Finally, a week of sunny, dry weather has allowed producers in the Bluegrass State to get into the fields and take care of things they haven’t been able to tend because of wet conditions, said Brandon Bell, Kentucky extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Edmonton, in south-central Metcalfe County.

“Farmers have been scrambling to spray row crops for weeds and put up hay,” Bell said. “The recent weather trend has allowed many of our crops to make a recovery and things seem to be looking a bit more positive.”

According to the July 27 crop and progress condition report from the Kentucky field office of NASS, the state received 0.71 inch of rainfall during the previous week. That’s 0.25 inch below normal for this time of year, and a welcome break from the heavy rainfall the week before. Temperatures were up and down during the week, but farmers saw 4.7 days out of seven suitable for fieldwork.

Areas near the Ohio River are still underwater. Soybean and tobacco crops in some areas have been destroyed completely. The report states some farmers plan to replant double-crop soybeans into the beginning of August.

Primary activities during the week included cutting hay and topping tobacco where conditions allowed. Tobacco conditions increased slightly, with 60 percent rated good to excellent, compared to 58 percent the week before; however, target spot and black shank are moving into some tobacco fields.

Hay conditions had decreased since June, with 64 percent rated good to excellent, compared to 72 percent at the end of June. Pasture conditions in most remain in mostly good to excellent condition.

Statewide, corn is estimated at 87 percent silked and 55 percent of soybeans are blooming.