LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky experienced well below normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.08 inches, 1.04 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 56 degrees for the week, 8 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.8 out of a possible seven.
Primary activities for this week included planting corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, and cutting hay. Cool temperatures hampered field drying and slowed growth of previously planted crops throughout the week. Farmers forged ahead with planting despite some fields remaining fairly wet. Heavy rain the week before last has relegated some farmers to replanting damaged crops. Bottom lands were particularly affected by rain that week and were further assessed this week after any flooding had retreated. Corn planting continues to outpace both last year and the five-year average. Fifty-seven percent of the corn crop has emerged. Soybean planting is also ahead of last year and the five-year average with 21 percent of the crop emerged. Tobacco setting is beginning to pick up and will continue to do so. The average height of tobacco transplants is 9 percent less than 2 inches, 33 percent two to four inches, and 58 percent larger than 4 inches. Tobacco transplant supplies are rated as 8 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus.
Wheat condition remains mostly good with 81 percent of the crop headed. The drier conditions this week allowed for the application of fungicide to wheat. Pasture condition is good, however cool temperatures have impeded growth to an extent. Both pasture and hay that received fertilizer are doing well at this juncture. Hay cutting is slightly behind due to the frequent rain this spring.
— USDA, NASS, Kentucky Field Office
For more news from Kentucky, click here.