LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.21 inches, 0.86 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 14 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 85 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven.
Primary activities for this week included planting tobacco and soybeans, hay harvesting, and spraying crops where necessary. Mostly dry and warm weather this past week afforded farmers a much needed break from wet weather to catch up on fieldwork. Although there was a good deal of progress on the hay harvest this week, there is still some concern regarding yields and tight supplies coming out of the winter. Several producers reported that they have started harvesting wheat which will pave the way for double crop soybean planting to begin. The average height of emerged corn is 23 inches, matching last year at this juncture.
Seventy six percent of the tobacco crop is in the ground, slightly ahead of both last year and the five year average. The crop is in mostly good condition with the average height of plants at 6 inches. Pastures remain in mostly good condition at this time.
— USDA, NASS, Kentucky Field Office
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