Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.02 inches, 0.68 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 51 degrees for the week, 6 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 44 percent very short, 40 percent short, 15 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 38 percent very short, 42 percent short, and 20 percent adequate. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.8 out of a possible seven.
Primary activities for this week included stripping tobacco, seeding winter wheat, and harvesting corn and soybeans. The state continues to be in a moderate to severe drought.
Although these conditions are conducive to field work, the persistently dry conditions are taking a toll. Farmers are contending with insufferable dust and fires in some instances. Grain moisture in soybeans is very low leading to harvest loss. There is a good deal of worry for both corn and soybean yields overall. A main grain barge in the state is unable to transport due to extremely low water levels. Producers with on farm storage have shifted focus in hopes that rain will come and help resolve the issue. Corn is now 85 percent harvested. Ninety-five percent of the soybean crop is coloring at this juncture. The bean harvest is rolling along at 60 percent complete as 88 percent of the crop is dropping leaves. Soybean condition has worsened due to the very dry weather.
Currently, Tobacco is 35 percent stripped. Quality is becoming a concern as moisture is needed to bring housed tobacco in case. The condition of housed tobacco is 7 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.
Pasture ground is in bad shape at this point. Lack of moisture and cool temperatures have halted re-growth as farmers are supplementing with hay. Ponds and streams are drying up and limiting water sources.
Winter wheat seeding is moving forward, however some that was previously planted needs rain to emerge. Many producers are beginning to fear that wheat will not receive enough moisture to germinate.
Categories: Kentucky, Harvesting