Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 5, 2021 31-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.93 inches, 0.12 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 70 degrees for the week, 7 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 83 percent, adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 15 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.7 out of a possible seven. Harvest benefited from some dry and mild weather throughout much of the workweek. Skies ran mostly sunny across the Bluegrass State and along with southerly flow in place, highs jumped into the upper 70s to middle 80s each day. Rain held off until the weekend for most of the state (some light showers across far W-KY on Friday). Coverage turned widespread at times, most notably on Sunday with some pockets of moderate to heavy rainfall. Overall, the state averaged 0.93 inches for the week, most of which fell on Sunday. This number marked a third straight week that the state average has ran above normal. Primary activities for this week included harvesting tobacco, corn, and soybeans. Farmers made strong headway this past week as conducive weather prevailed. That progress was stymied by the weekend as widespread precipitation moved in. Both corn and soybeans continue to be in mostly good condition. With most of the tobacco crop cut at this point, housed tobacco is in mostly good condition. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 1 percent moderate, 8 percent light, and 91 percent with none. Pasture condition is mostly good, however heavy rain over the weekend may cause some damage due to livestock traffic. Also, as nighttime temperatures cool, growth will slow. Livestock are in good overall condition at this time. Hay supplies were reported as 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. There have been multiple reports of poor hay quality causing concern for livestock producers. A combination of weather and pest issues were cited as the impetus for the reduced quality. Winter wheat planting has begun and will move steadily forward. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 27, 2021 30-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced cool rainy weather over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.67 inches, 0.82 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 63 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 15 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.4 out of a possible seven. Fall is normally our driest time of the year, but that hasn’t been the case as of late. The state averaged 1.67 inches this period, marking a second straight of above normal rainfall. All of the rain fell between Monday and Wednesday. Outside of some portions of Western and far Eastern Kentucky, this was a statewide event with most seeing over an inch. Much of North Central Kentucky even topped 2 inches. Other than a narrow band of light rain on Saturday, the rest of the week was predominantly dry. Temperatures ran much cooler over the second half of the week behind a strong cold front. The fall season opened with highs on Wednesday and Thursday staying in the middle 60s to low 70s. Low temperatures were coolest on Friday morning with much of Kentucky in the low to middle 40s. Paintsville even dipped into the upper 30s, marking the first time anyone across the state has been in the 30s since late May. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, tobacco, and hay, as conditions allowed. Some fertilizer applications in preparation for wheat planting also occurred. The rainy weather has slowed crop drying and delayed row crop harvest and small grain planting. The wet weather has also caused crop and hay conditions to decline. Several growers have reported problems with armyworm infestations. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 20, 2021 29-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.10 inches, 0.26 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 5 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 15 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 18 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.2 out of a possible seven. Following two straight weeks of cooler than normal temperatures, summer warmth and humidity returned to the Bluegrass State. Highs rose well into the 80s on a near daily basis, while dewpoints in the upper 60s to low 70s gave a humid feel to the air. The bulk of the rain for the week fell in a couple rounds, one midweek and the other over the weekend. The state averaged just under three quarters of an inch with the first round, but slow storm movements and torrential rainfall did lead to some isolated instances of excessive rainfall and bouts of flash flooding. The focus for heavier rainfall was across South Central Kentucky over the weekend. While the state averaged 1.10 inches for the week, many across this area saw accumulations of 2+ inches. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, and tobacco. The wet weather has slowed crop drying and delayed row crop harvest. Corn and soybeans remain in mostly good condition. Although early corn yield reports have been good, some farmers are seeing lower yields than initially expected. Tobacco cutting continued with 71 percent of the crop harvested. Housed tobacco conditions have declined due to the wet weather. The increased precipitation is likely to increase house burn in tobacco. Pastures are in mostly good conditions from the recent rains. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 13, 2021 28-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.17 inches, 0.64 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 69 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 19 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 18 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.3 out of a possible seven. Weather-wise, it was a rather quiet week for the Commonwealth. Outside of some spotty, light activity across North Central Kentucky on Saturday, the only rainfall event was on Wednesday with the passage of a cold front. This boundary forced a narrow band of showers and embedded thunderstorms through the region, mainly Central Kentucky and points to the east. Most remained under a quarter inch, but heavy rain did produce some totals up to around a half inch or more. Temperatures ran below seasonable norms behind the cold front, before rising over the weekend. Highs were back in the low to middle 80s statewide on Sunday, but humidity levels remained low. Primary activities for this week included topping and cutting tobacco along with harvesting corn and soybeans. The corn harvest is in full gear while the soybean harvest is just getting off the ground. With weather conducive to fieldwork through most of the week, farmers made strong headway. Both corn and soybeans continue to be in mostly good condition. Early reports on corn yields have been positive, however much of the crop is still in the ground. Tobacco cutting continues to move steadily with 58 percent of the crop harvested. Both tobacco in the fields and housed are in mostly good condition. Pasture condition is mostly good after some much needed rain the week prior. Although recent weather has been ideal for hay cutting, some producers are dealing with damage from Army Worms. The damage from these pests has been reported for several weeks now. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 6, 2021 27-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.16 inches, 1.41 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 71 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 16 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.3 out of a possible seven. The month of August closed on a wet note with several rounds of showers and storms pushing through Kentucky on Monday and Tuesday. A combination of a cold front and the remnants of Hurricane Ida led to totals of 1-3+ inches across much of the area. The only exception was the Purchase area of Western Kentucky, which missed about everything. Following some lingering light activity on Wednesday across Eastern Kentucky, cooler and less humid air filtered into the area for the second half of the workweek. In fact, highs only rose into the middle 70s to low 80s on Thursday and Friday. The week then closed with another round of showers, mainly Saturday night and Sunday, with the passage of a cold front. The highest totals were across Western Kentucky and up into the Bluegrass with many seeing totals of a half to 1 inch+. Overall, the state averaged 2.16 inches for the week, which was almost 1.5 inches above normal. Primary activities for this week included topping and cutting tobacco. The corn harvest has begun for some producers, however they are still in the early stages. Farmers across most of the state received much needed rain and reprieve from hot weather. Hurricane Ida brought cooler temperatures along with widespread precipitation. It is of note that bottom lands were subject to flooding in several areas. Both corn and soybeans are progressing steadily and remain in overall good condition. Tobacco cutting continues to move steadily with 47 percent of the crop harvested. The tobacco crop is in mostly good condition at this time. Pastures should replenish from recent rain and will also benefit from milder temperatures. Livestock are also in good overall condition and will improve with the cooler temperatures. The intense heat through August put a good deal of stress on animals. The quality of the hay crop is mostly good, however many second cuttings have not been tested for quality. There continues to be reports of forage damaged by armyworms. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 30, 2021 26-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.33 inches, 0.44 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 80 degrees for the week, 6 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 28 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 26 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. Heat remained with the area throughout the week with highs consistently peaking in the upper 80s to middle 90s. Combined with dewpoints in the 70s, heat indices once again rose over the century mark for many across the Commonwealth. This has been a trend throughout the month and data at the Ag Weather Center suggests this will be one of the warmest Augusts on record. Preliminary data places August 2021 in the top 20 (data going back to 1895). Rainfall was hit and miss for much of the state. After starting the week mostly dry, the rest of the week featured daily rounds of isolated to scattered activity. Once again, any storm was capable of producing very heavy rainfall and combined with limited coverage, led to quite the range in totals over a short distance. While some locations recorded over an inch, others ran dry. Primary activities for this week included cutting hay along with topping and cutting tobacco. Corn harvest has initiated for some growers, however most of the crop remains in the fields. A hot August in the commonwealth continued this past week. There were periods of spotty precipitation throughout the state, but few of much significance. Although the precipitation was not heavy, it was timely for field crops. It is of note that the presence of Southern Corn Rust was observed in several counties. As the corn crop matures, producers will look to start harvesting in the coming weeks. Soybeans across the state continue to progress with most of the crop blooming at this juncture. A small portion of soybeans have begun dropping leaves. With 95 percent of the tobacco crop blooming, topping is 82 percent complete. Tobacco cutting continues to move steadily with 35 percent of the crop harvested. The condition of corn, soybeans, and tobacco remain in mostly good condition. Pastures will benefit from recent rain and will continue to improve with milder temperatures. The condition of hay is mostly good at this time. There were several reports of Army Worms damaging both hay and pasture ground. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 23, 2021 25-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.51 inches, 0.64 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 79 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 21 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 28 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.1 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth received a healthy dose of rainfall last week with the state averaging 1.75 inches. That number increased to 2.67 inches for Eastern Kentucky, alone. Outside of a dry Sunday, each day featured some level of rainfall coverage across the state. A combination of heavy rainfall and slow storm movement led to many bouts of localized flooding. Several stations across the Southern Bluegrass and Eastern Kentucky saw in excess of 5 inches, some of which can be attributed to Tropical Depression Fred moving through the latter on Tuesday. Overall, this marks a second straight week that the Commonwealth has averaged over 1.5 inches of rainfall. Outside of rainfall, high humidity remained across the area with temperatures generally running below normal by day and above normal at night. Primary activities for this week included cutting hay along with topping and cutting tobacco. The state received some heavy rain this past week which was much needed in many areas. The precipitation did prove a deterrent to fieldwork, but crops were in need of relief. The timely rain will hopefully lead to good grain fill for corn and soybeans. It is of note that some areas remain very dry. Eighty-eight percent of the corn crop is in the milking stage while 71 percent of the crop is doughing. Fifty- three percent of corn is denting with 21 percent of the crop mature. Ninety percent of soybeans are blooming while 80 percent are setting pods. Fourteen percent of soybeans are coloring at this time with just 3 percent dropping leaves. With 89 percent of the tobacco crop blooming, topping is 75 percent complete. Tobacco cutting is moving along with 23 percent of the crop harvested. Corn, soybeans, and tobacco remain in mostly good condition, however areas that remain dry could see crop stress. Pastures that benefitted from recent rain will be able to replenish. In these areas hay ground will also receive some much needed help. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 16, 2021 24-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.51 inches, 0.64 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 79 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 31 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 25 percent short, 63 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.6 out of a possible seven. Following weeks of dry weather for the western half of Kentucky and up into the Bluegrass, the Commonwealth finally saw some much-welcomed rainfall. Overall, the state averaged 1.51 inches for the week behind multiple rounds of showers and storms. The more significant activity occurred on Monday/Tuesday, carrying over from late in the previous period, and again Friday and into the weekend with the passage of a cold front. In fact, a large number of stations recorded over two inches. Extreme heat accompanied the active pattern with highs peaking in the upper 80s to middle 90s between Tuesday and Friday. An extremely humid airmass pushed heat indices into the 100 to 110 degree range and livestock heat stress back into the danger/emergency categories. Primary activities for this week included spraying, cutting hay, and topping and cutting tobacco. Although a deterrent to fieldwork, the state finally saw some much needed rain in many areas. The scattered rain was accompanied by intense heat for most of the week. It is of note that some areas remain very dry. There were reports of stress to both the corn and soybean crops. Ninety-five percent of the corn crop is in the silking stage while 78 percent of the crop is milking. Sixty percent of corn is doughing with 36 percent of the crop in the denting stage. Eighty-five percent of soybeans are blooming while 72 percent are setting pods. Six percent of soybeans are coloring at this time. With 83 percent of the tobacco crop blooming, topping is 64 percent complete. Tobacco cutting is just getting under way with 6 percent of the crop harvested. The condition of corn, soybeans, and tobacco remain in mostly good condition, however dry weather is taking a toll in some areas. As farmers cut hay, rain would be beneficial to late cuttings. Pasture growth has been slow in many areas as timely rain would promote regeneration. The recent heat has brought stress on livestock. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 9, 2021 23-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.12 inches, 0.83 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 72 degrees for the week, 4 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 10 percent very short, 31 percent short, 55 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 26 percent short, 61 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.4 out of a possible seven. Outside of some scattered showers and storms across primarily the eastern half of Kentucky, it was another mostly dry week for the area. The western half of Kentucky and into the Bluegrass Region missed out on most of the rainfall and ahead of any showers late Sunday evening, this area was running about 1 to 2 inches below normal over the past two weeks. Those numbers extend to over two inches over the past three weeks. Most of the rain that was seen Sunday evening fell after the data cutoff and will be reflected on next week’s report. Outside of rainfall, temperatures ran on the cool and less humid side for much of the workweek, before returning to seasonable norms over the weekend. Primary activities for this week included spraying, cutting hay, and topping tobacco. Mostly dry weather continued to prevail across the state. Although conducive to field work, the dry weather has taken a toll on both crops and livestock. Pastures are slow to regenerate and crops are beginning to stress and wilt in many areas. There were reports of corn aborting kernels and tipping back as well as soybeans showing stress as they attempt to fill pods. Ninety-three percent of the corn crop is in the silking stage while 73 percent of the crop is milking. Fifty percent of corn is doughing with 24 percent of the crop in the denting stage. Eighty-two percent of soybeans are blooming while 63 percent are setting pods. One percent of soybeans are coloring at this time. With 71 percent of the tobacco crop blooming, topping is 50 percent complete. The condition of corn, soybeans, and tobacco remain in mostly good condition however all three crops showed a slight decline this past week. Farmers continue to cut hay as weather has been cooperative, however the quality is suffering for some due to drought. As pasture condition decline, farmers may start supplementing with hay. Some timely rain will be very good across the state. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 2, 2021 22-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and slightly below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.95 inches, 0.03 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 28 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 23 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.4 out of a possible seven. Kentucky saw some of the warmest temperatures of the summer season this past week, specifically between Tuesday and Thursday. Highs each day peaked in the upper 80s to middle 90s. Oppressive humidity pushed peak heat indices into the 100 to 110 range on Thursday, taking the livestock heat stress index into the danger and emergency categories. Rain returned to the area for the second half of the week, but not for all. Significant rain fell Thursday night and into Friday across Eastern Kentucky. In fact, a large area saw more than two inches, resulting in some bouts of flooding. The rest of Kentucky, for the most part, missed out on anything significant for the week. A number of stations totaled less than a tenth of an inch, especially across Central KY. Primary activities for this week included spraying, cutting hay, and topping tobacco. Weather was dry for much of the state this past week allowing farmers to proceed with field work. Some areas of the state need rain to revive once promising corn and soybean crops. There were pockets of the commonwealth that received very heavy rain leading to flooding in low-lying fields, but this pattern was not widespread. Southern Rust has been noted in corn as well as a shortage of spraying equipment. Ninetyone percent of the corn crop is in the silking stage while 62 percent of the crop is milking. Thirty-seven percent of corn is doughing with 16 percent of the crop in the denting stage. Seventy-four percent of soybeans are blooming while 53 percent are setting pods. With 61 percent of the tobacco crop blooming, topping is moving steadily at 33 percent. The condition of corn, soybeans, and tobacco remains good at this juncture. Livestock are in mostly good condition although recent heat led to some unneeded stress. Pastures were also stressed by recent hot weather and will benefit from timely rain. Farmers continue to cut hay with mixed yield results. The quality of hay made was rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 67 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 26, 2021 21-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.08 inches, 0.87 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 75 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 24 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 21 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. Following a very wet first half of July, the weather turned quiet this period leading to mostly dry conditions across the state. The one exception came on Sunday as scattered showers and storms formed across the area. Ultimately though, the state averaged just 0.08 inches for the week. A number of locations missed the rain on Sunday and did not record any rainfall for the week. Looking back, this was the driest week for the Commonwealth since the second week of May. Temperatures ran slightly below seasonable norms through most the workweek, brought down a bit by a smokey haze originating from wildfires across the Western United States. Temperatures and especially humidity increased over the weekend with some seeing the heat index top the century mark. Primary activities for this week included spraying, cutting hay, and topping tobacco. Weather was mostly dry across the state this past week allowing farmers to work in the fields and monitor crops. Fungicide is being sprayed as impending humidity will open the door for disease. Eighty-three percent of the corn crop is in the silking stage while 52 percent of the crop is milking. Twenty-four percent of corn is doughing with just 5 percent of the crop in the denting stage. Sixty-four percent of soybeans are blooming while 41 percent are setting pods. With 45 percent of the tobacco crop blooming, topping is moving forward steadily. The condition of corn, soybeans, and tobacco all remain good at this juncture, but would benefit from timely rain as temperatures rise. Farmers had a very good week for hay making with plenty of days to move ahead with cutting. Pastures have deteriorated slightly and will need some rain with hot weather ahead. With that said, pasture condition remains good overall. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 19, 2021 20-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.56 inches, 0.56 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 9 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.2 out of a possible seven. Kentucky saw another active week with multiple rounds of showers and storms. Just like the previous period, each day featured some amount of rainfall coverage. The highest coverage occurred early in the week and again on Friday/over the weekend with a cold front slowly progressing across the area. Storms were again capable of producing frequent lightning, gusty winds, and torrential rainfall, which in some cases led to localized flooding. The state rainfall average has now run above normal for three straight weeks, which is the first time that has happened in 2021. Over that three-week period, the state has averaged 4.96 inches, which is about 2 inches above normal over that time span. Just to put into perspective, normal rainfall for July in Kentucky is 4.86 inches. Primary activities for this week included spraying, cutting hay, topping tobacco, and monitoring field crops. Frequent precipitation prevailed throughout this week as temperatures cooled slightly. Rainfall was very heavy at times and lead to some flooding in areas of the state. Crops in low-lying areas were particularly susceptible. The persistent rain took a toll on some of the tobacco crop and opened up corn to possible disease. To combat any possibility of adverse crop conditions, farmers have been spraying fungicide. It is also of note that there were reports of strong winds threatening stands of corn. Seventy percent of the corn crop is in the silking stage while 34 percent of the crop is milking. Eight percent of corn is doughing. Forty-six percent of soybeans are blooming while 21 percent are setting pods. Tobacco topping is in the early stages with 29 percent of the crop blooming. The condition of corn, soybeans, and tobacco all remain good at this juncture despite the threat from heavy rain and wind. Hay cutting was disrupted by the unstable weather this week. With that said, the rain will aid in growth. Pastures are in mostly good condition despite excess mud. Livestock traffic will take a toll on the soft ground, but that may be mitigated by strong growth from recent rain as the weather stabilizes. