Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending June 29, 2014.
The warm, dry weather allowed producers to make excellent progress with wheat harvest, which is still reported to show average to above average yields. The warm weather benefitted the cotton crop, which is squaring a rate above last year and the 5-year average. Persistent rains over the past two weeks are now showing advantages through corn starting to tassel ahead of normal. There were 5.0 days suitable for field work last week.
Topsoil moisture levels were rated 2 percent very short, 13 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 16 percent surplus.
County Agent Comments
Corn progressed well with most acres approaching or beginning to tassel. Cotton grew better with warmer days and nights. Soybeans progressing well with all the scattered showers we continue to have. Progress has been made this week with wheat harvest between showers. Yields ranging from 42 to 80+ bushels, however going to do well to average overall mid 60’s to mid 70’s with the kind of winter weather we experienced and the wet May.
–Tim Campbell, Dyer County
Wheat harvest continues with farmers making good progress between rains. Cotton is in fair condition because of excess rain and lack of heat units. Corn is ranging from fair to excellent depending on location. Low lying areas are causing stunted growth in corn. Pastures and cattle are in excellent condition.
–J.C. DuPree, Lauderdale County
Farmers have started cutting their wheat with a good amount of bushels/acre reported. Those that are double cropping are putting soybeans in the ground, and the corn is looking good. Weather was in the 90’s with a few scattered showers throughout the week.
–Matthew Deist, Marion County
Still very dry in north and east Knox County.
–Neal Denton, Knox County
Pastures are looking much better due to most of county receiving approximately 2 inches of rain during past 10 days.
–Chris Ramsey, Sullivan County
Rain, rain, and more rain. One farmer stated the other day that he never has seen such a wet June. It is helping corn now that the majority is at tassel. All crops look good for the most part. Farmers have gotten caught-up for the most part on spraying weeds. Some cotton is at 20-24 inches.
–Jeff Via, Fayette County
Rains continue to be spotty throughout the county.
–Ricky Skillington, Marshall County
Wheat harvest is wrapping up with many producers very happy with yields. The corn crop is looking very promising and there has been a lot of progress in regard to soybean planting. Field work is a bit spotty due to the scattered rain events across the county. Livestock and hay producers have finished the first hay cutting with good results.
–Walter Battle, Haywood County
Showers are spotty.
–Mary Ann Caylor, Anderson County
Producers continue to harvest wheat and plant double-crop soybeans, as the weather allows. Cloudy conditions and showers hampered progress late week. Corn is tasseling and entering the pollination stage. Wheat harvest is almost complete and soybean planting should finish up by the first week of July.
–Jeff Lannom, Weakley County
We are in need of a good general rain. The showers have been very spotted. We finished our wheat crop and our yields are running 80 plus. Soybeans and corn both are beginning to show need for moisture.
–Larry Moorehead, Moore County
Pop-up showers have produced rain everyday but not everywhere in the county, with total accumulation ranging from a trace to over two inches in isolated spots. Wheat harvest continues to be excellent with yields hovering up to the 90 bushels per acre range, with a few fields dropping in the 60 bushel range. A few producers are beginning to report being through with harvest and bean planting. About 95% of the wheat crop is harvested. All but a few late planted acres of corn is tasseling and silking. A few acres of second cut hay are being harvested.
–Ed Burns, Franklin County
Based on TVA rain gauges we have had 3″ of rain in the last 60 days. Not enough for crop growth and evaporation in 90 degree temperatures. Some areas of the county have not received this much rain. Hay is yielding 1/2 to 2/3 of normal yield. Some tobacco had been reset because so much of the first setting died due to lack of moisture. Some corn is beginning to tassle.
–George M. Heiskell, Claiborne County
It rained every day this week. Hay producers need some sunshine to get back to harvesting first cutting. Wheat is ripe and ready to harvest as soon as weather permits.
–John Goddard, Loudon County
