tn-crop-weather State Tennessee Crop Weather Week Ending Date July 20, 2008 Agricultural Summary The plentiful rainfall from two weeks ago did not last, as seasonably dry, hot weather returned last week. Farmers across the State made good progress with field activities, but the dry weather is beginning to adversely impact the condition of crops. Just over a quarter of the corn crop has reached the dough stage, almost a week behind normal. Cotton remained in mostly good condition with nearly half of the crop setting bolls. Soybeans are beginning to stress, but the crop still remains in mostly good-to-fair condition. Over half of the crop was blooming with just under a third setting pods. Nearly a quarter of the State's tobacco has been topped and was rated in mostly good-to-fair condition. Some farmers were also able to make progress on their second cuttings of hay. There were six days considered suitable for fieldwork last week. As of Friday, topsoil moisture levels were rated 13 percent very short, 45 percent short, and 42 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 20 percent very short, 39 percent short, and 41 percent adequate. Temperatures across Tennessee last week average about 1 degree below normal and precipitation averaged well below normal. Crop Progress Table CROP PROGRESS: This Last 5-Year Week Week 2007 Avg Corn - Silking 88 77 95 95 Corn - Dough 26 6 51 49 Cotton - Squaring 96 82 98 97 Cotton - Setting Bolls 46 14 64 52 Soybeans - Blooming 54 38 66 58 Soybeans - Setting Pods 29 15 39 34 Tobacco - Topped 22 10 20 22 Crop Condition Table CROP CONDITION: Very Pr Poor Fair Good Exc Corn 2 7 28 47 16 Cotton 0 5 23 62 10 Hay 5 13 36 39 7 Range and Pasture 6 18 38 34 4 Soybeans 4 10 26 49 11 Tobacco 0 5 25 59 11 County Agent Comments "Corn is in full tassel and we are getting a few small showers to help. Soybean planting is done. Cattle producers are spraying cattle or fly tagging them to control flies." Steve Glass, Decatur County "This past weekend brought much needed moisture with reports of 1.5 to 2.5 inches county wide. Some corn suffered too much heat and dry weather and will affect yields negatively. Soybeans have started blooming after receiving rain. Producers were able to start making post-emerge herbicide applications to double-crop soybeans. Additional rainfall will be needed soon to keep crops growing and to protect yields." Jeff Lannom, Weakley County "Nearly 5 inches of rainfall blanketed the county last week, which drastically improved crop conditions. The rain did, however, bring some storms which caused some of our dark tobacco to be blown over, twisted, and damaged. Pastures are slowing looking better and all cultivated crops have greatly improved." Ronnie Barron, Cheatham County "Giles County is getting in desperate need for moisture. Pastures are drying up fast. Corn is at critical time for water. Late planted beans have had very little moisture. Some areas of the county received rain last week where most did not." Kevin Rose, Giles County "Continued hot and dry weather is taking its toll! Temperatures continue to hit the 90 plus mark, with little or no rain activity. Pastures are quickly running