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 12, 2021 19-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.67 inches, 0.69 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, 1 degree above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 15 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 16 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.8 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth has seen a very active pattern as of late with two straight weeks where the state rainfall average has run well above normal. In fact, the state has averaged 3.39 inches over that two week span, which is nearly 1.5 inches above normal. Outside of a mostly dry Friday this past week, the Commonwealth saw at least isolated to scattered coverage on a daily basis. Activity really picked up on Thursday with an advancing cold front and then again over the weekend with multiple rounds of storms. Heavy rain continued to be the predominant threat, which led to some bouts of localized flooding. While the state averaged 1.67 inches for the week, a large number of locations saw more than two. Outside of storms, heat and humidity remained with the Commonwealth throughout the period, but close to what we would normally see at this time of year. Primary activities for this week included harvesting wheat, cutting hay and monitoring field crops. Scattered rain prevailed throughout the week. Despite the spotty precipitation, farmers forged ahead with fieldwork when possible. There were pockets of heavy rain and flooding, however widespread damage was not reported. For most farmers, the rain was welcome as conditions had been very dry leading up to the last couple of weeks. Fifty-three percent of the corn crop is in the silking stage while 20 percent of the crop is milking. With double crop soybean planting wrapping up this week, 37 percent of the crop is blooming. Ten percent of soybeans are setting pods. The average height of soybeans is 18 inches at this time. Both the corn and soybean crops remain in good overall condition. Tobacco condition is mostly good with 16 percent of the crop blooming. The tobacco crop is in mostly good condition at this time. Wheat harvest is nearing the finish line. Pasture condition is good and will benefit from the recent rain. As many farmers wrap up first hay cuttings, low quality has been reported in areas of the state. Hay ground will benefit from timely rainfall, but the very hot, dry period prior will cost farmers some yield. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 6, 2021 18-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.73 inches, 0.74 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 75 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 24 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 19 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.8 out of a possible seven. Summer heat and humidity was in place to start the period with highs jumping into the upper 80s to middle 90s on Monday and Tuesday. Isolated to scattered showers and storms accompanied the heat, before increasing in coverage on Wednesday and especially Thursday with the passage of a cold front. In fact, coverage turned widespread on Thursday and with a very moist and unstable airmass in place, torrential rainfall was once again on the table. This led to some bouts of flash flooding across the state. Some of the more intense activity fell across Southern Fayette and Clark Counties, which saw 4-6 inches. Otherwise, the state as a whole averaged 1.73 inches for the week, the highest weekly average since early May. Behind the cold front, conditions turned dry, cooler, and less humid for the end of the work week and holiday weekend. Primary activities for this week included planting soybeans, setting tobacco, harvesting wheat, and cutting hay. Rain moved in as the week progressed bringing in cooler temperatures. The precipitation was scattered with some areas getting torrential downpours. Due to the isolated heavy rain, some flooding was reported. With that said, farmers were still able to make a strong push in the fields with soybean and tobacco planting nearing completion. Thirty-one percent of the corn crop is in the silking stage. In areas of the state, corn has been stunted by recent dry weather, but will hopefully benefit from recent precipitation. With most soybeans planted, 20 percent of the crop is blooming. The average height of soybeans is 13 inches at this time. Both the corn and soybean crops remain in good overall condition. Tobacco condition is mostly good with 98 percent of the crop set. Two percent of the set tobacco is blooming at this juncture. Wheat harvesting is progressing steadily as weather allows. With conducive weather, farmers will be finishing up in the next couple of weeks. Pasture condition is good and will benefit from the recent rain. Livestock are in good condition and should have access to more lush pasture ground as growth accelerates. The quality of cut hay is rated mostly good as cool season grasses continue to do well despite seasonably hot weather. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 28, 2021 17-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.89 inches, 0.12 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 1 degree below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 25 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 16 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.9 out of a possible seven. The majority of the rainfall for the week fell on Monday as a cold front crossed the area. A very moist airmass led to torrential rainfall rates at times with accumulations of 1 to 1.5 inches for much of Kentucky. The exception was across South Central Kentucky and along the Ohio River between Ballard County in Western Kentucky to Campbell County in the Northern Bluegrass. These areas generally stayed under a half inch. Outside of some spotty activity over the weekend, the rest of the period followed a mostly dry pattern. Looking at temperatures, dehind the cold front early in the week, highs fell below normal for a couple days. In fact,temperatures were limited to the low to middle 70s on Tuesday. Saying that, it did not last long as highs were back in the middle 80s to low 90s for the weekend, along with increased humidity. Primary activities for this week included planting soybeans, setting tobacco, harvesting wheat, and cutting hay. With conducive weather through most of the week, farmers were able to make a strong push in the fields. There was some heavy precipitation at the beginning of the week, but it was focused to certain areas of the state and gave way to drier conditions. Eleven percent of the corn crop is in the silking stage. Soybean planting is nearing completion as most planting at this juncture is either double crop or replants due to a wet, cold spring. Six percent of the soybean crop is blooming. The average height of soybeans is 3 inches at this time. Both the corn and soybean crops are in good overall condition. With that said, there have been reports of slug damage in soybeans, however it is not known what the impact on yields will be. Tobacco condition is mostly good with 94 percent of the crop set. The average height of tobacco is 14 inches. Wheat harvesting is moving swiftly with 95 percent of the crop mature. Pasture condition is good, however if hot, dry conditions persist, growth will be stunted. Hay condition is mostly good with a lot being cut this past week as weather allowed. Some of the hay was first cutting and thus quality was affected due to over maturity. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 21, 2021 16-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.34 inches, 0.66 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 1 degree above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 16 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.9 out of a possible seven. Kentucky opened the period with much cooler and less humid conditions filtering into the area behind a couple cold fronts. Northerly flow brought the Canadian airmass down into the Bluegrass State on Tuesday with highs only in the upper 70s to middle 80s. This pattern stuck around through midweek before heat started to return to the area. In fact, by Friday, highs were back in the upper 80s to low 90s. This heat stuck around through the weekend and in combo with high humidity, the livestock heat stress index lifted into the danger category each afternoon. The majority of the week ran dry for the state. The one exception came Friday night when heavy rains fell across the Northern Bluegrass. Some locations saw in excess of 2 to 3 inches. Primary activities for this week included planting soybeans, setting tobacco, harvesting wheat, and cutting hay. Farmers were able to make strong progress in the fields as dry weather prevailed across the state. The weekend brought the return of hot temperatures, but much of the week was mild. It is of note that parts of the state received some heavy rain, but it was very focused. Thanks to conducive weather, grain producers were able to catch up on spraying. The corn crop is 97 percent emerged with 1 percent of the crop in the silking stage. The average height of corn is 31 inches, however some fields are uneven due to frequent spring rains. Soybean planting is nearing completion with 72 percent of the crop emerged. One percent of the soybean crop is blooming. Both the corn and soybean crops are in good overall condition. Tobacco condition is mostly good with 89 percent of the crop set. The average height of tobacco is 11 inches. Wheat condition remains mostly good with 96 percent of the crop in the coloring stage and 69 percent of the crop mature. Thirty-nine percent of the wheat crop has been harvested. Lodging has been reported and may adversely affect yields. Pasture condition is good and will stay intact for the time being as drier conditions prevail. The recent weather has allowed livestock producers to catch up on hay cutting. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 14, 2021 15-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.52 inches, 0.48 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, 5 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.2 out of a possible seven. A summertime pattern led to a warm, humid and active period for the Commonwealth. The state saw daily rounds of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms through the week. This activity was more of a diurnal pattern with coverage increasing by day and decreasing overnight. A very moist air mass led to storms capable of producing very heavy rainfall. As the week progressed, slow storms motions combined with torrential rainfall rates, led to localized flooding. All this being said, it was not a washout for everyone. The scattered coverage led to quite the range in total accumulations. Some saw less than a quarter inch, more so across the western half of Kentucky. Others saw in excess of two to three+ inches, which was common across the eastern half. The very humid conditions led to oppressive heat at times. In fact, portions of Western Kentucky jumped into the middle 90s on Saturday. Combined with high humidity, heat indices rose well over the century mark. Primary activities for this week included planting soybeans, setting tobacco, spraying, and cutting hay. Scattered rain stymied work in the fields this past week. Rainfall was heavy at times and led to flooding in parts of the state. Even with the weather being unstable, farmers were able to push ahead in the fields. With the majority of the corn crop in the ground, condition remains good. Conditions vary significantly based on the area however. The average height of corn is 18 inches with 94 percent of the crop emerged. Soybean planting remains ahead of where it is historically at this juncture with 64 percent of the crop emerged. It is of note that slug damage has been observed in soybeans and some acres are being replanted. Like corn, the soybean crop is in mostly good condition. Tobacco condition is mostly good with 79 percent of the crop set. The average height of tobacco is 7 inches. Wheat condition remains mostly good with 70 percent of the crop in the coloring stage and 40 percent of the crop mature. Recent weather patterns have slowed the maturation of the wheat crop. Lodging has been reported and may adversely affect yields. Pasture condition is good, but could be subject to damage from livestock traffic as the soil remains wet. Farmers continue to cut hay when weather permits. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 7, 2021 14-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.65 inches, 0.55 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 68 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.8 out of a possible seven. Following a drier month of May, the Bluegrass State saw quite the active pattern for the start of June. The brunt of the activity fell between Tuesday night and Thursday. Just about everyone across the state saw significant widespread rainfall. A large portion of Western Kentucky saw 2+ inches. Totals decreased to the east with most in the 0.5 to 1.5 inch range. Some strong to severe storms accompanied the activity on Thursday, producing gusty winds and moderate to heavy rainfall. During this time frame, temperatures ran below normal, not seeing an increase until Friday and Saturday. Highs on Saturday reached into the middle to upper 80s under partly to mostly sunny skies. The week then closed with scattered precipitation in place on Sunday. Overall, Western Kentucky averaged 2.46 inches for the week. Those numbers decreased quite drastically to the east with Eastern Kentucky only averaging 1 inch. Primary activities for this week included planting corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, and cutting hay. Fieldwork activities were disrupted at times this past week as heavy rain covered most of the state. With that said, farmers continue to show strong planting progress and are taking advantage of breaks in the weather. This evident progress includes acres replanted due to past flooding. Corn planting is nearly complete with 85 percent of the crop emerged. The corn crop remains in mostly good condition. The average height of corn is 12 inches. Soybean planting remains ahead of where it is historically at this juncture with 57 percent of the crop emerged. Like corn, the soybean crop is in mostly good condition. Tobacco condition is mostly good with 68 percent of the crop set. Wheat condition remains mostly good with 41 percent of the crop in the coloring stage. There have been reports of wheat lodging and yields will be adversely affected in those cases. Pasture condition is good and has benefitted from recent rain. Some hay has over matured as unstable weather disrupts cutting. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 1, 2021 13-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.89 inches, 0.22 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 67 degrees for the week, 1 degree below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 23 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 18 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.3 out of a possible seven. Kentucky saw an extension to the dry and warm pattern to start the workweek. Highs on Monday and Tuesday jumped into the middle 80s to around 90, well above normal for this time of year. The dry pattern finally broke over the second half of the workweek with a couple rounds of showers and storms, one coming on Wednesday and the other on Friday. In addition to some light activity on Saturday, the state averaged 0.89 inches for the week, which is still slightly below normal for this time of year. Saying that, the rain was still a welcome sight after two straight weeks of well below normal rainfall. Through May 30th, the state is running about 1.25 inches below normal for the month of May. Behind the passage of a cold front on Friday, very chilly air for May standards filtered into the region. In fact, highs on Saturday struggled in the 50s with many locations setting all time record cool high temperatures for the day. Primary activities for this week included planting corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, and cutting hay. The week started with continued dry weather and high temperatures. This pattern gave way in the middle of the week as rain moved in. The weekend brought some unseasonably cold weather. Farmers forged ahead with planting and made strong progress thanks to conducive weather through most of the week. As corn planting nears completion, emergence is at 77 percent. The corn crop is rated mostly good at this time, however the presence of insects has been noted. The average height of corn is 7 inches. Soybean planting remains ahead of where it is historically at this juncture with 45 percent of the crop emerged. Like corn, the soybean crop is in mostly good condition. Tobacco setting is nearing the halfway point as strong progress was evident over the past week. It is of note that some crops were replanted due to previous flooding. Wheat condition remains mostly good with 95 percent of the crop headed. The recent cold snap did threaten wheat, however widespread damage is not expected. Pasture condition is good and growth will pick up as temperatures normalize. The recent rain will help to promote strong pasture growth as well. As farmers continue to cut hay, the crop is in overall good condition. Hay supply is mostly adequate and should remain in good shape as pasture growth ramps up. Many fall calves have been marketed thus reducing the feed requirement. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 24, 2021 12-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.14 inches, 0.99 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 70 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 24 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.3 out of a possible seven. Kentucky saw a second straight week of below normal rainfall in what is typically the wettest month of the year for the Bluegrass State. In fact, a number of locations across Kentucky did not see any rainfall throughout the period. If accumulations were seen, they were generally light in nature and confined to the first couple days of the week. Over the past 14 days, the state has only averaged 0.23 inches, which is just over two inches below normal. Summer-like temperatures accompanied the dry conditions. Highs slowly inched upward throughout the period, peaking in the mid to upper 80s for most everyone. Louisville even hit 90 for the first time this year. Primary activities for this week included planting corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, and cutting hay. Summer like temperatures and dry weather prevailed throughout this past week. Farmers were able to make strong headway in the fields and continue to be ahead of last year’s planting. If the dry conditions persist, field crops may begin to show stress. Freshly planted seeds may become vulnerable with a lack of precipitation. It is of note that insect issues have been reported in parts of the state. As corn planting makes steady progress, emergence is at 64 percent. The corn crop is rated mostly good at this time. Soybean planting remains ahead of where it is historically at this juncture with 32 percent of the crop emerged. Like corn, the soybean crop is in mostly good condition. Tobacco setting is now in high gear and will move rapidly as weather allows. Tobacco transplant supplies are rated as 1 percent short, 96 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Wheat condition remains mostly good with 90 percent of the crop headed. Pasture condition is good and growth is strong thanks to recent weather. Strawberries are in mostly good condition and were not widely damaged by recent frosts. A good deal of hay acreage was harvested this past week as weather conditions allowed. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 17, 2021 11-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well below normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.08 inches, 1.04 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 56 degrees for the week, 8 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.8 out of a possible seven. Judging by May standards, Kentucky saw another dry and cool period. Temperatures ran below normal the entirety of the week. Highs struggled in the 60s through Thursday, before slowly inching higher over the weekend. Some patchy frost was even in the picture late in the workweek for mainly the Bluegrass and Eastern Kentucky. Below normal temperatures have been no stranger to Kentucky as of late. In fact, the state average temperature has ran below normal four of the past five weeks. Through May 16th, high temperatures for the month have averaged about 6 degrees below normal. Low temperatures have ran roughly 4 degrees below normal. Mostly dry conditions accompanied the cooler temperatures. The state only averaged 0.08 inches for the week, most of which fell over the latter half of the weekend. Primary activities for this week included planting corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, and cutting hay. Cool temperatures hampered field drying and slowed growth of previously planted crops throughout the week. Farmers forged ahead with planting despite some fields remaining fairly wet. Heavy rain the week before last has relegated some farmers to replanting damaged crops. Bottom lands were particularly affected by rain that week and were further assessed this week after any flooding had retreated. Corn planting continues to outpace both last year and the five-year average. Fifty-seven percent of the corn crop has emerged. Soybean planting is also ahead of last year and the five-year average with 21 percent of the crop emerged. Tobacco setting is beginning to pick up and will continue to do so. The average height of tobacco transplants is 9 percent less than 2 inches, 33 percent two to four inches, and 58 percent larger than 4 inches. Tobacco transplant supplies are rated as 8 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Wheat condition remains mostly good with 81 percent of the crop headed. The drier conditions this week allowed for the application of fungicide to wheat. Pasture condition is good, however cool temperatures have impeded growth to an extent. Both pasture and hay that received fertilizer are doing well at this juncture. Hay cutting is slightly behind due to the frequent rain this spring. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 10, 2021 10-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.33 inches, 1.24 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 59 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 60 percent adequate and 40 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 68 percent adequate and 32 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.9 out of a possible seven. Kentucky has been stuck in a wet pattern as of late and this period was no different. The most extensive activity fell over the first half of the workweek, especially-so Monday night and into Tuesday morning across South Central Kentucky. Some saw 2-5+ inches in less than 6 hours, leading to numerous reports of flash flooding. A total of five weak tornados and several reports of damaging winds also accompanied the heavy rainfall across Western Kentucky. Cooler and active conditions remained for the rest of the week. The state saw a couple quick-hitting rounds of rainfall on Thursday and Friday, followed by more widespread activity on Sunday. Overall, the state averaged 2.33 inches for the week. The highest totals were centered around the Bowling Green area with 4+ inches common. The Barren County Mesonet Station even recorded over 7 inches. Primary activities for this week included planting corn and soybeans along with spraying. Persistent precipitation halted fieldwork throughout the week. Farmers had very little opportunity for planting due to the wet conditions, but pushed forward as the weather permitted. There were reports of flooding throughout the state with high water being prevalent in river bottoms. Any damage will be assessed in the coming week sparking the potential for replanting of some crops. The relentless rainfall was accompanied by unseasonably cool temperatures further complicating crop condition. Many farmers planted soybeans early and as such the crop is ahead of where it is historically at this juncture. Corn planting is well ahead of last year and trends on the higher side when compared historically. Tobacco setting has begun for some producers however only 1 percent of the crop is in the ground. The average height of tobacco transplants is 14 percent less than 2 inches, 35 percent two to four inches, and 51 percent larger than 4 inches. Tobacco transplant supplies are rated as 3 percent short, 94 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Wheat condition remains mostly good with 68 percent of the crop headed. Overall pasture condition is mostly good, however the cooler temperatures have stunted growth. It is also of note that the heavy rains will muddy up a good deal of pasture ground and open it up to damage from livestock traffic. Early hay cuttings may be adversely affected by the recent frosts and freezes. