HAY HARVEST CONTINUES IN THE MIDST OF HOT, DRY WEATHER

Seemingly endless periods of no precipitation and high temperatures resulted in very dry conditions across the State last week. This weather did allow producers to make their first and, oftentimes, second cuttings of hay. Yields from the second cuttings are reported as normal to above normal. Crops made great progress while crop and pasture conditions showed some stress from last week’s weather. There were 6.5 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was 11 percent very short, 24 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was 2 percent very short, 21 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN_07_24_17. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-07-24-2017.