Kentucky experienced well below normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.00 inches, 0.79 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 55 degrees for the week, 6 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 30 percent very short, 43 percent short, 26 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 21 percent very short, 45 percent short, and 34 percent adequate. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 7.0 out of a possible seven.
Primary activities for this week included cutting tobacco along with harvesting corn and soybeans. The fall harvest is moving along with no interruption from rain as dry conditions continue to prevail across the state. Temperatures have been cool with a few mornings of light frost.
With 95 percent of the crop mature, corn is 67 percent harvested. Eighty-seven percent of the soybean crop is coloring at this juncture. The bean harvest is rolling along as 70 percent of the crop is dropping leaves. There are reports of soybeans splitting due to the ongoing drought. With that said, soybean condition has stabilized and is mostly good. Most of the tobacco in the state has been cut at this point and stripping has begun. Currently, Tobacco is 20 percent stripped. The condition of housed tobacco is 6 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Tobacco houseburn is rated as 5 percent severe, 20 percent moderate, 23 percent light, and 52 percent with none evident.
Pasture condition continues to decline as drought and cool temperatures are stunting regrowth. Grazing has been limited as grass is brown and dormant. Many farmers have been feeding hay for a month at this point and concern is growing for winter hay stocks. Eleven percent of winter wheat has been planted with 1 percent of the crop emerged. There have been some planting issues as the ground is very dry.
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Corn, Soybeans