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 3, 2021 9-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.13 inches, 0.06 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 64 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.1 out of a possible seven. Unlike the previous couple weeks, temperatures ran near to above normal for much of the period with highs peaking in the 70s about every day. Even reaching the low to middle 80s statewide on Tuesday. The one exception came Friday night when the eastern third of the state saw lows dip well into the 30s, opening the possibility of some patchy frost in valley and sheltered locations. Looking at precipitation, an active pattern setup across Kentucky on Wednesday and Thursday with multiple bouts of moderate to heavy rainfall. The highest totals were seen across Western Kentucky and locations to the northeast along the Ohio River. Following a couple near perfect days for the running of the Oaks and Derby, light rain started to return to the area on Sunday. Overall, total accumulations decreased from west to east for the week. While Western Kentucky averaged 1.60 inches, Eastern Kentucky ran below normal at 0.65 inches. Primary activities for this week included planting corn and soybeans along with seeding tobacco transplants. With rain showers halting fieldwork at times during the week, farmers forged ahead with every opportunity. Soybean planting is ahead of where it has been historically at this point in the season. Tobacco transplants are 95 percent seeded, slightly ahead of both last year and the five-year average. The transplants are in mostly good condition at this time with height rated as 23 percent less than 2 inches, 44 percent 2 – 4 inches, and 33 percent larger than 4 inches. The average height of winter wheat is 23 inches at this time, while 38 percent of the crop has headed. Wheat condition remains mostly good after being assessed for damage from two significant freezes. Current freeze damage for wheat is rated as 2 percent moderate, 17 percent light, and 81 percent with no damage. After a full week of evaluation, alfalfa freeze damage is rated as 1 percent severe, 10 percent moderate, 27 percent light, and 62 percent with no damage. The average height of alfalfa is 13 inches at this time. The current hay supply is rated as 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Both peaches and apples have been further observed after the recent snow event. Apple freeze damage is rated as 7 percent severe, 15 percent moderate, 23 percent light, and 55 percent with no damage. Peach freeze damage is rated as 4 percent severe, 11 percent moderate, 17 percent light, and 68 percent with no damage. The strawberry crop is in good overall condition at this juncture of the season. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 26, 2021 8-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well below normal temperatures and slightly below normal precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.92 inches, 0.09 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 50 degrees for the week, 7 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.6 out of a possible seven. Despite being in the third week of April, Kentucky received another taste of winter this past week. Following a mild and dry start to the workweek, a strong cold front worked through the region on Tuesday night. Widespread showers accompanied the boundary, but as temperatures plummeted, precipitation type turned to snow. Much of the state saw some minor accumulations on grassy and elevated surfaces, peaking across North Central Kentucky and the Bluegrass Region in the 1 to 2 inch range. Snow melted pretty quickly, but chilly temperatures stuck around the next several days with well below normal temperatures in place. Extreme minimum temperatures for the week were down in the upper 20s to middle 30s for most of Kentucky. While temperatures warmed up over the weekend, the state saw a round of widespread rainfall on Saturday. Much of the state saw between a half and one inch of precipitation. Southwestern Kentucky, including most of the Purchase and Pennyrile regions, were between 1 and 1.5 inches. Primary activities for this week included planting corn and soybeans along with seeding tobacco transplants. A cold snap this week that included snowfall halted fieldwork and threatened previously planted crops. The weekend brought heavy rain through most of the state. Despite the adverse weather, farmers forged ahead and continued to make progress in the fields. Tobacco transplants are 86 percent seeded, trailing both last year and the five-year average. The transplants are in mostly good condition at this time with height rated as 35 percent less than 2 inches, 42 percent 2 – 4 inches, and 23 percent larger than 4 inches. The average height of winter wheat is 19 inches at this time while 23 percent of the crop has headed. Wheat condition remains mostly good despite being subjected to two significant freezes. Current freeze damage for wheat is rated as 3 percent moderate, 20 percent light, and 77 percent with no damage. The crop will be observed for the next couple of weeks to see the extent any possible damage. Alfalfa freeze damage is rated as 10 percent moderate, 28 percent light, and 62 percent with no damage. Like the wheat crop, alfalfa will continue to be evaluated for adverse effects. The average height of alfalfa is 10 inches at this juncture. Both peaches and apples were susceptible to the recent cold weather and will be further assessed in the coming weeks. Apple freeze damage is rated as 5 percent severe, 25 percent moderate, 19 percent light, and 51 percent with no damage. Peach freeze damage is rated as 2 percent severe, 10 percent moderate, 16 percent light, and 72 percent with no damage. Pasture growth should rebound with warmer weather on the horizon. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 19, 2021 7-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.17 inches, 0.83 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 52 degrees for the week, 4 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.4 out of a possible seven. The state saw multiple rounds of light rainfall pass through the region over the course of the week, but in the end, didn't amount to much in the way of accumulations. Overall, the state average ran below normal for a third straight week, totaling 0.17 inches. Through April 18th, data at the Ag Weather Center shows the state has only averaged 0.96 inches, which is over 1.5 inches below normal. Following a mild start to the week, temperatures took a step back for the second half with below normal temperatures in place. The coolest temperatures were seen on Friday morning with most of Kentucky dropping into the low to middle 30s, opening up the possibility of frost. Primary activities for this week included planting corn and soybeans along with seeding tobacco transplants. Scattered precipitation stymied fieldwork at times, however planting continues at every opportunity. Crops that have just been planted would benefit from some more warmth and sun as cooler weather has prevailed recently. Corn is 1 percent emerged at this juncture. Tobacco transplants are 74 percent seeded, trailing both last year and the five-year average. The transplants are in mostly good condition at this time with height rated as 61 percent less than 2 inches, 32 percent 2 – 4 inches, and 7 percent larger than 4 inches. The average height of winter wheat is 17 inches at this time while 12 percent of the crop has headed. Wheat condition remains mostly good despite the freeze event several weeks prior. Current freeze damage for wheat is rated as 1 percent severe, 4 percent moderate, 44 percent light, and 51 percent with no damage. The crop will continue to be evaluated for damage. Alfalfa freeze damage is rated as 1 percent severe, 7 percent moderate, 26 percent light, and 66 percent with no damage. Like the wheat crop, alfalfa is still being evaluated for adverse effects. Conditions have been conducive to good forage growth, however weevils have been detected in some alfalfa. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 12, 2021 6-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.79 inches, 0.20 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 63 degrees for the week, 10 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 25 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 24 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.1 out of a possible seven. The period started with dry and very mild conditions in place. Highs Monday through Wednesday rose into the middle 70s to low 80s behind southwest winds and mostly sunny skies. Showers and storms returned to the area midweek, peaking in coverage on Wednesday night and into Thursday with widespread showers in place. Kentucky then saw a brief break from the rain on Friday with well above normal temperatures across the state. In fact, portions of the western half of Kentucky jumped into the middle 80s, about 15 to 20 degrees above normal for this time of year. Additional showers and storms arrived over the weekend, most notably on Saturday and lingering across the northern half of the state on Sunday. Overall, the state averaged 0.79 inches for the the week, marking a 2nd straight week that the state average has ran slightly below normal. Primary activities for this week included seeding tobacco transplants, preparing fields, and planting corn. Farmers are steadily planting as weather allows. It is of note that some early season soybeans are in the ground and planting will increase in the coming week. Fieldwork was stymied at times as rain moved in mid-week and after a slight reprieve, returned over the weekend. Tobacco transplants are 53 percent seeded, trailing both last year and the five-year average. Forty-two percent of apples are in full bloom while peaches are at 60 percent. The average height of winter wheat is 11 inches at this time while 2 percent of the crop has headed. Wheat condition remains mostly good despite the recent freeze event. Current freeze damage for wheat is rated as 3 percent moderate, 33 percent light, and 64 percent with no damage. The crop will continue to be assessed and further damage may become apparent. Alfalfa freeze damage is rated as 1 percent severe, 8 percent moderate, 26 percent light, and 65 percent with no damage. Like the wheat crop, alfalfa is still being observed for possible adverse effects. Decent conditions have allowed forages to stay ahead of weed growth thus far. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 5, 2021 5-21 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.90 inches, 0.11 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 47 degrees for the week, 4 degrees cooler than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 1 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 2 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.2 out of a possible seven. Well below normal temperatures were the big story for the week with multiple nights below the freezing mark. The week opened with frosty conditions in place on Monday morning as lows dipped into the upper 20s to low 30s. Following a brief warmup on Tuesday, a cold front pushed through the area on Tuesday night, accompanied by a round of widespread rain showers. Overall, this was the only significant rainfall event for the week with the state average at 0.90 inches. Much cooler air filtered into the area behind the boundary with three straight nights of subfreezing temperatures for much of the area. The most significant cold air arrived Thursday night/Friday morning when lows dropped into the low to middle 20s for much of KY. This is about 15 to 20 degrees below normal for this time of year. Luckily, the Commonwealth saw a warming trend over the weekend, eventually back in the upper 60s to middle 70s on Sunday with plenty of sunshine. Primary activities for this week included seeding tobacco transplants and preparing fields for planting. Cold temperatures were prevalent through most of the week before giving way to warm weather over the weekend. The warm up allowed farmers to resume spraying and fertilizing fields for the 2021 crop season. A very small amount of corn has been planted at this juncture, however farmers will ramp up fieldwork in the coming weeks. Winter wheat is in mostly good condition at this time, however there were multiple nights of sub-freezing temperatures across the state. With that said, very little freeze damage is reported currently. Alfalfa also shows very little freeze damage, however for both crops, the damage may not be readily apparent. Strawberries were susceptible to the untimely freeze and like, alfalfa and wheat, will be monitored over the foreseeable future. Despite the cold snap, pastureland is in mostly good condition with 32 percent of feed for cattle coming from grazing. Warmer weather should quickly nullify the damage by the recent cold stretch and allow pasture growth to strengthen. Livestock condition is good at this time and will continue to improve with spring weather. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 30, 2020 37-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.50 inches, 0.56 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 46 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.7 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth saw a few rounds of showers through the period, a couple coming midweek and the other on Sunday. Coverage turned widespread with the earlier rounds on Tuesday night and Wednesday. Accumulations were highest along the Ohio River (~ 1 inch) and decreased to the southeast (< 0.10 inches). Breezy conditions accompanied the rain with many seeing peak gusts between 25 and 40 mph. A few dry days followed before the week closed with some light rain showers pushing back into the area on Sunday. Some of the rain fell after the data cutoff and will not be reflected in this report. Overall though, the state averaged a half inch for the week, marking a second straight week of below normal rainfall. Conditions also ran mild for much of the period, which led to a fourth straight week of above normal temperatures. Primary activities for this week included continued harvest of soybeans, stripping tobacco, and planting winter wheat. Weather through most of the week was conducive to progress in the fields. Scattered rain mid-week stymied fieldwork gains for a short period. Soybean harvest is nearing completion, but trails last year and the five-year average for this juncture of the season. Eighty-four percent of the winter wheat crop has emerged with ninety-two percent planted. Tobacco stripping, at seventy-six percent complete, continues to steadily progress The condition of winter wheat remains mostly good. Pastures are still in mostly good shape with farmers able to hold off on feeding hay for the time being. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 23, 2020 36-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.15 inches, 0.84 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 49 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.4 out of a possible seven. The week opened with dry and chilly conditions in place. The coldest temperatures were seen Tuesday night as lows dropped into the 20s with clear skies in place. Even had some stations drop into the low 20s. The second half of the workweek featured a warming trend as winds transitioned to the south. Highs on Thursday and Friday rose into the 60s. While it was mild, breezy conditions and low relativity humidity led to an increased fire danger on Thursday. Rain returned over the weekend with the passage of a cold front, but accumulations were very minimal. Despite some widespread coverage, the state only averaged 0.15 inches. Some of the rain across Eastern Kentucky fell after the data cutoff and will be reflected on the report next week. Primary activities for this week included continued harvest of soybeans, stripping tobacco, and planting winter wheat. Mostly dry weather this week allowed farmers to forge ahead with fieldwork. Progress was interrupted by scattered rain through the weekend. Soybean harvest remains behind last year and the five year average. Tobacco stripping is ahead of both last year and the five year average for this juncture. Seventy-six percent of the winter wheat crop has emerged with ninety percent planted. The condition of winter wheat remains mostly good. Pastures are still in mostly good shape and have benefitted from pockets of warm weather. Livestock are still grazing grass at this time as farmers reserve their hay for the winter months. The overall hay supply was reported as mostly adequate. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 16, 2020 35-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.96 inches, 0.09 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 56 degrees for the week, 7 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.2 out of a possible seven. The week opened with an extension of dry conditions from the previous period. The dry weather was accompanied by well above normal temperatures, record breaking in some cases. Highs on Monday and Tuesday rose into the middle 70s to low 80s. The exceptional warmth then ended on Tuesday night and Wednesday with the passage of a cold front, which dropped temperatures back closer to seasonable norms for the second half of the week. The boundary also brought a round of rainfall with totals much more significant across the eastern half of Kentucky compared to the western half. Another front then pushed through the area over the weekend. Combined with the first boundary earlier in the period, the state averaged about an inch for the week. The bigger story with the cold front over the weekend was the very breezy conditions in place. As the boundary pushed through the region, most across Kentucky saw peak gusts between 40 and 50 mph. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, stripping tobacco, and planting winter wheat. With warm, dry weather in the beginning of the week farmers pushed ahead with fieldwork. As the weekend approached, conditions became wet and much cooler in many areas of the state. Despite the late week weather, corn is nearing harvest completion. Soybeans remain behind last year and the five year average. Sixty-six percent of the winter wheat crop has emerged with eighty-two percent planted. Higher humidity allowed tobacco stripping to move ahead. The condition of winter wheat remains mostly good. Pastures are still in mostly good shape and have had some late growth due to the conducive weather. The recent growth will help preserve hay stocks as winter approaches. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 9, 2020 34-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.00 inches, 0.77 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 54 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 10 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.1 out of a possible seven. A hard freeze brought an end to the 2020 growing season on Monday morning as lows dipped well into the 20s across the state. Many in the low to middle 20s. Otherwise, the first full week of November featured perfect harvest weather with dry conditions, sunny skies, and increasing temperatures in place. After the chilly start to the period, high temperatures were back to around 70 for the second half of the work week. The warming trend continued into the weekend with some record-breaking temperatures on Sunday with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. Just to put into perspective, these temperatures were about 20 degrees above normal highs, which average in the upper 50s to low 60s for this time of year. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, stripping tobacco, and planting winter wheat. Weather for the week was conducive to strong progress in the fields. Both the corn and soybean harvest trails last year at this point in the season, however that margin will shrink as weather permits. Forty-nine percent of the winter wheat crop has emerged with sixty-eight percent planted. The condition of winter wheat remains good at this juncture. Pastures are still in mostly good shape and will benefit from the warm weather this past week. Some farmers were able to get a late season cutting of hay thanks to recent weather. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 2, 2020 33-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.16 inches, 1.39 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 52 degrees for the week, 1 degree below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 27 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 7 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.0 out of a possible seven. October closed with an active weather pattern in place. The most significant accumulations were seen on Wednesday and Thursday as a combination of a strong disturbance aloft and the remnants of Hurricane Zeta produced widespread rainfall across the state. Over these 2 days, most of Kentucky saw 1 to 3+ inches. The higher end of these totals were primarily across Western Kentucky and extending northeast for a tier of two counties close to the Ohio River. Combined with lighter accumulations earlier in the period, the state averaged 2.16 inches, marking a second straight week of above normal rainfall. Behind the system on Thursday, much cooler air filtered into the area on Friday and the weekend. Frost was prevalent on Saturday morning as lows dipped into the low to middle 30s. A stronger cold front then swept through the area on Sunday. While the frontal passage was dry, strong winds accompanied the boundary, gusting between 30 and 40 mph from time to time. The cold temperatures behind this front will be reflected on next week’s report. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, and stripping tobacco along with seeding winter wheat. Widespread rain this past week slowed fieldwork progress. Conditions improved by the weekend, however the ground remained very wet with cold temperatures hindering the drying process. Stripping of tobacco is slightly ahead of last year at this juncture. Thirty-nine percent of the winter wheat crop has emerged. The condition of winter wheat remains good. Housed tobacco condition deteriorated from last week, but continues to be mostly good. Pastures are still in mostly good shape, however colder temperatures may begin to limit growth. At this time, sixty- five percent of feed for cattle is being obtained from pasture. Overall quality of harvested hay is rated as mostly good. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 26, 2020 32-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.68 inches, 0.98 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 62 degrees for the week, 6 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 12 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.0 out of a possible seven. Leading into this period, Kentucky had been running on the dry side with five straight weeks of below normal rainfall. The dry pattern came to an abrupt halt this week as Kentucky averaged 1.68 inches behind multiple rounds of soaking rainfall. The first event came on Monday as multiple disturbances passed over a stalled frontal boundary. Warm and mild conditions followed for a few days, before a second round on Friday as a strong cold front sparked scattered to numerous showers and storms across the region. A cool weekend followed with occasional periods of light showers/drizzle. Overall, the highest accumulations for the week were seen across Western/Central Kentucky and up into the Bluegrass region. In fact, a large section of this area saw 2+ inches. Totals diminished farther east as Eastern Kentucky averaged a little under a half inch for the week. After a dry first half of the month, this week of wet weather has taken the state average closer to normal for the month of October. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, and stripping tobacco, along with seeding winter wheat. Harvesting progress was stymied at times due to widespread rainfall this past week. Although the precipitation was a hindrance in the fields, it did help to promote some pasture growth, as many areas were getting very dry. Many farmers have completed their last cutting of hay and additional grazing time will protect hay stocks for the winter months. The condition of winter wheat is mostly good at this juncture. Housed tobacco condition declined slightly from the previous week, but remains mostly good. Pastures are still in mostly good shape and, as mentioned above, will benefit from rain this week. Livestock are in good shape, as farmers will allow grazing as long as pasture growth permits. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 19, 2020 31-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.24 inches, 0.46 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 57 degrees for the week, 6 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 26 percent short, 63 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 26 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.6 out of a possible seven. Focus for the week revolved around a couple cold fronts. The first pushed through the area on Monday and Monday night, accompanied by a quick-hitting broken line of showers. Most saw a quarter inch or less. The boundary was followed by a stronger cold front on Thursday. This front was also accompanied by some light showers with most under a tenth of an inch. The bigger change came in the way of temperatures. Highs struggled in the 50s on Friday and was followed by a very cool night areawide. The majority of Kentucky saw temperatures dip into the low to middle 30s. Several even fell into the upper 20s. Looking at average freeze dates, most locations in Kentucky see the first 32-degree temperature of the fall season over the second half of October. Temperatures did trend a bit warmer over the weekend, and once again, the state saw a light round of scattered showers on Sunday. Overall though, Kentucky averaged about a quarter inch for the week, marking a fifth straight week that the state average has ran below normal. