For 18 Major States: Corn   Mature: 76% vs 40% last year and 41% for 5-year average.   Harvested:  26% vs 8% last year and 9% on avg.  (KY= 60%)

Soybean   Dropping leaves: 57% vs 28% last year and 37% on average.   Harvested: 10% vs 4% last year and 4% on average. (KY= 10%) 

Winter Wheat   Planted:  11% complete vs 11% last year and 14% on average. 

U.S. Pasture:   Conditions improved slightly from a week ago. V.poor = 28% (-3%) Poor =   28% (+1%) Fair =   25% (+1%) Good =   17% (+1%) V.Good =  2% (unch)

----------------- KENTUCKY CROP PROGRESS/CONDITIONS – USDA NASS   Issued 4:00 P.M., September 17, 2012

AGRICULTURAL NEWS: It was beautiful and mostly rain-free across the state last week. Kentucky experienced 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled just 0.06 inches, 0.78 inches below normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 68 degrees across the state, which is 2 degrees cooler than normal and 6 degrees cooler than last week.

Topsoil moisture was rated 9 percent very short, 36 percent short, 53 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Subsoil moisture was rated 24 percent very short, 40 percent short, 35 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.CROPS: As of Sunday September 16, condition of the corn crop was rated as 47 percent very poor, 33 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 5 percent good and 1 percent excellent. Ninety-nine percent of the corn reached the dent stage, compared with 89 percent last year and 95 percent for the five-year average. Ninety-three percent of the corn has reached the mature stage, compared with 71 percent last year and the five-year average of 76 percent. Sixty percent of the corn has been harvested, compared with last year’s 28 percent and the five-year average of 33 percent.

  CROPS: As of Sunday September 16, condition of the corn crop was rated as 47 percent very poor, 33 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 5 percent good and 1 percent excellent. Ninety-nine percent of the corn reached the dent stage, compared with 89 percent last year and 95 percent for the five-year average. Ninety-three percent of the corn has reached the mature stage, compared with 71 percent last year and the five-year average of 76 percent. Sixty percent of the corn has been harvested, compared with last year’s 28 percent and the five-year average of 33 percent.

Soybeans shedding leaves reached 49 percent, compared with 31 percent last year and 39 percent for the five-year average. Soybeans rated as mature were reported at 27 percent, ahead of both last year at 6 percent and the 5-year average of 15 percent. Ten percent of soybeans have been harvested, compared with the 5-year average of 3 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was reported as 13 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 25 percent good and 7 percent excellent.

 TOBACCO: Housed tobacco condition was rated at 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Sixty percent of the burley tobacco has been cut, compared to 66 percent last year, and 73 percent for the five-year average. Seventy percent of the dark tobacco has been cut, compared to 74 percent last year and 71 percent for the five-year average. Fifteen percent of housed tobacco showed signs of houseburn.

 OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Pasture conditions have improved with previous rains, but would benefit from more rain. Pastures were rated as 13 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 22 percent good, and 2 percent excellent.