tn-crop-weather State Tennessee Crop Weather Week Ending Date April 27, 2008 Agricultural Summary Producers made favorable progress last week with most fieldwork, despite frequent showers across much of West Tennessee. Half of the State's corn acreage had been planted by week's end with side-dressing underway. Planting of the corn crop continues to lag behind last year and the 5-year average by about two weeks. Cotton planting began last week, mostly in southern middle portions of the State. Nearly the entire winter wheat crop has reached the jointing stage, in line with the 5-year average. Fungicide applications also began last week. The crop was rated in mostly good condition with only a few reports of insect and disease pressure. Besides planting, the other major agricultural field activities last week were applying pesticides, fertilizer, and harvesting early strawberries. There were 5 days suitable for fieldwork last week. As of Friday, topsoil moisture levels were rated 7 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 4 percent very short, 11 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Temperatures averaged four to six degrees below normal across Tennessee last week, while rainfall averaged one third to one inch below normal. Crop Progress Table CROP PROGRESS: This Last 5-Year Week Week 2007 Avg Corn - Planted 50 17 78 79 Cotton - Planted 2 n/a 4 6 Winter Wheat - Jointed 95 82 99 97 Winter wheat - Headed 25 2 62 49 Winter Wheat - Top Dressed 98 93 100 100 Apples - Budding or Beyond 99 93 100 99 Apples - Blooming or Beyond 86 67 98 90 Peaches - Blooming or Beyond 96 87 100 95 Crop Condition Table CROP CONDITION: Very Pr Poor Fair Good Exc Winter Wheat 2 4 17 54 23 Range and Pasture 2 10 33 47 8 Apples 0 2 26 63 9 Peaches 0 3 19 59 19 Strawberries 2 5 31 53 9 County Agent Comments "Overall, our farming situation is good. Farmers are having trouble planting corn because of rains. As soon as soil becomes dry enough to plant, it rains; thus postponing planting. Upland wheat is in good to excellent condition and some of the earlier wheat is beginning to head. Pasture conditions are good and almost all farmers are no longer feeding hay." JC Dupree, Jr., Lauderdale County "Good week so far. Corn planting is in full swing, pastures continue to get fertilized and sprayed for weeds. Freeze last week did very little damage to fruit." Steve Glass, Decatur County "Farmers are optimistic about wheat crop, minimal disease pressure at this point. Tobacco greenhouse plants are in very good condition, growth of plants a little behind schedule but sunny, warm weather may help. Some growers are looking at beginning to set tobacco this week." Paul Hart, Robertson County "Wheat producers have been busy applying fungicide and insecticide applications. About 10% of the crop is showing visible head emergence. Powdery mildew was noticeable in most fields but warmer, drier conditions have slowed progress. A few cereal leaf beetles have emerged. Overall the crop appears to have better than average yield potential. Drier conditions have allowed corn producers to catch up on planting with about 90% of the crop planted and 25% of the crop emerged. Most of the larger acreage producers reporting planting complete. Warmer and drier conditions allowed cotton growers to get a number of acres planted with about a fourth of the crop planted. Pastures and the hay crop continues to progress with warmer conditions, hay feeding has ceased. Fescue is beginning to mature with the bulk of the crop in the boot to early head stage." Ed Burns, Franklin County "Producers took advantage of good work weather to make good progress with corn planting and early forage harvest. Wheat is making excellent progress with producers applying fungicides and control for cereal leaf beetle on some fields. Strawberry producers are harvesting early berries with good yields of high quality fruit." Bob Sliger, Monroe County Weather Summary For USDA, NASS, Tennessee Field Office Prepared By AWIS.com from NWS preliminary data For the Period: Monday April 21, 2008 To: Sunday April 27, 2008 TEMPERATURE ------------ PRECIPITATION ------------ ----------- CURR RAIN SINCE SINCE STATION HI LO AVG DFN WEEK DAYS JAN 1 DFN APR 1 DFN ------- -- -- -- -- ----- --- ----- ----- ----- ---- Ames_Plantation 88 44 67 +4 0.85 3 22.64 +3.56 6.96 +1.83 Tri-City_RGNL_A 83 38 62 +5 0.00 0 12.59 -0.86 1.67 -1.30 Brownsville_TN 85 51 68 +5 0.27 2 22.87 +4.08 6.62 +1.79 Chattanooga/Lov 84 47 68 +7 0.00 0 16.09 -3.67 1.95 -1.91 Clarksville_Sew 86 47 66 +6 0.59 3 19.92 +2.09 6.79 +2.78 Cookeville 83 41 62 +4 0.05 2 16.70 -2.66 3.78 -0.38 Covington 82 45 65 +3 1.28 3 23.45 +4.64 7.79 +2.84 Crossville_AP 78 43 63 +6 0.10 2 18.36 -1.16 5.19 +0.87 Dayton 83 46 66 +5 0.07 1 14.37 -5.89 2.07 -1.99 Dickson_AG 84 47 65 +4 0.63 2 23.04 +4.34 8.12 +3.60 Dover_1W 85 46 64 +5 0.62 1 25.51 +7.01 8.15 +3.72 Dyersburg 86 52 67 +4 0.43 3 19.78 +2.59 6.24 +2.03 Erwin_1W 82 42 62 +6 0.00 0 11.18 -4.06 1.39 -2.20 Huntingdon_Wate 87 43 66 +5 0.70 1 24.63 +6.50 8.03 +3.82 Jackson_Exp_Stn 87 49 68 +6 0.90 1 26.38 +8.37 7.66 +3.08 Kingston_AG 83 42 64 +6 0.00 0 15.86 -4.40 3.00 -1.01 Knoxville_AP 82 44 66 +7 0.01 1 14.70 -2.10 2.48 -0.86 Lewisburg 83 40 62 +4 0.43 1 16.80 -2.10 5.00 +0.84 Lexington_TN 86 46 65 +4 0.51 1 24.46 +6.97 7.10 +2.96 Linden 85 45 65 +6 0.42 1 24.66 +5.14 7.57 +3.21 Martin 86 48 66 +6 0.66 2 24.74 +6.78 6.90 +2.35 Mc_Minnville_Tn 83 46 67 +6 0.67 3 14.74 -3.84 4.65 +0.66 Memphis_AG 89 46 68 +3 0.64 3 26.98 +8.39 9.68 +4.76 Milan 88 44 66 +6 0.89 1 26.42 +8.16 9.27 +4.80 Murfreesboro_5N 84 43 65 +5 0.26 2 16.46 -1.48 4.31 +0.31 Nashville_Metro 84 47 67 +6 0.40 2 19.90 +3.60 7.08 +3.17 Newcomb 84 40 62 +7 0.00 0 13.04 -4.98 2.51 -1.49 Oneida 82 41 63 +7 0.04 1 8.06 -9.96 2.33 -1.67 Portland_TN 83 47 64 +5 0.38 1 22.09 +4.73 7.78 +3.88 Pulaski_Water_P 83 44 64 +1 0.17 2 18.66 -0.91 4.59 +0.59 Savannah_6SW 87 45 67 +3 0.53 2 22.61 +2.11 5.56 +0.70 Sparta_TN 83 41 65 +6 0.45 1 15.85 -2.98 3.83 -0.28 Springfield 83 46 64 +6 0.48 2 20.74 +3.85 7.28 +3.42 Springhill 85 43 65 +6 0.45 1 17.12 -2.23 5.49 +0.93 Union_City 85 44 63 +3 0.31 2 22.63 +4.96 6.43 +2.11 Waynesboro_TN 84 42 64 +5 0.37 2 19.98 -0.78 5.78 +0.98 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