN |
91% |
79% |
99% |
94% |
|
US |
42% |
23% |
84% |
61% |
|
| Corn-Mature |
TN |
27% |
6% |
84% |
56% |
|
US |
4% |
NA |
38% |
17% |
|
| Corn-Harvested |
TN |
2% |
NA |
47% |
20% |
|
US |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
| Cotton-Setting Bolls |
TN |
95% |
90% |
100% |
100% |
|
US |
95% |
90% |
97% |
96% |
|
| Cotton-Bolls Opening |
TN |
5% |
1% |
45% |
30% |
|
US |
16% |
10% |
34% |
29% |
|
County Agent Comments
With rains, everything looks good especially soybeans and corn. Cotton needs warmer temperatures but overall it looks good in most places. In areas of excess water it’s in fair condition. Corn is drying down with harvest to begin soon. Beef cattle and pastures are in excellent condition. JC Dupree, Lauderdale County
Producers are happy with early corn harvest yields! It’s good to see them smiling! Several cotton producers are finished with spray programs. The soybean crop could use some moisture which could help late beans go from good to great. Walter Battle, Haywood County
The month of August finally caught up with the calendar! Hot, humid conditions were the weather focus this week. Some corn harvest has taken place with moisture running in the mid 20% range. Many acres of second-cut hay has been harvested. There have been no significant insect problems in soybeans to this date. Jeff Lannom, Weakley County
Giles County missed out on most of the rain that came through over the weekend. Several acres of 3rd cutting of hay put up last week. Still no soybean rust confirmed within the county. Kevin Rose, Giles County
It’s been a great week to put up hay. We have the Bermuda grass maggot in every field. We sprayed one field that was newly established. Larry Moorehead, Moore County
No rain and temperatures in the upper 90’s have been good for harvesting hay. Summer grasses are abundant. Soybeans and corn continue to look good. Corn silage harvest is continuing with good production reported. It was a good week for tobacco harvest. Ruth Correll, Wilson County
This past week marked the second dry week for the year! No rain allowed most soybean producers to finish up fungicide applications. Hay producers have been busy taking advantage of hot and dry conditions. Corn harvest started at the beginning of the week for a few producers with early contracts. Yields are running around the 200 bushels per acre mark, grain moisture has been 21 – 25%. Several producers gearing up to start as grain moisture continues to fall. Ed Burns, Franklin County
Light scattered showers helped maintain favorable soil moisture. Most fields of soybeans continue to grow well. Second-cutting hay harvest continues, but has slowed until better curing weather arrives. John Wilson, Blount County
We are beginning to see disease pressure in corn. Beans still look good. John Goddard, Loudon County
