18 Major States Corn:  Harvested = 69% vs 29% last year and 28% for 5-yr average. Soybeans: Harvested = 58% vs 42% last year and 40% for 5-yr average. 

Winter Wheat planted = 57% vs 53% last year and 59% average. ---------------------------------------

KENTUCKY CROP PROGRESS/CONDITIONS – USDA NASS

 Issued 4:00 P.M., October 9, 2012

AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky weather seemed to be on a roller coaster last week with mid-week temperatures in many areas topping 80, but ending the week with high’s dropping to the upper 50’s. Kentucky experienced 4.3 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled 1.17 inches, 0.38 inches above normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 59 degrees across the state, which was 2 degrees cooler than normal, and was 6 degrees cooler than last week.

Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 15 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus.

Subsoil moisture was rated 14 percent very short, 30 percent short, 52 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.

 CROPS: As of Sunday October 7, 99 percent of the corn has reached the mature stage, compared with 95 percent last year and the five-year average of 96 percent. Eighty-seven percent of the corn has been harvested, compared with last year’s 66 percent and the five-year average of 71 percent. 

Soybeans shedding leaves reached 82 percent, compared with 81 percent last year and 86 percent for the five-year average. Sixty-three percent of the soybean crop rated as mature compared with last year at 52 percent and the 5-year average of 65 percent. Thirty-four percent of soybeans have been harvested, compared with 18 percent last year and the five-year average of 28 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was reported as 8 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 37 percent good and 12 percent excellent. 

TOBACCO: Housed tobacco condition was rated at 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. Eight-five percent of the burley tobacco has been cut, compared to 95 percent last year, and 97 percent for the five-year average. Ninety-one percent of the dark tobacco has been cut, compared to 98 percent last year and 96 percent for the five-year average. The amount of tobacco ready for stripping was 18 percent, while the amount of tobacco already stripped was 4 percent.

OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE:  Winter Wheat seeded was reported at 11 percent, slightly ahead of last year’s 8 percent, but the same as the five-year average of 11 percent. Pasture conditions continue to improve with moisture and cooler temperatures. Pastures were rated as 6 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 32 percent good, and 5 percent excellent.