Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending June 10, 2018.
REPORTER COMMENTS BY COUNTY – Comments are based on remarks made by extension agents, farmers, commodity specialists, and other knowledgeable individuals.
NORTHERN
LOUDOUN (Jim Hilleary)
Rain and wet soil continues to hamper production work. Most hay fields are pending first-cut. Early maturity corn, not in low areas is doing well. Pasture biomass is significant. Do not anticipate an improvement in field conditions for several days.
MADISON (Brad Jarvis)
Flooding waters had a severe impact on local agriculture with many of the corn, soybean, small grain, and hay/pasture fields in the lower basins of the Robinson and Rapidan River. Corn and soybean fields in the flooded bottoms were under water or standing water for 10-12 hours. After field visits to the affected areas, it was determined that 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans were damaged with 400 acres with major damage, and 600 acres of minor damage. The estimated hay crop loss (stored and standing) is $25,000, but the biggest expense will be the cost for debris removal, nutrient management and sedimentation management.
FREDERICK (Mark Sutphin)
The 3.5+ inches of rain in the last week on top of 8 to 10 inches of rain the two weeks prior has left field conditions very wet, flooding of low lying areas, and heavy disease pressure.
WESTERN
ROCKBRIDGE (Thomas Stanley)
Rockbridge had a 5-day window of clear weather well suited for hay making starting last Sunday. Wednesday night was breezy with no morning dew on many hay meadows accelerating the curing process. Most of the remaining corn acres were planted as well. Thunder shower activity returned Friday.
BATH/HIGHLAND (John Benner)
Very wet week again.
CENTRAL
CAROLINE (Mike Broaddus)
Large amounts of rainfall in the past month has led to flooding in many low-lying areas, and has affected the potential yield and quality of this fall’s corn and soybean crops in those low-lying areas.
ORANGE (Brad Jarvis)
Flooding waters had a severe impact on local agriculture with many of the corn, soybean, small grain, and hay/pasture fields in the lower basins of the Robinson and Rapidan River. Corn and soybean fields in the flooded bottoms were under water or standing water for 10-12 hours. After field visits to the affected areas, it was determined that 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans were damaged with 400 acres with major damage and 600 acres of minor damage. The estimated hay crop loss (stored and standing) is $25,000, but the biggest expense will be the cost for debris removal, nutrient management and sedimentation management.
 |
AgFax Weed SolutionsUnable to display feed at this time. |
|
CAMPBELL (Todd Scott)
With the heavy moisture, hay is two to three weeks behind. Quality will be poor. We’ve also had high moisture and humidity, so we expect wheat to have issues.
EASTERN
KING GEORGE (Mike Broaddus)
Large amounts of rainfall in the past month has led to flooding in many low-lying areas, and has affected the potential yield and quality of this fall’s corn and soybean crops in those low-lying areas.
SOUTHWESTERN
SCOTT (Scott Jerrell)
Received a much needed dry week where farmers were able to finish hay. Pastures are struggling, and hay has been around 75% normal yield. Strawberries are winding down, but snap beans and cukes should be ready within a week.
SOUTHERN
LUNENBURG (Lindy Tucker)
Hot and humid. Scattered rains this week made hay production a challenge. Field crops are doing well and soybean planting is starting to catch up to where it should be.
SOUTHEASTERN
CHESAPEAKE CITY (Watson Lawrence Jr.)
Wheat harvest is just getting underway this week. Good soil moisture conditions for tillage and planting soybeans. Hay and alfalfa harvest is very active this week with good drying conditions.
BRUNSWICK (Cynthia Gregg)
Last week was a nice week, and several farm chores including planting were full swing. Some test plots went in last week as well. A storm Sunday evening slowed things down a bit for the beginning of the upcoming week.
General Comments
Days suitable for fieldwork were 4.7. Rain and wet soils continue to hamper fieldwork; pastures are struggling. Farming activities for the week included making hay, harvesting wheat, and planting crops as the weather conditions allowed.
