LOUSIVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.98 inches, 0.19 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 70 degrees for the week, 10 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 15 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.6 out of a possible seven.
Primary activities for this week included harvesting tobacco, corn, and soybeans. Other activities are planting winter wheat and stripping tobacco. Fieldwork was disrupted at points during the week, however farmers pushed ahead and made strong progress. Both corn and soybeans continue to be in mostly good condition. Preliminary yields look good in some areas whereas other regions show more variation. Housed tobacco was reported 89 percent in good condition. Very little tobacco houseburn was reported. The reporting of houseburn was as follows: 1 percent moderate, 6 percent light, and 93 percent with none.
Pasture condition is mostly good and has benefited from recent rain and warm temperatures. Winter wheat planting is still in the early stages with 1 percent of the crop emerged. There continues to be reports of Army Worms damaging hay fields as farmers move forward with their last cuttings.
— USDA, NASS, Kentucky Field Office
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