Crops in Tennessee during the week ending Aug. 16 continued to remain in good to excellent condition, with one exception: Grain sorghum. Sugarcane aphids continued to plague that crop while other insects kept farmers monitoring pest activity, according to the weekly crop report from NASS.

Farmers had six days of suitable fieldwork that week. They readied their equipment for corn harvest, which probably will start in a few weeks, plus they cut corn silage and finished second cuttings of hay.

“The farmers in Fayette County received rain on (Aug. 10), but when it dried they went back into the fields. Many are still spraying weeds and insects. We are finding worms in milo. Milo is ready on many fields to be sprayed,” reported agent Jeff Via of Fayette County.

“Sugarcane aphids were found in the county in grain sorghum this week, and control measures have started. Low levels of defoliating insects have been detected in soybeans,” Jeff Lannom, Weakley County agent, said.

The reports stated rain in some areas of the Volunteer State gave crops a boost during the week. 

“Scattered showers again this week; parts of county had heavy showers and wind causing some reported crop damage. First corn silage was chopped, and yield is very good,” said Wilson County’s A. Ruth Correll.

Some crops in areas that didn’t get rain are suffering because of the lack of moisture, according to the report. “We are dry. Our corn crop is basically done, and we’ll have a good crop because it basically was made before it turned dry. Soybeans, fall hay crops and pastures are hurting,” said Larry Moorehead of Moore County.

Topsoil moisture in the state was 3 percent very short, 25 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were 3 percent very short, 24 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus.