As reported by NASS on July 30, 2012

HAY HARVEST A MAIN FARM ACTIVITY LAST WEEK.  Tennessee farmers last week devoted a great deal of time to harvesting warm season grasses for hay. July rainfall sparked unusually good growth, allowing warm season grasses to flourish. With the exception of corn, crops improved slightly in condition and are rated in mostly fair-to-good condition. Soybeans are blooming, and cotton is setting fruit. Pastures are greening-up and range from fair to good. Tobacco topping is in progress. The corn crop was rated mostly in very poor to poor condition with some very early harvest in the Southern section of Middle Tennessee. Continue reading →

As reported by NASS on July 23, 2012

WARM WEATHER AND MODERATE RAINS AID GROWTH.  High temperatures and moderate rains stimulated crop growth last week. Crops continued to develop at a faster rate than usual. All crops remained in fair-to-good condition, with the exception of corn. Pastures were rated in poor-to-fair condition, but have improved Continue reading →

As reported by NASS on July 16, 2012

DROUGHT NOT OVER BUT WIDESPREAD, PLENTIFUL PRECIPATATION RECEIVED!  Soaking rainfall and lower temperatures characterized the conditions which greeted farmers last week. The drought is not broken as some areas of the state experienced only light-to-moderate precipitation. Overall, state crop condition ratings improved, especially for soybeans. However, the corn condition rating, although improved, continued to point to a season with over half the acreage in a heavy or extreme loss of yield situation. Some renewed optimism now exists for soybeans, cotton and tobacco which are rated in mostly fair or good condition. Continue reading →

As reported by NASS on July 9, 2012

SCATTERED SHOWERS PROVIDE A LITTLE RELIEF.  A slight break from record setting temperatures came at weeks’ end and was due to several rounds of scattered showers and thunderstorms. Soil moisture levels are still extremely short and more rain will be needed for crops and pastures to rebound from the prolonged drought conditions. Crop conditions continued to decline last week. Pastures have been the hardest hit by the high temps and short moisture supplies with three quarters of the acreage rated in very poor-to-poor condition. Continue reading →

As reported by NASS on July 2, 2012

OPPRESSIVE HEAT AND BRUTALLY DRY CONDITIONS

CONTINUE TO STRIKE TENNESSEE FARMLAND

The hottest temperatures on record coupled with no precipitation last week led to a deterioration of crop conditions throughout the state. Topsoil moisture supplies are rated short or very short on 94 percent of Tennessee farmland. The corn and pasture acreages are especially affected, as almost half the corn is rated in very poor or poor condition with two-thirds of the pastures in this same category. Soybean, tobacco, and cotton acreage remained in mostly fair-to-good condition but declined substantially in one week. Pastures are parched and livestock producers are feeding hay, an event that normally begins in the fall. Continue reading →