Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.44 inches, 0.42 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 13 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.8 out of a possible seven.
Primary activities for this week included cutting hay along with cutting and topping tobacco. Mild temperatures to start the week gave way to a warm up that brought scattered rain. Precipitation amounts varied greatly with some flood in the central part of the state. Even with the rainfall, farmers were able to forge ahead in the fields.
Eighty-nine percent of the corn crop is in the milk stage while 71 percent of the crop is doughing. Fifty-four percent of corn is denting at this juncture with 2 percent of the crop mature. Corn condition remains fairly steady following drought earlier in the season.
Ninety percent of soybeans are blooming with 74 percent of the crop setting pods. Sixteen percent of the beans in the state are coloring. Soybean condition continues to be mostly fair overall.
Tobacco is 87 percent blooming at this time as 66 percent of the crop has been topped. The tobacco harvest is just getting underway with 19 percent of the crop cut. The condition of tobacco remains mostly good.
Pastures have improved across the state with the help of recent rain and cooler temperatures. Despite scattered rain, a good deal of hay is being harvested as farmers look to stock up for the winter months.
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Hay & Forage, Harvesting