Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending July 13, 2014.
Pennsylvania had an average of 5.5 days suitable for field work this week. The average height of emerged corn is 52 inches and some corn has just begun to silk. Winter wheat is almost all planed in the state. Likewise, potatoes are almost all planted. Cherries are showing no sign of improvement. Some reports of dry weather but mostly adequate sub and topsoil conditions. Temperatures will only range from the high 70’s to low 80’s with periodic thunderstorms early in the week. Thunderstorms expected Saturday and Sunday with a high of 82. Main field activities for the week will be spraying, haymaking, and harvesting.
REPORTERS COMMENTS
Reporters are from Extension Service (Ext), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Conservation District (CD), farmers, commodity specialists, or other knowledgeable individuals.
ADAMS/FRANKLIN County, Thomas Kerr
Wheat harvest has begun and yields vary from poor to excellent. Storms in the area have slowed some of the harvest. Fruit has escaped any hail so far, but with many days until harvest, farmers are cautious.
BEAVER County, Luke Fritz
Wheat harvest is starting, hay harvest continues.
CENTRE County, Dick A. Decker
Good weather for field work. Some showers, .75 inches of rainfall for the week.
FOREST County, Tom Tanner
Lots of yellowing of soybeans and corn. Way to much rain. All the storms at the beginning of the week cause a lot of forest damage, road washing, and very difficult for farmers!
INDIANA County, J. Scott Overdorff
The oats are all in head and have a nice blue-green look to them. Have most of the hay cut and made on first cutting. Should get some nice second cutting if we get some rain. The corn and soybeans could use some rain too right now. Hope everyone has a nice and safe farming week!
JUNIATA/SNYDER County, William C. Sheaffer
Wheat harvest has begun with the yields being above average. Showers have made baling of the straw difficult. Potato leafhoppers are beginning to show up in the third cutting of alfalfa, but not enough to warrant spraying. Harvesting wheat, baling straw, haymaking and spraying were the main field activities.
LEBANON County, Charlene Ziegler
Storms brought anywhere from 1/2 inch to 3 inches of rain. Fields continue to be sprayed for weeds. Most of the barley has been combined and double crop corn and soybeans planted. Wheat and rye will soon be ready to combine.
MERCER County, Jim Rust
Late planted oats are very short in height and straw yields will be low. On Friday our local weather station announced that since June 1st thru July 10th it had rained 17 out of 40 days. Strawberries are done harvesting. Blueberries and raspberries are being harvested.
MONTGOMERY County, Andrew Frankenfield
Hazy, hot and humid with scattered t-storms has been the rule for the past couple weeks. Most areas of the county only received a tenth or two of an inch once or twice in the past week. Crops are drought stressed but forecasted rain should help them considerably. First cutting grass hay is still being made, some of it is mulch at this point. Wheat is coming off, but harvest is not complete. All eyes are on the weather right now, hoping and praying for a soaking rain.
POTTER County, Nicole L. Santangelo
Wet.
WESTMORELAND County, Thomas Sierzega
Very hot weather with scattered showers. Some areas wet, other areas very dry. Hot weather allowing crops to grow at a rapid pace. Could use some overall rain throughout the county.
YORK County, John Rowehl
Reports on wheat crop are very favorable both in yield and quality. Corn continues to show moisture stress. Earlier fields are in tassel.