thin and beginning to brown. Producers are having to begin feeding hay to supplement declining pastures. Very little to no hay is being produced for second harvest, several fields being grazed rather than cut." Ed Burns, Franklin County "Most of the area received much needed rain (1.5 to 2.25 inches) early in the week. All crops responded quite favorably, however crops need more moisture by the end of the week. Late planted soybeans behind wheat are up to a good stand and are making good growth. The situation with livestock water supplies has improved with the rains of the past two weeks. Producers are harvesting a short second cutting of hay with hay supplies better than this time last year." Bob Sliger, Monroe County For the Period: Monday July 14, 2008 To: Sunday July 20, 2008 TEMPERATURE ------------ PRECIPITATION ------------ ----------- CURR RAIN SINCE SINCE STATION HI LO AVG DFN WEEK DAYS JAN 1 DFN APR 1 DFN ------- -- -- -- -- ----- --- ----- ----- ----- ---- Ames_Plantation 97 59 77 -2 0.00 0 38.68 +7.71 23.00 +5.98 Tri-City_RGNL_A 91 56 72 -3 0.26 1 19.80 -4.24 8.88 -4.68 Brownsville_TN 96 63 79 -2 0.00 0 34.02 +3.05 17.77 +0.76 Chattanooga/Lov 94 65 79 -1 0.50 1 23.26 -8.01 9.12 -6.25 Clarksville_Sew 95 61 78 +0 0.01 1 31.45 +2.30 18.32 +2.99 Cookeville 90 57 74 -3 0.00 0 27.49 -5.42 14.57 -3.14 Covington 94 62 77 -4 0.70 1 34.39 +3.73 18.73 +1.93 Crossville_AP 88 56 73 -2 0.01 1 27.96 -4.59 14.79 -2.56 Dayton 89 61 75 -2 0.92 1 23.63 -8.96 11.33 -5.06 Dickson_AG 91 57 75 -4 0.00 0 33.74 +2.28 18.82 +1.54 Dover_1W 92 60 76 -2 0.00 0 35.91 +5.51 18.55 +2.22 Dyersburg 99 63 80 -2 0.00 0 25.56 -3.71 12.02 -4.27 Erwin_1W 90 56 72 +0 0.34 1 20.52 -8.21 10.73 -6.35 Huntingdon_Wate 94 61 77 -3 0.00 0 35.25 +4.55 18.65 +1.87 Jackson_Exp_Stn 95 61 78 -2 0.00 0 41.19 +10.27 22.47 +4.98 Kingston_AG 91 59 76 +0 0.30 1 24.84 -9.19 11.98 -5.80 Knoxville_AP 92 64 76 -1 2.30 1 25.36 -3.05 13.14 -1.81 Lewisburg 95 54 74 -3 0.14 1 25.96 -6.40 14.16 -3.46 Lexington_TN 93 60 77 -3 0.90 1 41.48 +11.62 24.12 +7.61 Linden 94 58 76 -3 0.09 1 37.57 +4.89 20.48 +2.96 Martin 96 61 79 -1 0.00 0 34.38 +3.55 16.54 -0.88 Mc_Minnville_Tn 93 62 78 +1 0.11 1 22.11 -9.37 12.02 -4.87 Memphis_AG 97 61 80 -4 0.34 1 39.96 +9.87 22.66 +6.24 Milan 96 60 77 -2 0.00 0 39.24 +7.63 22.09 +4.27 Murfreesboro_5N 94 57 74 -5 0.12 1 26.35 -4.43 14.20 -2.64 Nashville_Metro 93 63 78 -2 0.16 1 31.04 +3.28 18.22 +2.85 Newcomb 89 55 72 -2 0.03 1 23.78 -7.99 13.25 -4.50 Oneida 90 57 73 -1 0.11 1 18.62 -13.15 12.89 -4.86 Portland_TN 92 62 77 -1 0.80 1 32.52 +2.23 18.21 +1.38 Pulaski_Water_P 94 58 75 -5 0.00 0 30.15 -2.09 16.08 -0.59 Savannah_6SW 95 59 78 -3 0.00 0 37.84 +4.11 20.79 +2.70 Sparta_TN 92 56 74 -2 0.00 0 29.05 -3.00 17.03 -0.30 Springfield 93 59 75 -2 0.05 1 32.05 +2.91 18.59 +2.48 Springhill 94 59 75 -3 0.00 0 28.11 -4.27 16.48 -1.11 Union_City 93 61 77 -3 0.00 0 31.98 +1.79 15.78 -1.06 Waynesboro_TN 95 54 75 -2 0.00 0 32.75 -1.29 18.55 +0.47 For more weather information visit www.awis.com or call 1-888-798-9955. Copyright 2008: Agricultural Weather Information Service, Inc. All rights reserved. More information contact: Debra K. Kenerson; State Director 615-781-5300.