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, and stripping tobacco along with seeding winter wheat. Despite a few scattered showers, harvesting moved ahead as most of the week was cool and dry. Farmers continue to get the wheat crop in the ground as a small portion has emerged. The condition of the soybean crop continues to be good overall. Housed tobacco condition declined slightly from the previous week, but remains mostly good at this juncture. Pastures are still in mostly good shape, however as temperatures continue to cool, growth will slow. Most farmers have completed their last hay cutting, but stocks should be good overall. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 12, 2020 30-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.47 inches, 0.30 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 63 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 30 percent short, 61 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 28 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.9 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth saw the remnants of Hurricane Delta pass through the region this period, bringing widespread rainfall to predominantly Eastern Kentucky on Saturday and Sunday. Much of Southeastern Kentucky saw between 0.75 and 1.5 inches. Totals diminished greatly father west and north across the rest of Kentucky. In fact, while Eastern Kentucky averaged over an inch for the week, Western Kentucky and the Bluegrass region both averaged less than a quarter inch. This event accounted for nearly all of the rainfall for the period as the state remained mostly dry throughout the work week. Temperatures also remained mild for much of the period. The one exception came on Monday with well below normal temperatures in place. Many woke up on Monday morning to temperatures in the 30s. Much of Western and West-Central Kentucky dipped into the low to middle 30s, resulting in some light patchy frost. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, and stripping tobacco, along with seeding winter wheat. Harvesting progress remains steady as dry conditions prevailed over the previous week. Hurricane Delta brought some rain over the weekend, however, it was not widespread. As winter wheat planting continues, a small portion of the crop has emerged. The condition of the soybean crop continues to be good overall. Housed tobacco condition is mostly good, however, more houseburn was evident this week. While pastures have benefitted from timely rain in some areas, others have seen reduced growth from dry conditions. In parts of the state, cattle producers may start feeding hay if the dry weather persists. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 5, 2020 29-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.62 inches, 0.18 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 58 degrees for the week, 4 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 29 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 22 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. Below normal rainfall continued for a third straight week, but unlike the previous two, Kentucky did see some significant rainfall on Monday with the passage of a cold front. Overall, the state averaged 0.62 inches for the week, most of which falling with this boundary. Outside of some spotty light showers on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday; the rest of the week followed a mostly dry and cool pattern. The coolest temperatures were seen on Friday and over the weekend as highs struggled in the 60s. Low temperatures both Friday and Saturday mornings dipped into the middle 30s to low 40s, opening the opportunity for some patchy frost in sheltered and low lying locations. As a side note, the state has averaged 1.78 inches over the past 30 days, which is about 1.75 inches below normal. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, and tobacco. Harvesting progress has been aided by mostly dry conditions throughout the state. Planting of winter wheat continues with a small portion of the crop emerged. The downfall of limited precipitation has been stress and early maturation for double crop soybeans. Although the weather has been good for curing cut hay, yields may have been affected in some cases. The condition of the soybean crop continues to be good overall. Housed tobacco condition is mostly good as the houseburn reported was light. Pastures are still replenishing as farmers are holding hay for the winter months. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 28, 2020 28-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.11 inches, 0.74 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 64 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 27 percent short, and 72 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 20 percent short, and 79 percent adequate. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.9 out of a possible seven. Weather conditions have trended dry recently. The state only averaged about a tenth of an inch this period, marking a second straight week with most of the area seeing very little to no rainfall. The rainfall that was seen occurred over the second half of the workweek as the remnants of another tropical system, Beta, progressed across the southern half of Kentucky. The highest accumulations were primarily across extreme Southeastern Kentucky. Over the past 14 days, data at the Ag Weather Center shows the state has averaged 0.12 inches, which is about 1.5 inches below normal for this time of year. Despite the dry conditions, the Commonwealth did see pleasant fall weather with below normal high temperatures in place for much of the workweek and only warming slightly to seasonable norms over the weekend. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, tobacco, and hay. Winter wheat planting has begun, however the majority of the crop is not yet in the ground. Dry weather of late has allowed farmers to push forward with all manner of fieldwork. As the soybean and corn harvest continues, there is some optimism for yields in areas of the state. With that said, later planted and double cropped soybeans could be subject to stress as dry weather persists. Both corn and soybeans are doing well overall as both crops saw an increase in the amount reported as in excellent condition. Housed tobacco condition is mostly good as the houseburn reported was light. Despite the dry conditions, pastureland and livestock are in good shape. Hay supply is adequate at this juncture and is being aided by the continuing growth in pastures. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 21, 2020 27-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and much below rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.01 inches, 0.82 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 66 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 15 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 13 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.4 out of a possible seven. Dry conditions were the common theme throughout the week. In fact, other than portions of Southeastern Kentucky that saw a brush of light rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Sally, most did not record anything for the period. The dry conditions ended up breaking a stretch of five straight weeks that the state rainfall average has ran above normal. Skies ran clear for most of the week, despite some smoky haze filtering throughout the area from fires across the Western US. Cool conditions accompanied the dry pattern, giving the Commonwealth its first taste of fall weather. Following the passage of a dry cold front on Thursday, highs struggled in the 60s and 70s over the weekend behind northeast flow. Lows each night fell into the 40s. A handful of locations even dropped into the upper 30s. Normal lows for the middle of September run in the middle to upper 50s. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, and tobacco. Farmers made substantial progress in the fields this week thanks to mild temperatures and dry conditions. As conducive weather presents itself, harvesting will move along steadily. The extended dry spell has allowed farmers to get in some good late season hay in hopes of having sufficient stock for the winter. Some late season and double cropped soybeans are showing mild stress due to the dry weather, but overall the crop seems to be doing well. Corn and soybean conditions remain mostly good. Housed tobacco condition continues to improve aided by the cool, dry weather. Pastures are in good shape and have not been adversely affected by the dry weather at this point. Hay condition is good as producers are getting good yields for this time of year, however rain will be needed soon to help hay fields recover after cutting. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 14, 2020 26-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.04 inches, 0.20 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 8 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 8 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.7 out of a possible seven. The work week followed a rather stagnant pattern with dry and mild conditions in place. Each day featured temperatures jumping into the mid to upper 80s, some hitting the low 90s. This pattern changed drastically over the weekend for many across Kentucky with multiple rounds of showers and storms. The most excessive accumulations were seen across South Central Kentucky and extending into Northeastern Kentucky where many received two or more inches. Some areas saw much more rain than others, which was the case for Jackson, Morgan, Lincoln, and Casey Counties. Portions of these counties saw 4 to 5+ inches, which did lead to significant flash flooding. Total accumulations west of the line mentioned above were much less with many under a half inch. In fact, Western Kentucky only averaged a third of an inch for the week. Primary activities for this week included topping and cutting tobacco along with corn and soybean harvesting. Farmers made a considerable amount of progress in the fields this week thanks to some mild and dry weather. The weekend brought in precipitation and unstable weather for much of the state. Although in the early stages, corn and soybean harvest is well underway. Producers will be harvesting steadily as conducive weather presents itself. Nearly all the tobacco crop has been topped with well over half cut at this juncture. Corn and soybean conditions remain mostly good. Housed tobacco is mostly good and showed marked improvement from last week due to largely dry conditions. Pastures are in good shape as timely rain and mild temperatures have promoted strong growth. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 7, 2020 25-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and well above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.11 inches, 1.34 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 1 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 6 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 6 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.1 out of a possible seven. An active pattern led to excessive rainfall for much of the state this period. Most of the rain fell between Monday through Thursday as the Kentucky saw daily rounds of showers and storms. Coverage turned widespread at times and with a moist air mass in place, storms were capable of producing very heavy rainfall and led to some localized flooding. Overall, the state averaged 2.11 inches, which is well over an inch above normal for this time of year. 1 to 2+ inch total accumulations were widespread across Kentucky with very few stations below an inch. As a side-note, preliminary data from August shows the state averaged 5.02 inches for the month, which would be good for an 11th straight month of above normal precipitation. All eyes then turned to Thursday night and Friday as a cold front pushed through the Ohio Valley. This boundary opened the door to a dry Labor Day weekend with cooler temperatures and lower humidity. High temperatures for Derby Day were only in the upper 70s to middle 80s, before taking a bit of a jump on Sunday. Lows each night dipped into the 50s. Primary activities for this week included topping and cutting tobacco along with corn harvesting. Fieldwork was stymied for much of the week due to widespread heavy rainfall. The persistent showers led to some localized flooding and crop damage. The precipitation has been beneficial in some areas promoting pasture growth, however weeds may become a problem. The latter part of the week brought drier conditions and farmers will likely make up for lost harvesting time. Corn and soybean conditions continue to be mostly good despite the heavy rain this past week. Tobacco is doing well overall with 65 percent of the crop in good condition. Pastures are in mostly good condition and, as mentioned above, may see strong growth from the persistent rain in some areas. Housed tobacco is in good condition overall, however precipitation, along with moisture from dew and fog, may be a detriment in some cases. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 31, 2020 24-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.14 inches, 0.40 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 11 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 12 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.6 out of a possible seven. Led by the remnants of Hurricane Laura tracking through Kentucky, rainfall ran above normal for a third straight week. Overall, the state averaged 1.14 inches. Ahead of the system, the Bluegrass State was situated within a typical summer-time air mass with tropical heat and humidity in place between Monday and Thursday. Highs consistently jumped into the middle 80s to low 90s, accompanied by isolated to scattered rain coverage on a daily basis. The remnants of Laura quickly pushed through the region over the course of Friday and early Saturday, bringing widespread rainfall to the area. A cold front then followed on Saturday, leading to a break in heat on Sunday. Looking back at the past three weeks, Kentucky has averaged 3.43 inches, which is about an inch above normal. Primary activities for this week included cutting hay along with topping and cutting tobacco. Corn harvest has begun for some producers, however the majority of the crop is still in the field. Fieldwork was disrupted at times by scattered rain brought in by the arrival of Hurricane Laura. There have been multiple reports of Southern Rust on corn where spraying may no longer be of value due to the crop stage, however the reports are focused in certain areas of the state and not widespread. Even with Southern Rust present in some corn, the corn and soybean crops remain in mostly good condition. Tobacco is doing well overall with 60 percent of the crop in good condition. Pastures are in mostly good condition and have benefitted from the scattered rain. Harvested hay was reported as in mostly good condition. With rains promoting pasture growth, farmers hope to put away a lot of hay for the winter months. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 24, 2020 23-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.98 inches, 0.14 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.3 out of a possible seven. Focus early in the week was a cold front sinking into the region on Tuesday. Scattered to numerous showers and storms accompanied the boundary during the afternoon and evening hours. Some scattered activity was left across Southeastern Kentucky on Wednesday, but otherwise, cooler and less humid air was ushered into the area behind the front. Highs were only around 80 on Wednesday, before falling into the mid 50s to low 60s that night. The rest of the period followed a similar pattern with daily rounds of scattered showers/storms and cooler than normal temperatures. Going with the common theme in recent weeks, storms were capable of producing very heavy rainfall and with slow storm movements, opened the door to some flooding. Overall, the state average was above normal, but totals were quite different from one side of the state to the other. While Eastern Kentucky averaged 1.33 inches for the week, that number dropped to 0.46 inches for Western Kentucky. Primary activities for this week included cutting hay along with topping and cutting tobacco. Although temperatures were pleasant for the most part, heavy rain showers deterred fieldwork at times. Some flooding likely occurred due to the slow moving systems, however widespread flooding has not been observed at this time. Corn and soybeans are being sprayed, but a fair amount of Southern Rust on corn has been reported in portions of the state. Corn and soybeans remain in mostly good condition on the whole. Tobacco is doing well overall with 55 percent of the crop in good condition. Pastures are in mostly good condition despite heavy rainfall at times. The state’s hay crop appears to be doing well at this point in the season. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 17, 2020 22-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.30 inches, 0.44 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 13 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 15 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.9 out of a possible seven. Kentucky averaged 1.30 inches for the period, marking the third time in the past four weeks that the state average has been above normal. The wet pattern persisted for much of the week, starting with an area of light to moderate showers passing southeast through the Bluegrass and Eastern Kentucky on Monday. Some of the most significant activity occurred on Wednesday through Friday with scattered to numerous showers and storms in place. The slow-moving nature of these storms, combined with torrential rainfall, led to numerous bouts of flash flooding. 1 to 2+ inches was common with the strongest storms. The week closed with the passage of a cold front on Sunday, which pushed a broken line of showers and storms through mainly the eastern half of the state. Looking back at the past 30 days, the state has averaged 5.30 inches, which is 1.31 inches above normal. Primary activities for this week included topping and cutting tobacco, spraying, and cutting hay. Scattered storms and rain disrupted field activities at times over the past week. There were some areas that were subject to excessive rain and flooding, however damage has not been evaluated at this juncture. The effect of Southern Rust on corn where fungicide was not sprayed is not yet clear. Pasture and hay regrowth will be promoted in areas where the rainfall was more moderate. Corn and soybeans continue to be in good condition. Tobacco is doing well overall with 54 percent of the crop in good condition. Pastures are in mostly good condition, however heavy rain may have been a detriment in the areas where it occurred. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 10, 2020 21-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.26 inches, 0.67 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 72 degrees for the week, 4 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 14 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.4 out of a possible seven. Above normal rainfall has been the trend the past couple weeks, but that came to a halt over the first full week of August. Other than portions of Central Kentucky, rainfall was lacking for most of the state. Kentucky averaged about a quarter inch for the period, most of which coming over the first half of the week with the passage of a weak cold front. Coverage was lacking, staying isolated to scattered in nature. Behind the frontal passage, Kentucky saw a break in the heat and humidity with fall- like conditions in place. High temperatures only rose into the middle 70s to around 80 on Tuesday and Wednesday. This was accompanied by some unseasonably cool nights with some seeing lows in the mid to upper 50s. These temperatures are more typical of mid to late September in Kentucky. Saying that, the break did not last long as heat returned for the weekend, along with isolated to scattered storms across the western half of the state on Sunday. Primary activities for this week included topping tobacco, spraying field crops, and cutting hay. Cool temperatures with some extended dry periods allowed farmers in the fields this past week. The low humidity conditions were optimal for hay making. Corn is being sprayed for Southern Rust with the late planted crop particularly susceptible. Corn and soybeans continue to be in good condition overall as the mild temperatures have limited heat stress commonly occurring this time of year. Tobacco is doing fairly well with 53 percent of the crop in good condition. Pressure from weed growth is minimal in pastures. Cooler temperatures and scattered rain have also encouraged healthy pastureland. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 3, 2020 20-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.45 inches, 1.48 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 10 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 13 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.4 out of a possible seven. July closed and August opened with a very wet pattern in place as the state averaged 2.45 inches for the week. This amounted to a second straight week of above normal rainfall for the Bluegrass State, which over the past 14 days has averaged 3.71 inches. The state saw daily rounds of rainfall, most of which the result of a cold front pushing into the area and eventually stalling. Going with the trend of recent weeks, storms were capable of producing very heavy rainfall within a short period of time and led to some flash flooding. High accumulations were widespread across the state. The rainfall was especially welcomed by areas of the southern Bluegrass and NE Kentucky (predominantly Scott, Fayette, Clark, Bourbon, Lewis, Greenup, and Carter Counties), which were recently upgraded into a ‘Moderate Drought’ by the US Drought Monitor. The active pattern also gave a bit of a break from the heat of recent weeks. Rain and added cloud cover kept highs in the low to middle 80s for many between Thursday through Sunday. Some even in the upper 70s on Saturday and Sunday. Primary activities for this week included topping tobacco, spraying field crops, and cutting hay. Farmers finally saw reprieve from intense summer heat as cooler temperatures and precipitation moved in. The rainfall was abundant and welcome as it will help replenish pastures and help areas that were on the fringe of moderate drought. The drawback of the wet pattern is the obstruction to hay cutting, however the benefit to pasture growth may balance that out. Corn and soybeans continue to be in mostly good condition as the cooler temperatures will subdue heat stress. Tobacco is doing fairly well with 55 percent of the crop in good condition. Pastures are in mostly good condition at this time and should see strong growth from recent rain. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 27, 2020 19-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.25 inches, 0.29 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 79 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 21 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 20 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.3 out of a possible seven. Kentucky saw a typical summer-time weather pattern throughout the week with a warm, moist, and unstable air mass in place. Heat was accompanied by daily rounds of storms during the heat of the afternoon. Rain coverage was a bit more pronounced this period. In doing so, other some isolated spots, most of Kentucky saw at least a half inch. The state average 1.25 inches for the week, slightly above normal for this time of year. Just like recent weeks, if caught under a storm, 1 to 2+ inches was common. Looking at data from the Ag Weather Center over the past 30 days, rainfall has been plentiful for most of Kentucky over that period. The state has averaged 5.46 inches, higher accumulations across Western and Central Kentucky (averages of 7.11 and 6.61, respectively) and lower across Eastern Kentucky (4.01 inches). Some localized areas have been much drier compared to the surrounding area. This includes portions of SE/NE Kentucky and the southern Bluegrass, which are roughly 1 to 2 inches below normal over the past 30 days. Primary activities for this week included spraying, topping tobacco, and cutting hay. Intense summer heat and scattered rain prevailed across the state this week. In most instances the rain was welcome as a reprieve from the hot weather, however pockets of the state are still seeing flood damage from heavy rain several weeks prior. Soybeans have been planted in place of corn in some of the areas where extreme flooding occurred. Where drier weather has been the norm, there was some reported dormancy in forage grasses. With that said, many producers are seeing good hay yields when they are able to avoid cutting interruption from the scattered rain. Farmers have been scouting for disease in their crops and applying spray when necessary. Topping of tobacco is progressing at a normal pace. Both corn and soybeans remain in mostly good condition, however the unrelenting heat open the door for added crop stress. Tobacco is doing fairly well with 53 percent of the crop in good condition. Pastures are in mostly good condition at this time, however heat may become a factor if conditions turn dry. Harvested hay is in mostly good condition and supplies are adequate at this juncture. