LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.16 inches, 0.11 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 56 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 32 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 65 percent adequate and 35 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.4 out of a possible seven.
Primary activities for this week included planting corn and soybeans when possible along with seeding of tobacco transplants. Corn planting progress is well behind both last year and the five year average for this point in the season due to continuing rain and cool temperatures. Warm and dry conditions arrived towards the end of the week and farmers will be trying to catch up while the weather holds out. Soybean planting has just begun at 1 percent in the ground. The average height of winter wheat was reported as 18 inches, compared to 17 inches last week.
Pastures and hay growth have suffered due to the consistent rain and cool temperatures, however hay supply is mostly adequate and the condition is mostly good. Hay supply was reported as 8 percent very short, 30 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Alfalfa hay average height was 10 inches, compared to 9 inches last week. Greenhouse tobacco plants were reported as in mostly good condition. Forty three percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 38 percent 2-4 inches, and 19 percent over 4 inches. Strawberry condition was rated as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 7 percent excellent.
— USDA, NASS, Kentucky Field Office
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