RELEASED: September 12, 2017

Tennessee cotton forecast up 29 percent from 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the September Crop Production report today, showing an increase in yields for most crops. “This is a very promising season for agricultural producers in Tennessee,” according to Debra Kenerson, Tennessee State Statistician. “With the exception of burley tobacco, which showed a 100 pound per acre decrease from the August forecast, the September forecasts show yield increases for all other crops. Continue reading at SepCrop17_TN.

PRODUCERS ACTIVE WITH FIELD WORK AS WEATHER ALLOWED

Corn harvest resumed where fields and corn had dried down enough after the rain and wind events from Hurricane Harvey. Producers also cut hay and silage. Crop damage and loss were being assessed. Yields from all harvested crops were very promising. Cotton defoliation is expected to begin soon. Producers are getting into fields as much as possible ahead of next week’s rain forecast. There were 5.8 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was 5 percent very short, 5 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was 5 percent very short, 7 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN_09_11_17. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at  CropProg-09-11-2017.

Corn, cotton, and soybeans were up; wheat was mixed for the week.

Commodity markets are positioning for potential damage from hurricane Irma.
December cotton prices were up 2.71 cents (and set a new 1-year high at 75.75)
for the week as expected land fall of Irma in Georgia and the Carolinas could
cause significant damage to the cotton crop.

The marketing year for corn and soybeans came to a conclusion on August 31. Compared to the previous marketing year, exports were up 19% and 14% for corn and soybeans, respectively. Top importers of soybeans (percent of world imports) were China (64%), the European Union (10%), and Mexico (3%). Top importers of corn were Japan (11%), Mexico (11%), and the European Union (10%). From 2013-2016, 13-15% of US produced corn was exported and 46-50% of US produced soybeans (this does not include processed products
such as DDGs and soybean meal). Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.

HEAVY RAINS STALL HARVEST AND CAUSE SOME CROP DAMAGE

While some areas of the State benefitted from the heavy rains resulting from Hurricane Harvey, those same rains along with strong winds caused crop lodging and left some fields under water in heavy crop producing areas. Before the rains, the corn that had been harvested showed promising yields. Producers now have to wait for corn and fields to dry down before resuming harvest. There were only 3.8 days suitable for field work, compared to 6.1 the previous week. Topsoil moisture was 3 percent short, 58 percent adequate and 39 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN_09_05_17. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at  CropProg-09-05-2017.