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 20, 2020 18-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.38 inches, 0.61 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 1 degree above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 22 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 20 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.8 out of a possible seven. Summer heat was in full force over the course of the period, especially over the latter half of the week when highs consistently jumping into the upper 80s to middle 90s. The most oppressive heat arrived on Sunday with the entire state in the low to middle 90s. A heat advisory was issued for the western half of Kentucky and up into the Northern Bluegrass/Northeastern Kentucky where high humidity pushed heat indices into the 100 to 105 degree range. The intense heat led to stressful conditions for livestock as the livestock heat stress index ran in the danger/emergency category each afternoon and early evening. Looking at rainfall, the state only averaged 0.38 inches for the week, most of which fell on Thursday. Isolated to scattered coverage was common throughout the week, which led to extremely variable accumulations. If caught under a storm, 1 to 2 inches were common, but others missed out and saw very little, many under a tenth of an inch. Primary activities for this week included scouting fields for disease, spraying, topping tobacco, and cutting hay. Temperatures were very hot and rainfall was sparse over the past week. Accumulations of rain across the state varied greatly with some areas getting very dry. The excessive heat put stress on livestock and pasture ground. Most forage is doing fair due to deep moisture from previous wet periods. Fungicide is being applied to some of the corn crop at this juncture. Sixty-seven percent of corn is in the silking stage while 35 percent of the crop is milking. Forty-two percent of soybeans are blooming with 25 percent setting pods. Tobacco is 33 percent blooming. Fourteen percent of the crop has been topped at this time. Both corn and soybeans remain in mostly good condition, however stress from intense heat could development if current weather persists. Tobacco is doing well with 62 percent of the crop rated as in good condition. Pastures are in mostly good condition at this time, however hot temperatures and dry weather could take a toll on growth. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 13, 2020 17-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.12 inches, 0.13 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 14 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.1 out of a possible seven. This past week featured a ‘rinse and repeat’ pattern. Weather conditions were essentially the same between Monday and Thursday. Highs jumped into the upper 80s to middle 90s with humid conditions in place. Isolated to scattered storms formed each day during the heat of the afternoon hours and dissipated later in the evening and overnight. Once again, any storm that developed was capable of producing very heavy rainfall and flash flooding. The pattern changed a bit Friday and into the weekend as a couple cold fronts worked through Kentucky. The state saw several rounds of rainfall, some with widespread coverage in place. Overall, the state averaged a little over an inch for the week. This now makes the third straight week that the state rainfall average has ran above normal. Over those 21 days, data at the Ag Weather Center shows the state has averaged 4.45 inches, which is about 1.5 inches above normal. Primary activities for this week included the monitoring of field crops, cutting hay, and some topping of tobacco. Hot, humid conditions this week produced scattered thunderstorms and rain. The rain was heavy at times and led to some flash flooding in certain areas. There have been some failed acres of corn and soybeans reported due to excess rain. In some instances soybeans are being planted behind failed corn. The flooding was not widespread as parts of the state actually needed rain and received optimal amounts. Fifty-two percent of corn is in the silking stage while 14 percent of the crop is milking. Four percent of corn is in the dough stage, just slightly behind last year and the five year average. The soybean crop is 96 percent emerged. Twenty-five percent of soybeans are blooming with 10 percent setting pods. Tobacco is 14 percent blooming and farmers are beginning to top the crop. Both corn and soybeans remain in mostly good condition, however damage from flooding will be assessed in the coming weeks in the affected areas. Tobacco is doing well with 68 percent of the crop rated as in good condition. Pastures are in mostly good condition at this time, however there may be stress from heavy rain. In some areas dry conditions coupled with heat could cause some issues with pasture growth. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 6, 2020 16-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.08 inches, 0.09 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, 1 degree above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 10 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 16 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.1 out of a possible seven. The first half of the period featured a persistent wet pattern that carried over from the previous weekend. Storms were scattered in coverage and within a very moist air mass, led to heavy downpours. If caught under one of these slow-moving storms, flash flooding was common with the excessive rainfall. Western Kentucky saw the most widespread rainfall this week with most picking up more than an inch, but many over two. A very hot and humid air mass accompanied the rainfall. The muggy conditions made it feel more like it was around 100 for some locations on Monday. Conditions turned mostly dry between Thursday and Independence Day. While humidity decreased a bit, air temperatures remained high in the upper 80s to middle 90s, slightly above normal for this time of year. Storms returned to the area on Sunday, most widespread across Central Kentucky. Overall, Western Kentucky led the way, averaging over 2 inches for the week. That number decreased to just under a half inch for Eastern Kentucky with more hit and miss storms. Despite some lower accumulations to the east, other than extreme NE Kentucky, the Central Bluegrass, and a small section of SE Kentucky; most have seen significant rainfall over the past 2 weeks. Primary activities for this week included the continued planting of soybeans, setting tobacco, cutting hay, and harvesting wheat. Heavy precipitation in the early part of the week proved to be a detriment to some crops as there were reports of extensive flooding in parts of the state. There were reports of crops under water as well as fields badly eroded from the heavy rain. The scope of the damage will be assessed as the season progresses. The latter part of the week presented drier conditions, but intense heat that led to stress on crops and livestock. Twenty-eight percent of corn is in the silking stage while 5 percent of the crop is milking. Nearly all soybeans have been planted at this juncture with 90 percent of the crop emerged. Fourteen percent of soybeans are blooming with only 1 percent setting pods. The average height of soybeans is 14 inches. Tobacco setting, at 98 percent complete, is ahead of last year and the five year average. Of the tobacco in the ground 5 percent is blooming. Winter wheat harvest is 95 percent complete. Both corn and soybeans remain in mostly good condition. Tobacco is doing well with 69 percent of the crop rated as in good condition. Pastures are in mostly good condition at this time, however the rain this week may have opened the door for deterioration from livestock traffic due to excessive mud. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 29, 2020 15-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.25 inches, 1.25 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 1 degree below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 11 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.1 out of a possible seven. Exceptional rainfall fell across the Bluegrass State over this past week as the state averaged 2.25 inches. This broke a four week stretch of below normal rainfall. While the state saw numerous rounds of showers and storms through the period, the most intense activity occurred over the weekend. Several waves of storms pushed through Kentucky and as the state sat within a very moist air mass, torrential rainfall was common. One of these waves led to substantial flooding across portions of West Central Kentucky on Sunday. The three highest accumulations according to the Kentucky Mesonet on Sunday came from Ohio, Muhlenberg, and McLean Counties with totals of 4 to 6+ inches. This wave carried southeast into South Central Kentucky with numerous stations over two inches for the day. Primary activities for this week included the continued planting of soybeans, setting tobacco, cutting hay, and harvesting wheat. With a good deal of precipitation this past week fieldwork was halted at times. The rainfall was needed in some areas, however the weekend brought very heavy downpours and flooding in several parts of the state. Nine percent of the corn crop is in the silking stage. Soybean planting is nearing completion with 93 percent of the crop is in the ground. The soybean crop is 82 percent emerged and 9 percent in the blooming stage. The average height of soybeans at this juncture is 11 inches. Tobacco setting, at 93 percent complete, is ahead of last year and slightly behind the five year average. Farmers are using every available window to finish up planting. The average height of tobacco plants is 13 inches at this time with 2 percent of the crop in the blooming stage. Winter wheat harvest is 83 percent complete as farmers have begun planting double crop soybeans. It is of note that wheat yields have been adversely affected by the late spring freeze in many cases. Both corn and soybeans remain in mostly good condition. Tobacco is doing well with 78 percent of the crop rated as in good condition. Pastures are in mostly good condition at this time. The rain this past week will benefit some pastures, however the areas that received very heavy precipitation may see some damage from flooding and livestock traffic. Livestock across the state are in good shape. The quality of harvested hay is rated as 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. Hay yields should be very good for the most part as favorable weather prevailed during much of the harvest. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 22, 2020 14-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.65 inches, 0.36 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 71 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 29 percent short, 63 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 19 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. Kentucky saw a fourth straight week of below normal rainfall. Focus for much of the period was on a slow-moving area of low pressure aloft that hovered to the east of the Bluegrass State. Conditions were mostly dry through Wednesday, but as the area of low pressure slowly moved closer, scattered showers and storms returned to the eastern half of Kentucky on Thursday. Coverage then turned more of the hit or miss variety on Friday and Saturday, still mainly across the eastern half of the state. The pattern changed by Sunday as the upper level low moved to the northeast and another disturbance pushed into the area, producing much-needed widespread rain coverage for the first time in quite a while. Saying that, accumulations were still quite variable across Kentucky. Overall, the state averaged 0.65 inches for the week, which is about a third of an inch below normal. Over the past 30 days, rainfall deficits are over 1.5 inches below normal across the state. The extended period of dry weather has led the US Drought Monitor to introduce an area of ‘Abnormally Dry’ conditions across mainly Western/West Central Kentucky. Primary activities for this week included the continued planting of soybeans, setting tobacco, cutting hay, and harvesting wheat. Favorable weather allowed farmers to put in a great deal of time in the fields. The corn crop is 95 percent emerged with 2 percent of the crop in the silking stage. Soybean planting is moving along at a strong pace and continues to run ahead of last year and the five year average. The soybean crop is 73 percent emerged and 7 percent in the blooming stage. The average height of soybeans at this juncture is 4 inches. Tobacco setting is ahead of last year and slightly behind the five year average. Some prosperous weather in the coming week will allow farmers to near completion for setting. The average height of tobacco plants is 10 inches at this time. Winter wheat harvest took a big jump this past week thanks to the accommodating weather. With the crop at 92 percent mature, producers pressed hard to get as much harvested as possible. Many farmers are ready to plant double crop soybeans as the wheat is harvested. The winter wheat crop is in mostly good condition. Both corn and soybeans are in good shape as grain farmers push through the season. Tobacco is doing well thus far with 80 percent of the crop rated as in good condition. Pastures are still in good condition, but would benefit from some precipitation to promote growth. Hay is in good condition despite the dry conditions of late. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 15, 2020 13-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.38 inches, 0.65 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 1 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 19 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 13 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. Conditions have trended dry recently across Kentucky with three straight weeks of below normal rainfall. Over this 21-day period, the state has only averaged two inches of rainfall, which is over an inch below normal. Saying that, some locations have received under an inch over that time period and over two inches below normal. Looking at this past week, focus was on the remnants of Tropical Storm Cristobal early in the period. This system ended up taking a track just west of Kentucky and unfortunately, took the higher accumulations with it. Showers and storms were scattered to numerous in nature across the western half of Kentucky and limited father east. This was flipped on Wednesday as a strong cold front pushed through the state. While the eastern half of Kentucky benefited from some rainfall, the western half was left mostly dry. After a dry second half of the work week, light showers again fell over the weekend, but nothing too significant. Overall, the state averaged less than a half inch for the week. Primary activities for this week included the continued planting of corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, spraying, and cutting hay. A very productive week in the fields as weather was cooperative for the most part. Dry and warm conditions allowed farmers to make a strong push on plantings and forage harvest. There are pockets where the dry weather has been a detriment. In these areas the crops are a little stressed and rain is needed to incorporate nitrogen that has been sprayed. With that said, the week wasn’t completely void of rain, however rainfall was sparse and generally not heavy in nature. Soybean planting is ahead of last year but just behind the five year average. Corn planting is nearing completion and is on pace with both last year and the five year average. The corn crop is 90 percent emerged while soybeans are 62 percent emerged. The average height of corn at this juncture is 21 inches. Tobacco setting made a big leap this week and sits right between last year and the five year average. The average height of tobacco is 6 inches. The winter wheat harvest has begun in earnest, however progress is well below last year and the five year average for this juncture of the season. Nearly all of the crop is mature and mostly coloring. The condition of the wheat crop remains mostly good despite the freeze event several weeks prior. Corn and soybean condition continues to be reported as mostly good at this time. Pastures are healthy on the whole and continue to show good growth. Planted tobacco is reported as in mostly good condition at this time. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 8, 2020 12-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.96 inches, 0.13 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.5 out of a possible seven. Kentucky saw a second straight week of below normal rainfall. According to data at the Ag Weather Center, the state has averaged 1.62 inches over the past two weeks, which is just over a half inch below normal. Carrying over from the previous weekend, dry weather held for most of the state through Wednesday, giving the Commonwealth a 5 day stretch of dry conditions. Increasing temperatures and humidity accompanied this dry weather with highs back in the mid 80s to low 90s for Tuesday and Wednesday. Rainfall returned to the area on Thursday afternoon/evening with scattered to numerous showers and storms in place. Any storms that formed were capable of producing torrential rainfall. Totals varied tremendously based on the location of those storms, with totals ranging from under a quarter inch to over 2 inches. This was the only rainfall event across the week for most of Kentucky. Above normal temperatures continued on Saturday, ahead of a weak frontal boundary moving through the state. This boundary had little moisture to work with and for the most part, just resulted in a temporary break from the humidity on Sunday. Primary activities for this week included the continued planting of corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, and cutting hay. Farmers were able to make a good deal of headway in the fields this week thanks to accommodating weather. Planting progress had been stunted by consistent rain in the prior weeks so drier conditions were a welcome change. There was a great deal of hay cut this week as the weather was conducive. As the cutting moved along, there was some expressed optimism regarding yields. Soybean planting continues to outpace both last year and the five year average. Corn planting is on par with last year and slightly behind the five year average. The corn crop is 79 percent emerged while soybeans are 50 percent emerged. The average height of corn at this juncture is 15 inches. Tobacco setting showed a big jump in progress this past week and sits just behind last year and the five year average for this point in the season. The freeze event that occurred several weeks ago has been alluded to often when discussing crop conditions. Despite this event, corn and soybeans remain in mostly good condition and appear to have been largely spared. Winter wheat was damaged in this event and there will be losses. With that being said, the overall wheat crop is mostly fair to good, however the margins are closer than corn and soybeans. Tobacco set is in good condition at this time. Pastures are doing well as the break in rain has allowed more growth with less damage from livestock traffic. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 1, 2020 11-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.66 inches, 0.46 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 71 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 7 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 25 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.3 out of a possible seven. The closing week of May consisted of a summer-like pattern for Kentucky. The work week saw daily rounds of showers and storms, most of which isolated to scattered in nature. The one exception came Wednesday when much of West Central and Central Kentucky saw a round of widespread showers. Overall for the week, the state averaged 0.66 inches. Averages were higher for the western half of the state with help from the Wednesday event, closer to an inch. Those numbers dipped to well under a half inch for the eastern half. Warm temperatures accompanied the active pattern, peaking earlier in the week on Memorial Day when highs jumped into the middle 80s to low 90s. A big change then occurred late in the week following the passage of a cold front on Friday. Much cooler and dry conditions arrived for the weekend. Saturday and Sunday both featured sunny skies, lower humidity, and high temperatures in the 70s/low 80s. Primary activities for this week included planting of corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, and cutting hay. Fieldwork was disrupted sporadically during the week as farmers contended with scattered rain. The level of precipitation varied regionally with some areas experiencing weather more conducive to progress in the fields. Drier conditions prevailed statewide by the weekend allowing some headway on planting. Cutting of forage has really picked up as farmers take advantage of every opportunity. Soybean planting remains slightly ahead of both last year and the five year average. Corn planting is equal to this time last year, but slightly behind the five year average. The corn crop is 72 percent emerged while soybeans are 39 percent emerged. The average height of corn at this juncture is 9 inches. Tobacco setting is moving along at a steady pace, but is behind last year and the five year average. The winter wheat crop was subject to damage from the freeze several weeks back. The extent of this damage is becoming evident and losses are likely for many producers. Despite the grim outlook for some wheat, the condition overall remains good. Corn and soybean condition continues to be reported as mostly good at this time. Pastures are showing good growth, but the persistent rain may take a toll from animal traffic. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 26, 2020 10-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.16 inches, 1.05 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 66 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 36 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 32 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.3 out of a possible seven. Depending on the exact location across Kentucky, this period was either exceptionally wet or relatively dry. The focus over the first half of the week was a disturbance aloft that didn’t move much, keeping cloudy and wet weather entrenched over the state between Monday and Thursday. Rainfall was most extreme across the eastern half of the state on Monday and Tuesday, especially-so just east of a line from Pulaski, Fayette, and Boone Counties. When it was all said and done, this region saw 2 to 5+ inches of rainfall with a sharp cutoff to the west. The extreme rainfall within a very short period of time led to saturated soils and in turn, moderate/major flooding for a large portion of the Bluegrass Region and Eastern Kentucky. The rest of the week featured daily bouts of rainfall, but only isolated to scattered in coverage. Overall, the state averaged 2.16 inches for the week, but there was quite the range across the state. While the Bluegrass Region and Eastern Kentucky averaged 3.90 and 3.16 inches respectively, Western Kentucky only averaged 0.69 inches. Looking at temperatures, the period started with cooler weather in place, but summer heat returned over the weekend. Highs jumped into the mid to upper 80s, some touching 90. Dewpoints in the middle 60s to low 70s gave a much muggier feel to the air. Primary activities for this week included planting of corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, and cutting hay. Farmers continue to make headway with planting, but wet conditions have hampered progress at times over the previous week. Producers need successive days of dry weather to push through with getting crops in the ground. Rainfall was heavy at times and there were reports of flooding and crop damage in areas of the state. Forage is growing well, but the opportunity to cut has been sparse. Soybean planting remains slightly ahead of both last year and the five year average. Corn planting is on par with last year, but behind the five year average as weather conditions have slowed the initial pace. The corn crop is 79 percent emerged while soybeans are 33 percent emerged. The average height of corn at this juncture is 6 inches. Tobacco setting was able to make up some ground as very little progress was reported last week. Damage from the freeze event three weeks ago has been evaluated in full at this point. Corn and soybean condition are both rated mostly good currently and the crops appear to have been spared from widespread damage. Winter wheat is 96 percent headed and the crop is in mostly good condition. Freeze damage to wheat was rated as 3 percent severe, 12 percent moderate, 40 percent light, and 45 percent with no damage. Fruit crops proved vulnerable to the freeze and some loss is expected. Apple freeze damage was reported as 8 percent severe, 24 percent moderate, 29 percent light, and 39 percent with no damage. Freeze damage to peaches was reported as 16 percent severe, 29 percent moderate, 10 percent light, and 45 percent with no damage. Alfalfa freeze damage was measured as 5 percent severe, 14 percent moderate, 36 percent light, and 45 percent with no damage. The current hay supply is 8 percent very short, 26 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Strawberry condition was rated as mostly good. Pasture condition is mostly good, despite wet conditions. