Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.20 inches, 0.64 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 70 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 10 percent very short, 33 percent short, 52 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 30 percent short, 57 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.7 out of a possible seven.
Primary activities for this week included cutting tobacco along with harvesting corn and soybeans. The fall harvest is rolling along as dry weather persists across the state. Temperatures have been unseasonably hot, coupled with the dryness, leading to stress for crops that remain in the field.
Ninety-five percent of the corn crop is in the dent stage. With 81 percent of the crop mature, corn is 43 percent harvested. Corn condition has declined as drought and heat are taking a toll. Corn yields seem to be greatly varied as rain was spotty at key points in the growing season for many producers. Seventy percent of the soybean crop is coloring at this juncture. The bean harvest is moving along steadily as 46 percent of the crop is dropping leaves. There are reports of uneven development in some plants and late soybeans are being negatively affected by current weather. Like corn, soybean condition is showing subtle decline. Eighty-six percent of tobacco has been cut at this point. The condition of housed tobacco is 4 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.
Pasture condition has deteriorated due to hot and dry weather. With pasture ground drying up, farmers will need to begin supplementing with hay for livestock. The condition of hay is rated as 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 7 percent excellent.
Categories: Kentucky, Harvesting