Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.58 inches, 0.82 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 54 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 8 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.9 out of a possible seven.
Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco, and seeding winter wheat. The week was bookended with cool, wet weather proving a hindrance to fieldwork at times. With that said, farmers were able to push ahead with progress in the middle portion of the week. Housed tobacco was reported 73 percent in good condition as stripping moves along.
Pasture condition remains mostly good, however heavy rain will make it susceptible to livestock traffic. Also, falling temperatures will stunt regrowth moving forward. Livestock are in mostly good condition at this time. Winter wheat planting is pushing ahead as the current crop is in mostly good condition.
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Tobacco, Livestock