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 18, 2020 09-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.73 inches, 0.40 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 62 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 1 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 36 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 1 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 29 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.6 out of a possible seven. The weather pattern flipped this week, starting the period with below normal temperatures in place and ending more like summer. The period opened with northwest flow limiting highs to the upper 40s to middle 50s for portions of the state. Frost was again an issue Monday night across Eastern Kentucky as lows dropped into the middle 30s. Cooler weather stuck around midweek along with a return of widespread light showers across the region. Total accumulations were higher across Western Kentucky with some exceeding an inch, but decreased significantly farther east. After the rain moved out, southerly flow ushered much warmer air into the Ohio Valley for the second half of the week. Highs consistently rose into the upper 70s to middle 80s from Thursday onward, even turning a bit muggy over the weekend. A more active pattern accompanied the warmer temperatures on Friday and stuck around through the end of the period. Multiple rounds of showers and storms traversed the state, mostly across the northern half with a front stalled across the region. While the state averaged 0.73 inches fort the week, accumulations were much higher across Western Kentucky and North Central Kentucky where many saw 1 to 2+ inches. Those totals dropped dramatically to the east as Eastern Kentucky only averaged 0.26 inches for the week. Primary activities for this week included planting of corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, and cutting hay. Fieldwork progress was slowed this week due to unstable weather. Cool temperatures at the beginning of the week gave way to warmer conditions accompanied by periodic rain. The weather stymied tobacco setting in particular when compared with last week. Corn planting remains ahead of last year, however is now behind the five year average for this juncture. Soybean progress is ahead of both the five year average and the previous year. The corn crop is 56 percent emerged at this time while soybeans are 24 percent emerged. Tobacco transplant supplies are 98 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. After the freeze event that occurred week before last, crops are still being evaluated for damage. Corn condition is rated mostly good currently, however damage from the freeze may become more evident this week. There were reports of stressed corn in certain areas and soybeans were in a susceptible stage at the time of the freeze. Winter wheat is 89 percent headed and the crop is in mostly good condition. Freeze damage to wheat was rated as 2 percent severe, 12 percent moderate, 36 percent light, and 50 percent with no damage. Fruits were subject to damage brought on by cold temperatures with some producers fearing a loss. Apple freeze damage was reported as 14 percent severe, 41 percent moderate, 21 percent light, and 24 percent with no damage. Freeze damage to peaches was reported as 18 percent severe, 27 percent moderate, 16 percent light, and 39 percent with no damage. Alfalfa freeze damage was measured as mostly light to no apparent damage. Strawberry condition was rated as mostly good. Pasture condition is mostly good, despite the cool temperatures and persistent rain. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 11, 2020 08-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.37 inches, 0.28 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 53 degrees for the week, 9 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 29 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 25 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.5 out of a possible seven. The big story for the week was a cold air outbreak late in the period that brought record breaking temperatures to much of the Bluegrass State. The coldest temperatures were seen early Saturday morning as many across the Commonwealth saw temperatures plummet into the upper 20s to middle 30s. Coldest across the eastern half of the state and increasing farther west. Putting these temperatures into perspective, normal lows for this time of year are in the low to middle 50s. While Saturday morning was the coldest, the state did see a few more rounds of frosty temperatures throughout the week, most notable on Sunday morning across Eastern Kentucky, when temperatures yet again dropped into the low to mid 30s for many locations. Cold air of this extreme and this late in the spring season is quite rare across Kentucky. Looking at frost occurrence data, having temperatures of 32 degrees or lower at this time of the year is less than a 10% probability for many across the state. While temperatures were well below normal for the week, the Commonwealth also saw multiple rounds of widespread showers, one coming Monday night/Tuesday, another on Friday, and ended with a closing round on Sunday. Altogether, the state averaged 1.37 inches for the week. Primary activities for this week included planting of corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, and spraying. The state experienced cool conditions and several periods of rain that stymied field work. The weekend brought a freeze event that will be evaluated this week. Despite the setbacks, corn and soybean planting continues to run ahead of both last year and the five year average. The corn crop is 42 percent emerged at this juncture while soybeans are 16 percent emerged. Tobacco setting is still in the beginning stages for many producers with recent weather slowing progress. Thirteen percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 50 percent 2-4 inches, and 37 percent above 4 inches. The supply of tobacco transplants was reported as 98 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 4, 2020 07-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.88 inches, 0.19 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 60 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 29 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.8 out of a possible seven. The work week started out on a dry and mild note with highs in the 60s and 70s. Along and ahead of a cold front, widespread showers returned to the area Tuesday night and into Wednesday. Lighter activity then continued into Thursday. The rain and heavy cloud cover did lead to temperatures that were well below normal for the last day of April as highs struggled in the upper 40s to middle 50s on Thursday. This followed a cooler trend that has stuck around for much of the second half of April. Looking back at the past month and while preliminary, data from the Ag Weather Center shows the state saw its first month of below normal temperatures since November. Luckily, the cool weather didn’t last long as highs rose into the 80s for many by Saturday. A strong to at times, severe line of showers and storms then closed out the week on Sunday. Totals did vary quite a bit across the state for the week. Combined with the Wednesday/Thursday event, the western half of the state was about a half inch below normal for the week, while the eastern half was actually above normal. Primary activities for this week included continued planting of corn and soybeans along with working cattle. Tobacco setting has begun in a small portion of the state as weather has permitted. In some areas fields remained very wet and halted planting progress. With that being said, corn and soybean planting is moving rapidly and both are ahead of last year and the five year average. The corn crop is 28 percent emerged at this juncture. Soybeans are 9 percent emerged. Tobacco transplants are in mostly good condition with 24 percent less than two inches, 53 percent two to four inches, and 23 percent larger than 4 inches. Supply of tobacco transplants was rated as 5 percent short, 90 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. The average height of winter wheat was 23 inches with the condition mostly good despite a light freeze several weeks prior. The average height of alfalfa is 14 inches at this time. Hay condition was reported as mostly good with supplies rated as 7 percent very short, 34 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Rain and seasonably warm weather has kept pastureland in good condition. The condition of strawberries was reported as 5 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 27, 2020 06-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.74 inches, 0.70 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 55 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 38 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 30 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.1 out of a possible seven. April rainfall has been below normal for much of the month, but that changed this week as Kentucky saw multiple waves of widespread showers. Overall, the state averaged 1.74 inches for the week, most of which fell Thursday and over the weekend. Other than some portions of Western Kentucky that saw under an inch, 1 to 2+ inches was common across the rest of the state. Temperatures continued to run cooler than normal, but not as significant as the previous period. The coldest temperatures were seen Tuesday night following the passage of a weak cold front through the area. Lows fell into the 30s, prompting another threat of frost, especially so across the eastern half of the state. A handful of counties once again fell into the upper 20s. This led the way to a second straight week of below normal temperatures for the Bluegrass State. Primary activities for this week included continued planting of corn and soybeans along with seeding of tobacco transplants. Fieldwork was halted in the latter part of the week due to periods of heavy rain. Despite the setback, corn and soybean planting is moving rapidly with both crops substantially ahead of last year and the five year average. The corn crop is 14 percent emerged at this juncture. Soybeans are 3 percent emerged. Eighty-nine percent of tobacco transplants are seeded and remain in mostly good condition. Thirtyseven percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 44 percent 2-4 inches, and 19 percent above 4 inches. The average height of winter wheat was 20 inches with the condition mostly good. Freeze damage to alfalfa and winter wheat from two weeks ago has been assessed at this point. Winter wheat freeze damage was reported as 1 percent severe, 8 percent moderate, 23 percent light, and 68 percent with no damage. Alfalfa freeze damage was reported as 1 percent severe, 10 percent moderate, 27 percent light, and 62 percent with no damage. The average height of alfalfa is 10 inches at this time. Both peaches and apples suffered some damage from the freeze two weeks ago. Apple damage was reported as 10 percent severe, 36 percent moderate, 17 percent light, and 37 percent with no damage. Freeze damage to peaches was reported as 27 percent severe, 16 percent moderate, 15 percent light, and 42 percent with no damage. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 20, 2020 05-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well below normal temperatures and near normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.06 inches, 0.07 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 46 degrees for the week, 10 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 25 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 6 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.5 out of a possible seven. The week started with a line of showers and storms continuing to progress across the state ahead of a cold front. Based on the data cutoff, some of this rainfall was on last week’s report. While the state average was near normal this period, much of this average came from this event. The rest of the week followed a much drier pattern with only light accumulations throughout. In fact, most of the state saw less than half inch of additional rainfall, most coming on Friday. Overall, through the 19th, the state has averaged 2.14 inches for the month of April, which is roughly a half inch below normal. Well below normal temperatures accompanied the dry conditions. Normal high temperatures run in the middle 60s to around 70 for the middle of April, while lows average in the middle to upper 40s. Over much of the period, high struggled in the 50s, while also seeing multiple bouts of subfreezing temperatures. This was especially the case Tuesday night as much of the state dropped below freezing and some even experienced a hard freeze with lows dipping into the middle 20s to low 30s. This was followed by another round on Wednesday night, but subfreezing temperatures were primarily limited to the northern half of Kentucky. Altogether, the cold temperatures throughout the period broke a six week streak of the state average temperature running above normal. Primary activities for this week included continued planting of corn and soybeans along with seeding of tobacco transplants. The state experienced a few light overnight freezes this week with mild daytime temperatures. Rain in the early part of the week disrupted fieldwork. Despite the weather setbacks, corn and soybean planting continued with both crops ahead of last year and the five year average. The corn crop is 6 percent emerged at this juncture. Soybeans did not sustain widespread freeze damage due to the fact that they have not yet emerged. Tobacco transplants are in mostly good condition. The average height of winter wheat was 17 inches with the condition mostly good. Winter wheat freeze damage was reported as 1 percent severe, 4 percent moderate, 37 percent light, and 58 percent with no damage. Alfalfa freeze damage was reported as 1 percent severe, 12 percent moderate, 32 percent light, and 55 percent with no damage. It is of note that any damage may not be apparent until assessment this week. The average height of alfalfa is 10 inches at this time. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 13, 2020 04-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and near normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.05 inches, 0.03 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 58 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.4 out of a possible seven. The period started with above normal temperatures and mostly dry conditions in place. Highs consistently rose into the mid-70s to mid-80s with sunny skies. The tide turned on Wednesday evening and Wednesday night as a strong cold front pushed through the state. The highlight of the event was a strong to severe line of storms that formed ahead of the frontal boundary. This line, in addition to some storms earlier in the day, led to numerous reports of large hail and damaging winds. Behind the boundary, breezy northwest winds ushered much cooler air into the area for the end of the work week. Low temperatures dipped into the upper 20s to middle 30s Friday night, prompting the first Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories of the spring season. Southerly flow brought temperatures back into the 60s over the weekend, but light to moderate rain showers returned to the area Sunday afternoon. Some of this rain fell after the data cutoff and will be reflected in next week’s report. Combined with the Wednesday event, the state averaged just over an inch for the week, which is near normal for this time of year. Primary activities for this week included seeding tobacco transplants, field preparation, and planting of corn and soybeans. Through most of the week the state experienced weather conducive to fieldwork. Corn and soybean planting is ahead of both last year and the five year average at this juncture with producers getting their crops in the ground steadily as weather has permitted. Tobacco transplants are 68 percent seeded, just behind last year and the five year average. Fifty-five percent of apples are in full bloom while peaches are at 74 percent. The average height of winter wheat is 14 inches at this time while 3 percent of the crop has headed. The condition of winter wheat is mostly good to excellent. Pastures are in mostly good condition and are showing good growth due to the seasonably warm weather and intermittent rain. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 6, 2020 03-20 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.41 inches, 0.58 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 53 degrees for the week, 1 degree warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 30 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.0 out of a possible seven. Following an exceptionally wet March, the first week of April opened with some much- welcomed dry conditions. The only significant rainfall event passed through the Bluegrass State on Tuesday. Total accumulations varied significantly, between a half and one inch across the southern half of the state and less than a tenth of an inch towards the northern fringes. Otherwise, the rest of the period was mostly dry. Overall, the state averaged 0.41 inches, which marks the first week of below average precipitation since the last week of February. The drier pattern was accompanied by fluctuating temperatures for much of the week and partly to mostly sunny skies. High temperatures ran below normal on Tuesday and Wednesday. Much of the state dipped into the middle 30s to low 40s on Thursday morning. Some even hitting the lower 30s. The cool conditions did not last long as the state was seeing highs back in the 60s and 70s for the end of the work week and into the weekend. Primary activities for this week included seeding tobacco transplants along with field preparation for the planting season. Mostly dry and seasonably warm conditions this week have allowed opportunity for spraying as well as fertilizing for the 2020 crop season. Early corn and soybean planting has started in some areas. Winter wheat is in mostly good condition and experienced very little freeze damage. Alfalfa freeze damage was minimal. Livestock condition is mostly good to fair at this time as recent weather has promoted good pasture growth. Approximately 20 percent of feed for cattle and calves was obtained from grazing. At this juncture pasture condition is rated as mostly good. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 25, 2019 37-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.37 inches, 0.37 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 44 degrees for the week, 1 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 15 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.1 out of a possible seven. Overall, the period was quite active with multiple rounds of rainfall passing through the region. The state averaged over an inch with the most significant activity having occurred Thursday through Saturday. Even saw some thunderstorms across Southeastern Kentucky on Saturday. While the state averaged an inch, accumulations were higher across South Central and Western Kentucky with many receiving 1.5 to 2+ inches. Those totals diminished to under an inch across the Northern Bluegrass. Looking at temperatures, after a cool start to the week, temperatures did rise into the 50s by Wednesday and Thursday, some hitting the 60s. The active pattern then brought temperatures back to below seasonable norms for the weekend. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco, and planting wheat. Hay shortage continues be a problem for many producers with some reports of selling off cattle because of limited supplies. Overall, hay and roughage supplies were reported as 9 percent very short, 31 percent short, 57 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus across the state. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 18, 2019 36-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well below normal temperatures and below normal precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.24 inches, 0.65 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 35 degrees for the week, 13 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 19 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.3 out of a possible seven. A slow moving cold front worked through the region on Monday. Precipitation started out as rain, but eventually transitioned to snow that evening and overnight as arctic air pushed into the area. One to two inches of snow was common across much of the state. Otherwise, the most notable highlight was the extreme drop in temperatures. Highs stayed in the 20s for much of Kentucky on Tuesday and then dropped into the teens and single digits that night. The Kentucky Mesonet station in Henderson recorded the lowest temperature of 2 degrees. Following Tuesday, temperatures went on the uphill climb, eventually ending up in the upper 40s to middle 50s on Sunday. Dry conditions prevailed with the rain/snow on Monday being the only precipitation event for the week. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco, and planting wheat. A brief period of snow early in the week temporarily slowed harvest. Pastures are gradually improving from much needed rain, but extreme hay shortages are still on the horizon. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 12, 2019 35-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.73 inches, 0.05 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 44 degrees for the week, 7 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 13 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 17 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.2 out of a possible seven. Following a dry and fairly warm start to the period, a cold front moved through the area on Thursday. This boundary brought a round of widespread showers to the region with accumulations between 0.5 to 1.25 inches for much of the state, highest totals across Western Kentucky. Much cooler air of Canadian origin then filtered into Kentucky that night and into Friday. In fact, temperatures both Friday and Saturday mornings dropped into the low to middle 20s. A handful of locations even dropped into the upper teens. Conditions remained dry for the weekend with temperatures going on the increase, back to seasonable norms. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco, and planting wheat. Winter wheat seeding and grain harvests progressed slowly as wet weather limited activity. Livestock producers continue to feed hay as pasture conditions have not experienced much improvement. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 4, 2019 34-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.73 inches, 0.96 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 48 degrees for the week, 5 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 17 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 22 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.5 out of a possible seven. After a record breaking dry September, the Bluegrass State has seen exceptionally wet conditions throughout October. That was no different for end of the month as a frontal boundary interacted with multiple disturbances to spark a couple rounds of widespread showers this past Wednesday and Thursday. Overall, the state averaged 1.73 inches, marking the third week out of the past four that the state has averaged over an inch. A large swath of area running from South Central Kentucky to the Northern Bluegrass received between 2 and 3 inches. Preliminary data suggests this month will place in the top 5 wettest October’s on record. Following the passage of the cold front on Thursday, an unseasonably cold air mass settled into the area. The growing season essentially ended this past weekend with three straight days of below freezing temperatures. Most saw lows drop into the middle 20s to around 30. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco, and seeding wheat. Eighty-two percent of the wheat crop is in good to excellent condition. Heavy rains across the state halted crop harvests and wheat planting. Pastures remain in mostly fair to poor condition and have not really recovered despite recent rains. Cattle and calves obtained approximately 33 percent of feed from pastures, while much hay is being fed. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 28, 2019 33-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.89 inches, 1.18 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 57 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 12 percent very short, 28 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 14 percent very short, 35 percent short, 49 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.9 out of a possible seven. Significant rainfall fell across the state for a third straight week. The highest accumulations were seen over the course of Friday night through Saturday night as the remnants of Tropical Storm Olga pushed northeast through the area. This system sent a high amount of moisture into the region, leading to moderate to heavy rainfall from time to time. High winds accompanied some of the showers across Western Kentucky and led to some severe warnings with gusts over 60 mph. Overall, in addition to rain from another frontal passage earlier in the week, the state averaged 1.89 inches. Saying that, totals were a bit higher across Western Kentucky, which came in at an average of 2.62 inches. Through the 27th, the state has now averaged 4.85 inches for the month, well above average for what is normally the driest month of the year. The US Drought Monitor continues to make improvements across the state with severe drought only covering 7% of Kentucky and moderate drought down to 26%. