As reported by NASS on August 10, 2015
LATE WEEK RAINS BOOST CROPS
A rain producing front late in the week was a welcome sight and helped boost crop development. Even through the mostly dry weather, however, crops progressed well. Hay harvest was delayed because of the rain. Sugarcane aphids continue to spread in the grain sorghum crop and some fields reached threshold levels and were treated. Continue reading at Crop Progress 8 9 15.
As reported by NASS on August 3, 2015
DESPITE HOT AND DRY WEATHER, CROPS LOOK PROMISING
Despite the heat, crops were reported to be in mostly good to excellent condition. Showers have been widely scattered throughout the State and crops look either good or stressed depending on where you are in the county. The weather, however, has been ideal for cutting hay. Conversely, in East Tennessee, vegetable crops are struggling and disease pressure is high because of wet conditions. Sugarcane aphids are showing up in grain sorghum, increasing the need for scouting and spraying. Continue reading Crop Progress 8 2 15.
As reported by NASS on July 27, 2015
CORN AND SOYBEANS LOOK GOOD
Despite higher than normal temperatures across much of the state, crops were reported to be in mostly good to excellent condition. Between scattered showers, farmers applied herbicides to combat late season weeds. A few grain sorghum producers reported problems with worms. Rains have kept grass growing, aiding pasture conditions. Continue reading at Crop Progress 7 26 15.
As reported by NASS on July 20, 2015
SOME CROPS STILL UNDER WATER WHILE OTHER AREAS NEED RAIN
Even though some crops are under water from previous floods in the Delta area, topsoil moisture showed a 12 percent increase in the short category statewide and subsoil moisture increased 7 percent in the same category. Even so, most crops are in good to excellent condition. Continue reading at Crop Progress 7 19 15.
Occasionally, you catch a blister beetle in a sweep net sample in Tennessee soybeans. These large, showy adult beetles may also feed in clusters and defoliate the plants. Defoliation of soybeans in an area a big as a pickup truck is not a concern, but if it occurs over a large area, such as the size of a barn, treatment is warranted. Refer to PB 1768 for control options. Continue reading
As reported by NASS on July 6, 2015
DELTA FARMERS EXPERIENCE FLOODING
Some farmers along the Mississippi River dealt with flooding issues as the river rose. Widespread rains brought much needed moisture to the rest of the state. The heaviest of these rains have diluted applied herbicides, forcing many soybean producers to concentrate on weed control. Continue reading at Crop Progress 7 5 15.
SPOTTY RAINS PREVALENT ACROSS THE STATE
Depending on where you were in any given county, you either looked to the sky in hopes of a rain shower or wished the rain would stop. In most cases, however, producers were in hopes of rain. Crops are beginning to show signs of stress in some areas due to the lack of rain. Continue reading at Crop Progress 6 29 15.
Warmer weather allowed producers to finish their wheat harvest and some ground had already been planted to soybeans. Cotton replanting was practically finished while there was still acreage of soybeans to be replanted. Even with the unrelenting rains that kept producers out of fields earlier in the season, a general rain is now needed to improve crop and livestock conditions. Continue reading at Crop Progress 6 22 15.