Wheat harvest has begun. Producers have reported this wheat harvest process is among the earliest they can recall, according to a report issued by the USDA. Although the weather has been ideal for harvesting, it has proven the opposite for good planting and crop development.
Dry conditions persisted last week leading to a near-halt in planting the remainder of the cotton and soybean crops across the state. All crops, however, continue to be rated in mostly good condition.
“Scattered rainfall brought some relief early in the week. Depending on location, less than one tenth to up to 1 and a half inches fell Sunday night into early Monday morning. Many producers were able to start soybean planting again, while others are still waiting on adequate moisture,” Weakley County Ag Extension agent Jeff Lannom said.
“Wheat harvest began last weekend, easily three weeks ahead of normal timing with yields ranging between 65 and 80 bushels per acre,” Lannom added.
Corn, at week’s end, was showing some signs of dry weather stress. Thrips continue to be reported in cotton and soybean fields, according to the USDA.
Early season vegetables are beginning to come in and strawberry harvest is wrapping up. Pasture and hay field re-growth is slow with the majority of pastures reported to be in fair-to-good condition.
Other main farm activities last week included harvesting hay, transplanting tobacco and spraying insecticides and herbicides.
Topsoil moisture levels were rated 11 percent very short, 40 percent short and 49 percent adequate.
Temperatures last week averaged four to five degrees above normal, while rainfall amounts averaged below normal across the state once again.
Seventy-two percent of soybeans across the state have been planted, while 90 percent of cotton is in the ground. The highest temperature reported last week was 93 degrees, with the lowest at 50 degrees. Rainfall amounts for Weakley County are nearly five percent below normal as of April 1.

WCP 5.31.12