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco and seeding winter wheat. Most of the state received some precipitation this week. The rain was a hindrance to fieldwork, but beneficial to pastureland. Despite receiving some much needed rain, many producers are tapping into their winter hay supplies. Pastures are mostly fair to poor, however they are improved from the previous week. Housed tobacco is in mostly good condition at this juncture. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 21, 2019 32-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.81 inches, 0.10 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 55 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 19 percent very short, 39 percent short, 41 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 20 percent very short, 42 percent short, 37 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.5 out of a possible seven. The state averaged 0.81 inches for the period, marking a second straight week of above normal rainfall. The higher totals was a result of two events. The first event came Tuesday night as a cold front moved through the area. This boundary sparked a quick hitting round of widespread showers with embedded storms. Accumulations were generally between a half and one inch for most of the state. This was followed by the second event on Saturday as moisture streaming into the state around Tropical Storm Nestor sparked showers across primarily Southeastern Kentucky. For the week, this area saw 1 to 2 inches of rainfall, which was especially beneficial with recent dry conditions. While most of the state had seen major improvements in recent weeks, Southeastern Kentucky actually saw drought worsen with ‘Extreme’ drought expanding across this area. Bottom line, after a record breaking dry September, October is going in the opposite direction. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco, and seeding winter wheat. Much of the state received needed rain this week, however there are still a few areas that remain very dry. The rain was an impedance to the row crop harvest, but was needed to promote pasture growth as temperatures remain cool. Despite the recent precipitation, many farmers are still feeding hay at this juncture putting stress on winter supplies. Pasture condition has improved, but the necessity to supplement still exists. Soybeans and housed tobacco are both in mostly good condition. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 15, 2019 31-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.67 inches, 0.92 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 59 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 28 percent very short, 40 percent short, 31 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 31 percent very short, 42 percent short, and 27 percent adequate. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.4 out of a possible seven. Carrying over from the previous period, a cold front continued to work through the area on Monday morning. This boundary sparked numerous to widespread light to moderate showers, leading to significant accumulations across the area. This was followed by secondary cold front progressing through the area on Friday. Overall, the state has averaged over two inches since the start of the month. This period broke a five week streak of below normal rainfall. The significant rainfall led the US Drought Monitor to make some improvements with roughly 17% of the state now under a ‘severe’ drought, down from 58% last week. The bigger highlight with the frontal passage on Friday was the significant drop in temperatures, which led to frost advisories issued across the area and state’s first real taste of fall. Temperatures dropped well into the 30s over the weekend, Western Kentucky on Friday night and more statewide on Saturday night. Henderson and Mayfield were the coolest spots, each dropping down to 29. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, and tobacco along with seeding winter wheat. While the week began with continued drought, the weekend brought some much needed rain for most of the state. The precipitation was a hindrance to fieldwork, but welcomed nonetheless. Temperatures have been cooler and more typical of the season. The widespread rain should promote pasture growth and replenish ponds, however many farmers will still need to supplement with hay. Pasture condition was reported as 25 percent very poor, 43 percent poor, 26 percent fair, and 6 percent good. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 3 percent severe, 7 percent moderate, 21 percent light, and 69 percent none evident. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 7, 2019 30-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.49 inches, 0.31 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 75 degrees for the week, 13 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 46 percent very short, 37 percent short, and 17 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture was rated 43 percent very short, 40 percent short, and 17 percent adequate. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.5 out of a possible seven. Kentucky finally saw some significant rainfall on Sunday as a cold front moved through the area. Scattered to numerous showers and some storms led to accumulations of well over an inch for portions of North Central Kentucky. Rainfall did turn more widespread that evening and carried over into the overnight. Much of these accumulations fell after the data cutoff for this period and will be seen in the crop report next week. This rainfall followed a very dry September. Data at the Ag Weather Center shows the state only averaged 0.28 inches for the month, which would likely be good for the driest September on record. For many, the rainfall on Sunday was the first significant activity since the last week of August. The latest update to the US Drought Monitor on Thursday upgraded a small portion of Southeastern Kentucky into an ‘Extreme’ drought, while also expanding ‘Severe’ drought to cover 58% of the state. Much of the focus this week was on rainfall, but Kentucky also saw record breaking warmth over the first half of the period with highs consistently jumping well into the 90s. While daily records were broken, all-time highs for October were also surpassed. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, and tobacco. Planting of winter wheat is continuing with a small percentage of the crop emerged. Through most of the week dry conditions persisted, however the weekend brought some much needed rain in parts of the state. Some later season soybeans are being adversely affected by the long drought period. Pastures are very stressed, however the rain late in the week may promote some growth. With that being said, many farmers are feeding hay to compensate for the sustained drought. Pasture condition was reported as 27 percent very poor, 38 percent poor, 28 percent fair, and 7 percent good. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 2 percent severe, 6 percent moderate, 30 percent light, and 62 percent none evident. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 30, 2019 29-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.16 inches, 0.69 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 9 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 43 percent very short, 44 percent short, and 13 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture was rated 34 percent very short, 46 percent short, and 20 percent adequate. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.6 out of a possible seven. The state of Kentucky has now went four straight weeks with much below normal rainfall. Month-to-date rainfall through the 29th shows the Bluegrass State has only averaged 0.27 inches for the month, which is over three inches below normal. The state only averaged 0.16 inches for this period. Portions of Western Kentucky saw better coverage on Thursday and came in at 0.31. Still though, Kentucky did not see any drought busters. The US Drought Monitor upgraded portions of North Central and Southeastern Kentucky into a ‘Severe’ drought, while also expanding ‘Moderate’ drought to cover over half of the state. Looking at temperatures, even though the fall season arrived this past week, heat stuck around. Highs were back in the low to middle 90s over the weekend. A combination of dry conditions, low humidity, and breezy winds at times has led to an enhanced fire danger, prompting many counties to issue burn bans. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, tobacco, and hay. Planting of winter wheat has begun, however the majority of the crop is not yet in the ground. Hot and dry conditions persist throughout the state bringing concerns to farmers. Both corn and soybeans are drying down quickly. Some farmers fear that soybeans may be particularly susceptible to weather conditions due to the stage of the crop at this juncture. Pastures and livestock are very stressed due to the continued drought and heat. Many farmers have begun feeding hay to compensate for the lack of pasture growth. Hay supplies were reported as 10 percent very short, 28 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 2 percent severe, 8 percent moderate, 27 percent light, and 63 percent none evident. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 23, 2019 28-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.05 inches, 0.78 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 43 percent very short, 43 percent short, 14 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 34 percent very short, 44 percent short, 22 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.8 out of a possible seven. Rainfall ran scarce for a third straight week with many once again not recording any accumulations. Looking at the table of weather data below, most stations have recorded between 1 to 2 inches over the past four weeks. Saying that, the brunt of these accumulations fell over the last week of August. Looking at some stations across the state; Louisville, Bowling Green, Paducah, Lexington, and Jackson have all not recorded any rainfall for at least 25 days. Some are at 27 days now. Going at least 25 days without rainfall simply does not happen very often. The most recent time this was matched of the five cities listed above was Paducah in 2010. The US Drought Monitor expanded ‘Moderate Drought’ to include over a quarter of the state with the latest update this past Thursday. This is the largest percentage of the state in drought since December of 2016. Dry conditions have also helped push temperatures higher. Highs continued to rise around 90 on daily basis with many even jumping into the mid to upper 90s on Monday. Normal highs for this time of year are in the middle 70s to low 80s. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, and tobacco. Little rainfall coupled with above average temperatures were experienced across the state for a third consecutive week. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor the majority of state is now classified in abnormally dry to moderate drought stage. Moisture levels in corn and soybeans being harvested are extremely low. Pasture and hay conditions continue to deteriorate. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 16, 2019 27-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.04 inches, 0.80 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 31 percent very short, 47 percent short, 22 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 21 percent very short, 46 percent short, 33 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.8 out of a possible seven. Dry weather and unrelenting heat has engulfed the Bluegrass State. According to data at the Ag Weather Center, through the first 15 days of the month, the state has only averaged 0.06 inches. The US Drought Monitor has reintroduced ‘Moderate Drought’ to portions of North Central Kentucky and established a new area across Southeastern Kentucky. This period was no different with the trend of mostly dry conditions remaining in place. Other than some spotty showers and storms, this was a second straight week where many locations saw no rainfall. In addition to the dry weather, summer heat has remained entrenched across the area. Highs in the low to middle 90s were common this past week, including many jumping into the upper 90s on Tuesday. Lexington airport hit 100 degrees for the first time since 2012. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans as well as topping and cutting tobacco. High temperatures coupled with low rainfall have caused crops to mature much faster. Soybeans and pastures continue to show signs of stress. Some livestock producers are beginning to look for other water sources as ponds dry up. Corn yields remain variable across the state. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 9, 2019 26-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.01 inches, 0.76 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 13 percent very short, 48 percent short, 38 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 11 percent very short, 44 percent short, 44 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.7 out of a possible seven. Looking at total accumulations, this is one of the driest weeks the state has seen in quite some time. The state only averaged one hundreth of an inch with most not seeing anything for the week. The last time Kentucky averaged under a tenth of an inch was back in early February. The dry conditions broke a two week stretch of above normal rainfall. Saying all this, September and October are climatologically, our two driest months of the year. Two cold fronts did move through the area on Wednesday and Friday but were starved of moisture. Noticeably cooler and less humid air moved into the area behind the departing boundaries, especially the latter. Highs over the weekend were below normal for this time of year with temperatures in the upper 70s to middle 80s and much more comfortable humidity. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn and soybeans along with topping and cutting tobacco. Temperatures were near normal with virtually no precipitation across the state. Most areas are beginning to get dry again causing stress on pastures, hay fields, and late planted crops. Some cattle producers are feeding hay early fueling fears of a shortage this winter. Corn harvest is underway with soybean harvest just beginning. Due to a very wet planting season, there is a great deal of geographic variance in crop stages and yields. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 3, 2019 25-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.26 inches, 0.52 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 1 degree below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 34 percent short, 56 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 35 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.7 out of a possible seven. August came to a close with a second straight week of above normal rainfall. Overall, the state averaged 1.26 inches behind multiple rounds of rainfall over the first half of the period. Later in the week, a front stalled over the area and coverage became isolated to widely scattered on a daily basis. Storms were slow movers and produced a tremendous amount of rainfall, leading to some bouts of flooding and even some large hail. The rainfall has improved conditions across the state and led the US Drought Monitor to remove moderate drought from portions of North Central Kentucky. Looking at temperatures, behind the passage of a cold front on Tuesday, Kentucky received a dose of fall weather for a couple days. Highs were only in the upper 70s to middles 80s both Wednesday and Thursday with low humidity. Those temperatures then went on the increase through the weekend, back to around 90. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn and hay along with topping and cutting tobacco. There was a period of cooler temperatures and widespread precipitation this past week offering some drought relief. Corn harvest is still in the early stages, but has been initiated. Due to a very wet planting season, there is a great deal of geographic variance in crop stages. Pasture have benefitted from the rain and cool temperatures, however another dry spell will halt the improvement. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 26, 2019 24-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.00 inches, 0.17 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, 1 degree above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 32 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 32 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.7 out of a possible seven. After three straight weeks of below normal precipitation, the US Drought Monitor introduced an area of ‘Moderate Drought’ to portions of North Central Kentucky with the latest update. In addition, the area of ‘Abnormally Dry Conditions’ also expanded to include nearly half of the state. Luckily, the state did finally see some beneficial rainfall this past week as multiple rounds pushed through the area. The unsettled pattern started on Tuesday evening as a line of storms pushed south into the Bluegrass State. This was followed by an active pattern over the next few days as a cold front was slow to pass through the region, each day featuring scattered coverage of showers and storms. Overall, the state averaged an inch for the week, but that number jumped to 1.66 for Western Kentucky. Some portions of this area, including Paducah, saw more than three inches. Primary activities for this week included harvesting hay along with topping and cutting tobacco. Pockets of the state received some much needed rainfall this week while other areas continue to battle drought. Corn harvest has initiated, however nearly all the crop is still in the field. Crop stages vary geographically as the planting season was very wet for much of the state. Corn, soybeans, and tobacco remain in mostly good condition despite the extended dry weather. Pasture is in mostly fair condition as the heat and drought have taken a toll. Harvested hay is in mostly good condition at this juncture, however producers are seeing low yields in areas that are especially dry. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 19, 2019 23-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.38 inches, 0.48 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 11 percent very short, 38 percent short, 50 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 34 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.5 out of a possible seven. Kentucky has experienced a dry August thus far with three straight weeks of below normal rainfall. Data at the UK Ag Weather Center shows the state has only averaged 0.92 inches through August 18th, which is almost 1.5 inches below normal. The northern half of the state did see some widespread rainfall on Tuesday morning, but not nearly enough. The rest of the week featured spotty rainfall with little, if any falling across the southern half of the state. ‘Abnormally Dry Conditions’ were expanded across North Central Kentucky with the Thursday update of the US Drought Monitor, in addition to a small area introduced across Southeastern Kentucky. Bottom line, it has been a dry August for the Bluegrass State. The heat has not helped matters with highs in the middle 80s to low 90s common over the period. A handful of stations even rose into the upper 90s on Sunday. Primary activities for this week included topping and cutting of tobacco along with continued hay cutting. Pockets of the state received some much needed rainfall this week, however conditions remain dry on the whole. Crop stages vary dramatically in parts of the state as some crops were replanted due to adverse conditions in the planting season. There were several reports of low hay yields due to the heat and drought. Pastures are also being stressed by the persistent hot and dry conditions. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 12, 2019 22-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.33 inches, 0.58 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 29 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 28 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.3 out of a possible seven. As summer heat continues, attention over recent weeks has turned toward increasingly dry conditions for some areas of the state. A couple frontal boundaries moved through the Lower Ohio Valley this past week, sparking isolated to scattered storms. Rainfall accumulations were limited to mainly two areas of the state: Western/West Central Kentucky and the Northern Bluegrass/Northeastern Kentucky. Between the two (North Central Kentucky extending into Southeastern Kentucky), very little, if any rainfall was seen. Overall, this pushed the state to a second straight week of below normal rainfall. In addition, the US Drought Monitor introduced a large area of ‘Abnormally Dry Conditions’ for North Central Kentucky, which has missed most of the rainfall over the past couple weeks. Primary activities for this week included cutting hay, topping tobacco, and spraying of field crops. A small portion of the tobacco crop has been cut according to reports. Parts of the state received some rain last week, however dry conditions persist. Drought coupled with hot weather has taken a toll on some of the pastureland and hay. Later planted corn and soybeans could be damaged if the dry conditions continue. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 5, 2019 21-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.67 inches, 0.30 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 21 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 20 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.2 out of a possible seven. Overall, the state averaged 0.67 inches for the week, which is about a third of an inch below normal. Coverage was more of the hit or miss variety, with isolated to scattered showers and storms in place most of the week. While some areas saw very little, others that got caught underneath slow-moving cells saw more than 1.5 inches. Portions of North-Central Kentucky have trended to the drier side over the past two weeks with rainfall departure of 1 to 2 inches below normal. Temperatures ran around normal for the period with highs consistently getting into the middle 80s to low 90s. Primary activities for this week included cutting hay, topping tobacco, and spraying field crops. Pockets of the state are dealing with a recent dry spell that, if prolonged, could be detrimental to pastureland and field crops. The dry conditions coupled with hot temperatures has slowed pasture growth and is beginning to stress crops in some areas. A few counties experienced heavy rain, however flooding was not widespread. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 29, 2019 20-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.07 inches, 0.10 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 72 degrees for the week, 4 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 20 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 19 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. A cold front early in the week sparked multiple rounds of showers and storms across the area. Once again, storms were capable of producing very heavy rainfall and led to some flash flooding across the region. For most, this was the only rainfall for the week as high pressure kept the area dry for the rest of the period. Saying that, the state still averaged 1.07 inches, but accumulations varied greatly with the scattered nature of the storms. Following the passage of the front, much cooler and noticeably less humid air filtered into the Bluegrass State as winds transitioned to the north. Dewpoints dropped into the 50s after being in the 70s most of last week. Afternoon highs ranged in the upper 70s to middle 80s through Thursday, before going back on the increase for the weekend. Still though, the cooler temperatures broke a four week stretch of above normal temperatures. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, topping tobacco, and spraying tobacco and corn fields. Limited rainfall has impacted pastures and crops, most notably in central portions of the state. Farmers have noted good yields in the second cutting of hay, with reports of better weed control. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 9 percent very short, 26 percent short, 61 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 22, 2019 19-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.40 inches, 0.42 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 80 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 10 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.3 out of a possible seven. The remnants of Tropical Storm Barry worked through the region over the first half of the work week, resulting in multiple rounds of storms. Once again, a very moist air mass led to torrential rainfall from time to time. The state averaged 1.40 inches for the week, but several locations recorded 2 to 3+ inches. As the remnants of Barry moved away from the region midweek, focus then turned to oppressive heat moving into the area through the weekend. An ‘Excessive Heat Warning’ was issued for much of the state as temperatures rose into the upper 80s to middle 90s for highs. A very sticky air mass with dewpoints in the middle to upper 70s led to heat indices between 100 and 110 degrees during the day. This was ultimately the warmest period of the year thus far and pushed livestock heat stress into the danger to emergency category each day. Looking back, the state has now gone four straight weeks of above normal temperatures. Primary activities this week included scouting fields for incidences of disease, topping tobacco, and cutting hay. Precipitation increased from remnants of Tropical Storm Barry earlier in the week followed by excessive heat and humidity. Crops and pastures showed signs of stress from the high temperatures and dry weather later in the week. Livestock heat stress was also escalated during this period. