Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.27 inches, 0.45 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 58 degrees for the week, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 35 percent very short, 42 percent short, 22 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 27 percent very short, 46 percent short, 26 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.6 out of a possible seven.
Primary activities for this week included stripping tobacco, seeding winter wheat, and harvesting corn and soybeans. Dry weather persists across the state allowing farmers to forge ahead with the fall harvest. The state has now entered moderate drought and, although good for fieldwork, fall growth of pasture and hay has been stunted.
Both corn and soybeans are very low in moisture raising concern for some producers. Corn is now 78 percent harvested. Ninety-three percent of the soybean crop is coloring at this juncture. The bean harvest is rolling along at 48 percent complete as 81 percent of the crop is dropping leaves. Soybean condition remains stable despite the very dry weather.
Currently, tobacco is 28 percent stripped. The condition of housed tobacco is 4 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Tobacco houseburn is rated as 4 percent severe, 17 percent moderate, 33 percent light, and 46 percent with none evident.
Pasture ground continues to struggle due to the ongoing drought. Deterioration and lack of regrowth has greatly limited any grazing even as many producers rotate. Farmers are feeding hay early and tapping into an already tight supply for many. The lack of moisture is causing fall forage seedings to fail germination in some instances.
Winter wheat is being seeded, however moisture is needed. Previously seeded wheat is now emerging.
Categories: Kentucky, Weather