| Between the Rows - July 7, 2010 (Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa) |
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Kentucky
The warmest temperatures of the year were the week of June 20, according to the NASS Kentucky Field Office.
While livestock producers were being cautioned to watch their animals for heat stress, growers were enjoying the benefits of early season moisture and the current heat wave. Corn was reported to be 58 percent good and 17 excellent, as tasseling stood at 44 percent, considerably ahead of last year’s 10 and the five-year average of 18. Corn silking is also ahead of schedule, at 17 percent, up from of last year’s 3 and the five-year average of 14.
Most of the soybean crop has been planted, 95 percent to be exact, as of June 27. Of that, 89 percent had emerged, again well ahead of last year’s 80. The condition of the crop was reported as 1 percent poor, 15 fair, 57 good and 27 excellent.
The tobacco crop is reported to be in good shape, but there are some instances of black shank. As of last week, 42 percent of set tobacco was shorter than 12 inches, with 43 percent from 12-24 inches in height and 15 percent over 24 inches.
The winter wheat harvest is continuing, with 80 percent of the crop in as compared to last year at this time, when only 66 had been harvested.
The hay crop may be the only thing suffering from rain right now, although most of it is in good shape. As of June 27, pasture was rated as 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 22 fair, 58 good and 16 excellent, according to NASS.
By Tim Thornberry
Kentucky Correspondent
Tennessee
It seems to be feast or famine for Tennessee farmers. First, there was too much rain. Now, there’s not enough. Add hot weather to the mix, and you get a recipe for putting stress on crops.
“After this week’s 95-plus temperatures and dry weather, we are beginning to see stress areas in some fields on some crops,” explained Dyer County Agent Tim Campbell. “There are concerns about what effect these hot days will have on corn crop pollination. Cotton is progressing well. Soybeans progressing well, but need water, especially those planted after wheat.”
The combination of high temps and low rainfall have taken a toll on crops in the west-central county of Lawrence, according to the county’s agent.
“The extreme heat has drastically dried out soils and set back all crops. All crops, especially corn, are in need of moisture and they need it soon. Wheat harvest and first hay cutting are complete. Farmers are waiting on moisture to plant soybeans behind wheat,” said Calvin Bryant, agent for Lawrence County.
The “D” word was mentioned by Franklin County Agent Ed Burns in his report. “About a third of the county is beginning to show moderate drought symptoms, about a third showing slight drought symptoms and a third got adequate rain from afternoon thunder showers,” he said.
Trousdale County also seems to be experiencing drought-like conditions, according to agent Jason Evitts: “Some parts of the county are extremely dry. Tobacco that was planted in the past two weeks is really struggling. Some may have to be re-set. Pastures have started to dry up over the past week. Corn that is silking may not receive rain soon enough.”
Jeffery Via of Fayette County said though it’s dry and some crops could use rain, its lack has helped certain farmers in his county: “Everything looks good, but dry. Where we have irrigation, it is running. This dry weather has helped those harvesting wheat and cutting hay.”
Loudon County is another place where lack of rain has helped certain crops. “A dry week and hot temperatures have allowed nearly all of our early hay to be baled and stored. Tobacco is looking good, some target spot is showing up. Soybeans and corn are still good. More face flies and horn flies on cattle than normal. Pasture and hay fields need rain,” reported John Goddard.
By Tesa Nauman
Tennessee Correspondent
Iowa
The respite of hot, humid weather the week of June 21-27 gave Iowa cropland an opportunity to recover from excess moisture, but was short-lived when the ground became quickly saturated again with heavy rains across parts of the state.
“Unfortunately, crop conditions have continued to deteriorate due to excess moisture, especially in southern Iowa,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. “The heavy and persistent rains have prevented most fieldwork for several weeks. The dry weather forecast for this week will be very welcome news for farmers who still need to get into the hay fields.”
According to the June 28 NASS report, with just two dry days, farmers focused on spraying soybean fields (which are becoming highly concentrated with weed growth) and harvesting hay when possible. “The consistent showers have taken a toll on crops throughout the state,” the report said. “Thursday (June 24) and Friday were much-needed dry days and helped maintain crop conditions.”
The report said the earliest planted cornfields have just begun to tassel and the crop is rated 3 percent very poor to 22 excellent. All soybeans in the northern two-thirds of Iowa also have been planted and 95 percent have emerged statewide.
Virgil Schmitt, extension field agronomist for the state’s east-central and southeast counties, said there has likely been a lot of nitrogen lost this spring with the excess rainfall; however, “the sooner (nitrogen) is applied, the greater the yield response will likely be,” but it can even pay up through tasseling.
By Doug Schmitz
Iowa Correspondent |
| 7/7/2010 |
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