Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending August 24, 2014.
Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.85 inches, 1.01 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 9 percent very short, 25 percent short, 58 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 9 percent very short, 32 percent short, 54 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.1 out of a possible seven.
Primary activities this week included harvesting hay and topping and cutting tobacco. Scattered rainfall received last week was beneficial to most all crops. Some locations continued to report dry conditions. Producers remain concerned that late planted double crop soybeans may be in danger if there is an early frost. High temperatures and humidity created heat stress conditions for livestock. Recent precipitation has slightly improved hay and pasture conditions.
Climate Summary
Above Normal Temperatures and Much Above Normal Rainfall:
Intense heat and humid conditions made way back into the Commonwealth this past period. A upper level ridge of high pressure built into the region on Thursday and remained through the weekend, making way for the hottest and most humid conditions of the year. Each day saw highs get into the upper 80s to middle 90s, along with dewpoints rising into the 70s.
The hot and humid conditions prompted a Heat Advisory to be issued for much of the western half of the state as the heat index topped 100 degrees over multiple days. Conditions pushed the livestock heat stress index into the danger to emergency category. Accompanying the heat wave was exceptionally high rainfall totals across much of the state.
Scattered showers and storms fired on a near daily basis. The very moist and unstable air mass allowed for very efficient rainfall producers and excessive lightning at times. The state averaged nearly 2 inches across the period, which was over an inch above normal. Saying this, the Purchase was spared and dry conditions continue to deepen.
Temperatures for the period averaged 78 degrees across the state which was 3 degrees warmer than normal and 6 degrees warmer than the previous period. High temperatures averaged from 90 in the West to 85 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 2 degrees warmer than normal in the West to 1 degree cooler than normal in the East.
Low temperatures averaged from 71 degrees in the West to 68 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 6 degrees warmer than normal in the West to 6 degrees warmer than normal in the East. The extreme high temperature for the period was 98 degrees at MAYFIELD 6SW and the extreme low was 62 degrees at BLACK MOUNTAIN ARC.
Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 1.85 inches statewide which was 1.01 inches above normal and 220% of normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 0.69 inches, Central 2.25 inches, Bluegrass 2.17 inches and East 2.29 inches, which was -0.07, 1.40, 1.32 and 1.38 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 0.00 inches at MAYFIELD 6SW to a high of 5.10 inches at OWENTON 5E.
