RELEASED: September 12, 2018

September 1 Tennessee Crop Production Forecast

Corn production in Tennessee is forecast at 127 million bushels,  unchanged from the August forecast and up 5 percent from the previous crop. Yield was estimated at a record 174.0 bushels per acre, unchanged from last month and up 3.0 bushels from the 2017 level. Acres for harvest as grain were estimated at 730,000 acres, up 20,000 acres from 2017. U.S. corn production is forecast at 14.8 billion bushels, up 2 percent from the August forecast and up 2 percent from 2017. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 181.3 bushels per acre, up 2.9 bushels from last month and up 4.7 bushels from 2017. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 81.8 million acres, unchanged from the August forecast and down 1 percent from 2017. Continue reading at SepCrop18_TN.

MARKED PROGRESS MADE ON CORN, TOBACCO HARVEST

Dry weather last week paved the way for Tennessee growers to make marked progress on corn and tobacco harvest. Producer reported corn yields are better than earlier anticipated. Soybean harvest was just beginning last week and cotton was being defoliated. Plentiful amounts of hay was harvested and put up over the past week in most areas while in other areas, warmer temperatures have limited pasture growth and hay may need to be fed sooner this year. There were 5.5 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture rated 5 percent very short, 20 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 12 percent very short, 29 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN_09_10_18. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-09-11-2018.

Corn and soybeans were up; cotton and wheat were down for the week.

This week corn and soybean prices moved mostly sideways as markets are
awaiting the next round of USDA yield and production estimates. National and
Tennessee yields are anticipated to be record high for both corn and soybeans.
Current national average yield estimates from private companies are 177-182 bu/acre for corn and 50-54 bu/acre for soybeans. Current USDA estimates are national average yield of 178.4 bu/acre and 51.6 bu/acre and for Tennessee 174 bu/acre and 49 bu/acre. A one bushel increase or decrease in national average yield will add or subtract about 82 million bushels of corn or 89 million bushels of soybeans from total domestic production. The USDA releases the September WASDE on Wednesday (September 12). Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.

ROW CROP HARVEST IN PROGRESS

Corn harvest was active over the past week, with good yields reported. Soybean and cotton harvest are expected to start in the coming week. Cooler temperatures stimulated pasture growth. There were 6.0 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture rated 6 percent very short, 27 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 10 percent very short, 31 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.  Continue reading at TN_09_04_18. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-09-04-2018.