Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 3.21 inches, 2.23 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 15 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 22 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.4 out of a possible seven.
Primary activities for this week included spraying, cutting hay, topping tobacco, and monitoring field crops. The state received heavy rain through much of the the week. The Eastern part of the state was hit the heaviest with a tremendous amount of flood damage. Crops were completely destroyed in the areas hit the hardest. For other areas, the rain was lighter and improved crop conditions substantially.
Corn is 88 percent silking while 61 percent of the crop is in the milk stage. Forty percent of corn is doughing at this juncture with 20 percent in the dent stage. Corn condition has improved overall as much of the grain resides in the western part of the state which received less heavy precipitation. With that said, for some the rain is too little, too late. Concern for corn yields linger for many producers. A good deal of pollination in the corn crop occurred during the drought period and was stunted. There were some reports of corn benefitting greatly from the rain, but the improvement is a direct correlation with when it was planted.
Sixty-eight percent of soybeans are blooming with 46 percent of the crop setting pods. Much like corn, the overall condition of soybeans has improved as much of the grain heavy areas avoided heavy flooding.
Tobacco is 60 percent blooming at this time as 34 percent of the crop has been topped. The condition of tobacco has improved with recent rain.
Pasture regrowth has been aided by recent rain and thus overall condition has improved. There are areas that remain dry and farmers have supplemented with hay in those places. Hay supply is rated as 2 percent very short, 18 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. The quality of harvested hay is mostly good, but yields have been adversely affected by the dry summer. Overall hay condition is mostly good as well.
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Corn