Farmers in Tennessee went through their annual preparations for harvests as fall approached during the week ending Sept. 20, according to NASS. Those preparations included defoliating cotton and resuming grain sorghum and corn harvests.

In addition, soybeans were dropping leaves and the hay harvest continued. Because of dry weather across the state, conditions were perfect for baling hay, the report stated.

"No rain in past five days, sunshine and 85 degrees. Soybeans have been sprayed and are beginning to drop leaves. Corn is in the final stages before harvest," reported David Bussell, extension agent for Overton County.

"All harvests but cotton are in full-throttle mode; yields doing well. Some cotton defoliation sprays have begun. Grain sorghum yields are ranging from 110 to 140 bushels," Dyer County agent Tim Campbell said.

"No rain to interrupt harvest this week, so everything sailing right along. Soybean yields reported are very good and most are pleased with their corn yields. Silage harvest is complete and, again, yield exceeded storage capacity so more bagging was utilized," said Wilson County’s Ruth Correll.

"Cattle are good, but producers are concerned about the decline in prices and where the bottom might be."

Despite overall good weather conditions for it, some harvests are not at the stage they normally would be, according to the report. "Despite an excellent week of harvest weather, harvest progress is still lagging way behind normal. About 25 percent of the corn crop has been shelled, with most producers reporting the majority of their field-average yields above 200 bushels per acre," said Ed Burns, Franklin County agent.

Crop conditions maintained their ratings, with corn and cotton being in good to excellent condition and pastures, soybeans and tobacco fair to good.

Dry weather contributed to the 6.7 days of suitable fieldwork during the week. Topsoil moisture levels were 8 percent very short, 26 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was 8 percent very short, 25 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.