While crops in most of Tennessee were in good condition, those in the flooded western area of the state face an uncertain fate, according to NASS for the week ending July 26.

“Some farms in the flood plains of the Obion and Forked Deer rivers and the Mississippi River are still facing flood water on cropland, with a slow decline in flood waters. It is still debatable whether flooded acreage will be replanted or not due to slow receding of water and the ground drying up enough to replant,” reported Tim Campbell, Dyer County extension agent.

“These producers are also faced with the potential of replanted crop failure if we experience an early killing frost in October.”

Crops in the area not affected by flooding continued to progress well, and farmers were able to attend to various issues during the 4.6 days in the week that were suitable for fieldwork. Farmers applied herbicides to combat late-season weeds, hay producers worked on their second cutting and rain kept grass growing, aiding pasture conditions, stated NASS.

“Insect pressures continue to remain light. Isolated reports of worms in grain sorghum have been reported. Farmers continue to battle late-season weeds, especially Palmer pigweed, popping through the crop canopy in fields that appeared clean,” Campbell said.

Farmers in other parts of the state could have used some of the excess water West Tennessee farms remained under, because temperatures were higher than normal during the week, the report states.

“Excessive heat has dropped crop conditions this week, with soil moisture becoming very limited in some areas. Scattered rainfall has helped crops where precipitation occurred, but left other parts of the county wanting. Some post-emerge herbicide applications have been made to double-crop soybeans this week,” reported Jeff Lannom of Weakley County.

Other counties in the Volunteer State that needed rain got it. “The rains came in around Tuesday night (July 21) and continued for most of the week off and on. Crops look good for the most part. Farmers sprayed for weeds and insects earlier in the week. Peaches are also being harvested,” said Fayette County extension agent Jeff Via.

“The county received a much-needed (2-plus inches) rain that should put the finishing touch on dry land early soybeans and corn. The rain provided the cotton and wheat-soybean crops and pastures a shot of water, which was needed following a period of very high temperatures,” Walter Battle, Haywood County agent, reported.

“First time in 30 years I’ve seen corn and beans both in excellent condition in late July. We are blessed,” exclaimed John Goddard, Loudon County agent.

Topsoil moisture was 1 percent very short, 16 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were 1 percent very short, 16 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus statewide.