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 15, 2019 18-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.59 inches, 0.40 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 79 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.2 out of a possible seven. Conditions were drier across the area this period, while summer heat remained entrenched across the area. High temperatures consistently reached into the upper 80s to lower 90s. Some even reaching the middle 90s across Western Kentucky. Combined with dewpoints in the 70s, the livestock heat stress index remained elevated in the danger to emergency categories. Most of the rainfall for the period fell midweek with summer-time afternoon thunderstorms on Wednesday and followed by a cold front pushing through the area on Thursday. Coverage remained isolated to scattered with the state average for the week only coming in at 0.59 inches. Most of the activity fell across Southwestern, South-Central, and Eastern Kentucky. North- Central Kentucky and the Northern Bluegrass missed on most of the rain. Primary activities this week included scouting fields, topping tobacco, cutting hay, harvesting winter wheat, and planting soybeans. Varied precipitation across the state has left some fields in standing water, other areas with scattered showers, to extremely dry. In sections of the state that have experienced lower precipitation recently, crops are showing signs of moisture and heat stress. Some tobacco producers are reporting incidences of target and frog-eye leaf spot, and spraying fungicides to help control. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 8, 2019 17-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.35 inches, 0.36 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 79 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.4 out of a possible seven. The weather this past week followed a repetitive pattern. Each day started with mostly to partly sunny skies, but by late morning to early afternoon, clouds were on the increase. Peak heating brought diurnal rounds of scattered to numerous showers and storms, mainly of the pulse variety and dissipating shortly after sunset. While severe weather was minimal, a moist and very unstable air mass led to torrential downpours, frequent lightning, and occasional gusty winds. Overall, the repetitive pattern led to a state rainfall average of 1.35 inches for the week, over a third of an inch above normal. As an extension to the last week of June, highs remained in the middle 80s to low 90s throughout the week. High dew points pushed peak heat indices into the middle 90s to around 100 at times and kept the livestock heat stress index elevated in the danger category. Primary activities this week included harvesting winter wheat, planting double crop soybeans, setting tobacco, spraying crops, and clipping pastures. Low lying areas continue to be impacted by excessive precipitation this season, including prevented planting, drowned out crops, and damage to root systems. The average height of emerged soybeans was 15 inches. The excessive heat and humidity has started to stress some crops, pastures, and hay fields. Farmers have been cutting hay, with some reports of over-maturity in the first cutting due to wet weather and delays in harvesting. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 1, 2019 16-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.81 inches, 0.18 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, 1 degree above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 25 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.0 out of a possible seven. More summer-like conditions moved back into the area for the last week of June. Heat really built into the state over the second half of the period with highs consistently getting into the upper 80s to low 90s. Combined with higher humidity, the livestock heat stress index jumped into the danger category each afternoon and evening. Showers and storms were hit and miss for much of the week with only a few solid chances of rainfall. The first came on Monday as a weak cold front produced widespread showers and embedded storms. A second disturbance sparked scattered to numerous activity across Western/Central Kentucky on Wednesday evening and then Sunday, another round pushed south across the state. Overall, average total accumulations were higher across Western Kentucky at 1.12 inches and lowest in the Bluegrass Region with an average of 0.48. Data at the Ag Weather Center shows the state averaged 7.70 inches for the month of June, which is over 3 inches above normal. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, planting soybeans, harvesting hay, and spraying fields. Drier conditions allowed for more fieldwork than previous weeks, but the cumulative effects of persistent precipitation so far this season have led to varying impacts. Damage reports included flooding in low lying areas, tobacco scalding from hot and humid conditions, incidences of soybeans rotting before emerging, and hay quality concerns due to over-maturity. The quality of harvested hay was rated 60% in good to excellent condition. The planting of double crop soybeans continues as significant progress was made in harvesting winter wheat. The average height of emerged soybeans was 11 inches, compared to 12 inches last year. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 24, 2019 15-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 3.63 inches, 2.61 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was 1 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 44 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 36 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.6 out of a possible seven. Exceptionally wet conditions continue to plague the area. Dry weather has been hard to find with daily rounds of showers and storms this past week. Overall, the state averaged 3.63 inches for the period. Central Kentucky, in itself, even averaged 4.15, marking the second time this month that this area has went over 4 inches. Kentucky remained situated into a moist atmosphere for most of the week, which led to torrential rainfall and localized flooding from time to time. Several lines of storms pushed through the area, especially Friday and over the weekend. These lines produced frequent lightning, damaging winds and even some tornadoes. Looking more at the abundant rainfall, Kentucky typically averages 4.25 inches for the month of June. Thus far, data at the Ag Weather Center shows the state has averaged 6.88 inches for the month. This would place Kentucky in the top 10 wettest June’s of all time, but still not close to the all-time record of 11.67 inches set in 1928. Primary activities for this week included planting soybeans, tobacco setting, cutting hay, and harvesting wheat. Yet another wet week has made it difficult for farmers to complete fieldwork. The ground is saturated in most areas and concerns are beginning to arise about the condition and outlook for crops already planted. Several reporters noted standing water in low lying fields and wash out from the relentless precipitation. The constant moisture could open the door for disease as well. Hay harvest is running behind as farmers fear more rain moving in and some hay fields are of poor quality. The average height of soybeans is 4 inches at this juncture. Eighty four percent of the tobacco crop is in the ground, behind both last year and the five year average. The crop is in mostly good condition with an average height of 13 inches. Although pastures and hay are in mostly good to fair condition, the ongoing rain may begin to take a toll. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 17, 2019 14-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.64 inches, 0.38 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 68 degrees for the week, 4 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.4 out of a possible seven. Kentucky average rainfall was below normal for the week, but that does not tell the whole story. Western and Central Kentucky each averaged under a quarter inch for the week, well below normal. Accumulations increased farther east and especially north. The Bluegrass area averaged 1.53 inches behind multiple rounds of rainfall, mainly Wednesday and Sunday afternoons/evenings. Temperature-wise, it was a cooler week overall for the Bluegrass State with the weekly state average coming in below normal for this first time since March. The coolest period came Friday morning as clear skies and calm winds sent lows into the middle to upper 40s! Primary activities for this week included planting soybeans, tobacco setting, cutting hay, harvesting wheat, and planting any remaining corn. Rain was scattered across the state as some producers experienced weather conducive to fieldwork while others continue to battle persistent rain. Showers were heavy in some regions causing concern for planted crops as well as delaying the planting of others. There were multiple reports of standing water in fields and visible crop stress due to excessive precipitation. Many farmers have not been able to harvest hay after a very wet winter that led to a shortage. Tobacco setting remains behind last year and the five year average with 75 percent in the ground. The average height of tobacco plants was 10 inches, same as last year and just ahead of the five year average. Pasture condition remains in mostly good condition despite the continued rain. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 10, 2019 13-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.57 inches, 1.49 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 72 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 24 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.9 out of a possible seven. A very active pattern with daily bouts of rainfall between Wednesday and Sunday led to an exceptionally wet week for the Commonwealth. Much of the activity fell across Central Kentucky and areas to the east, scattered to numerous in coverage most of the time. Thunderstorms tended to be slow-movers during the period and with a combination of torrential rainfall and saturated ground, localized flooding was a possibility. Central Kentucky, in itself, averaged 4.14 inches for the week. A handful of locations were more than five inches. Putting this into perspective, Kentucky averages 4.25 inches for the entire month of June. Western Kentucky saw the least, but still came in at 1.55 inches. After portions of the state were starting to get dry in May, the state has now went two straight weeks with above normal rainfall. Primary activities for this week included planting corn and soybeans, tobacco setting, and cutting hay when weather allowed. Farmers continue to battle persistent rain when attempting to complete fieldwork. There were a few days of dry weather which allowed progress, however rain moved in towards the end of the week. Rain was heavy at times causing standing water in some fields. Corn and soybeans remain behind both last year and the five year average at this juncture in the season. Several producers have expressed growing concern over crop production due to the continuous rain. The average height of corn was 21 inches, compared to 12 inches last week. Sixty six percent of the tobacco crop is in the ground, behind both last year and the five year average. The average height of tobacco plants was 6 inches. Although pasture condition was reported as mostly good, the rain has caused some damage due to mud and weed overgrowth. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 3, 2019 12-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.18 inches, 0.06 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 9 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 8 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.4 out of a possible seven. Kentucky broke a three-week streak of below normal rainfall as the state averaged 1.18 inches for the period. While conditions were mostly dry on Memorial Day and Tuesday, rain coverage increased over the second half of the workweek. A combination of surface boundaries and unstable atmosphere sparked showers and storms on a daily basis with some storms becoming strong to severe at times. While the state averaged 1.18 inches, that number increased to 1.76 across Western Kentucky. Some saw 3+ inches. The rain came as some areas of the state were starting to get fairly dry. The US Drought Monitor even introduced ‘Abnormally Dry’ conditions to portions of Central and Eastern Kentucky with the latest update on May 30th. Primary activities for this week included planting corn and soybeans, tobacco setting, and cutting hay when weather permitted. Fieldwork was interrupted at times by heavy rain, which in some cases led to standing water in low lying areas. Despite the adverse conditions, farmers were able to make planting progress. Tobacco, corn, and soybeans are all behind both last year and the five year average at this point in the season. The average height of corn was 12 inches, compared to 9 inches last week. Pastures remain in mostly good condition at this time. Farmers have had difficulty finding a window to cut hay due to the persistent precipitation. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 28, 2019 11-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.61 inches, 0.50 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 14 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.6 out of a possible seven. Kentucky has now went three straight weeks with below normal rainfall. The state only averaged 0.61 inches for the week with higher totals across the Purchase area, North Central Kentucky, and the Bluegrass. Totals diminished across Southern and Southeastern Kentucky. The brunt of the activity came on Sunday as a disturbance sparked scattered to numerous storms across primarily the northern half of Kentucky. Storms were capable of heavy rain, frequent lightning, and some gusty winds. Otherwise, the rest of the week featured hit-or-miss activity with most of the state staying dry. Looking at temperatures, summer-like heat returned over the second half of the week with highs jumping into the upper 80s to low 90s. This marked the ninth straight week of near to above normal temperatures for the Bluegrass State. Primary activities this week included planting corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, and cutting hay. Some producers reported quality concerns in the first cutting of hay, noting that recent humidity led to hay not drying well. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 12 percent very short, 26 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Limited rainfall allowed for more fieldwork to take place, but along with higher temperatures this contributed to fields drying out. The average height of emerged corn was 9 inches, consistent with the previous year. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 20, 2019 10-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.40 inches, 0.73 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 65 degrees for the week, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 86 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.9 out of a possible seven. Kentucky rainfall has now been below normal for two straight weeks. Monday and Tuesday started the period cool and dry, before a disturbance passed through Western Kentucky on Wednesday. Many across this area saw anywhere from a quarter to an inch+, while the rest of the state remained dry. This was followed by another disturbance on Thursday evening and overnight, dropping through portions of Central and Eastern Kentucky. Storms were capable of producing heavy rain and dangerous lightning. Mostly dry conditions then returned for Friday and Saturday, accompanied by a return to summer heat and humidity. Highs rose into the middle to upper 80s for most with some even touching 90 degrees. Scattered activity returned on Sunday, but once again, most stayed dry. Over the past two weeks, a large section of Central and Eastern Kentucky are showing rainfall departures of 1 to 2 inches below normal. Some locations around Bowling Green are more than 2 inches below. Primary activities this week included planting corn and soybeans, transplanting tobacco, cutting hay, and spraying wheat. With continued dry weather, planting progress is expected to pick up. Producers began sidedressing corn with nitrogen. Some replanting of corn has occurred in fields where water had pooled. Spring breeding of cattle is underway. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 92 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 13, 2019 09-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.65 inches, 0.45 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 64 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.0 out of a possible seven. Weather-wise, the first and second halves of the period were nearly opposite to each other. Dry and very warm conditions were in place for Monday through Wednesday. In fact, highs rose solidly into the low to middle 80s across the state by Wednesday. Combined with some elevated humidity, Kentucky got an early taste of summer. Conditions then took a 180-degree turn for the second half of the week as wet and cooler weather returned. The state saw several rounds of scattered to numerous showers pass through the region, but total accumulations were fairly light for most of the state. While portions of Southeastern Kentucky and the Northern Bluegrass saw rainfall well in upwards of an inch, Western and Central Kentucky averaged less than a half inch. Primary activities this week included planting corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, spraying fields, applying fungicides, and performing ground preparations. Producers are monitoring upcoming weather forecasts closely to find windows for more planting and hay cutting to take place. Pasture conditions are improving and greening up. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 3 percent short, 92 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Twelve percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 47 percent between 2-4 inches, and 41 percent over 4 inches. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 6, 2019 08-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.62 inches, 0.54 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 68 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 30 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 24 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.0 out of a possible seven. Extended periods of dry weather have been few over the past month. Data from the Ag Weather Center shows that the state has averaged 6.05 inches over the past thirty days. The wet trend continued this past week with several rounds of showers and storms passing through the area from Wednesday and lasting through Derby Day. An unstable and moist air mass in place led to moderate/heavy rainfall at times and even the potential for flooding by later in the week. Rainfall coverage turned widespread Thursday night/Friday morning and again on Saturday. Overall, the state averaged 1.62 inches for the week, which marks the third week out of the past four with above normal rainfall. While it has been wet, temperatures have been running warm for this time of year. Highs jumped into the 80s numerous times this past week. Primary activities this week included planting corn and soybeans, preparing fields, and working cattle. Soils remain saturated throughout the state from the overall wet spring and recent showers and storms. Farmers continue to make progress in planting corn and soybeans, but timing has been an issue with monitoring precipitation forecasts and field conditions. Wheat producers began to make fungicide applications and some early hay fields were cut this past week. Cattle body condition remains of concern coming out of the winter months, as producers expect a delay in putting weight back on. As a result, calving intervals are expected to be impacted. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 3 percent short, 93 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Twenty-one percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 49 percent between 2-4 inches, and 30 percent over 4 inches. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 29, 2019 07-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.74 inches, 0.30 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 62 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.0 out of a possible seven. The first half of the work week started on the warm side with high temperatures topping out in the middle 70s to low 80s for highs. After a dry Monday, a frontal boundary sank into the area and with disturbances passing overhead, sparked several rounds of showers and storms through Friday. The most widespread activity occurred Thursday and Thursday night. Overall, the highest accumulations for the week were confined to areas along the Ohio River and the Northern Bluegrass with around 1 to 2+ inches. Those numbers declined to the southern half of the state as most were under a half inch for the week. Primary activities for this week included corn and soybean planting along with continued tobacco transplant seeding. While several regions battled persistent precipitation, others received weather conducive to progress in the fields. Corn planting is well ahead of last year at this time, but slightly below the five year average. Soybean planting is ahead of both last year and the five year average at this juncture. Ninety two percent of tobacco transplants have been seeded. The average height of transplants were reported as 38 percent less than 2 inches, 48 percent 2-4 inches, and 14 percent larger than 4 inches. The average height of winter wheat was 23 inches, up from 18 inches last week. The average height of alfalfa was 9 inches, compared to 8 inches the previous week. There has been a shortage of hay as pastures were adversely affected by the extremely wet winter and spring. Hay supply was reported as 22 percent very short, 40 percent short, 35 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Strawberry condition was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 22, 2019 06-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.78 inches, 0.80 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 56 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 32 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 24 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.5 out of a possible seven. According to data with the UK Ag Weather Center, April has been a fairly wet month thus far for the Bluegrass State with the state averaging 3.94 inches through the 21st. This is about an inch above normal over that time span. A good portion of that total fell this past week as the state averaged 1.78 inches. Most of this activity fell over a three day period, lasting from Thursday into Saturday as a cold front and associated area of low pressure worked through the state. This marked the second straight week of above normal rainfall. A substantial area of Western/Central Kentucky and up into the Northern Bluegrass even received in excess of two inches with this round. Primary activities for this week included continued corn planting and tobacco transplant seeding. Fieldwork was interrupted by rain with cold temperatures moving in at the end of the week. Despite the weather setbacks, corn producers were able to make some planting progress. Planting is ahead of last year at this time, but slightly below the five year average. Soybean planting is underway for some producers, but very little is in the ground at this juncture. Fifty seven percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 34 percent 2-4 inches, and 9 percent above 4 inches. Transplants remain in mostly fair to good condition. The average height of winter wheat was 18 inches, up from 13 inches last week. The average height of alfalfa was 8 inches, compared to 6 inches the previous week. Freeze damage to apples was reported as 1 percent severe, 2 percent moderate, 22 percent light, and 75 percent with no damage. Peach freeze damage was reported as 1 percent severe, 2 percent moderate, 13 percent light, and 84 percent with no damage. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 15, 2019 05-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.59 inches, 0.57 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 63 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 25 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.3 out of a possible seven. Kentucky saw above normal rainfall over the past week behind multiple rounds of precipitation. Activity started on Monday as an upper level disturbance worked across the area. Widespread coverage was focused more across the southern half of the state. This was followed by a few mild and dry days. By Thursday, breezy southerly flow ahead of an approaching area of low pressure pushed highs into the low to middle 80s for much of the state. A cold front then swept through on Thursday night and into Friday, bringing a quick-hitting round of showers and storms. Accumulations were fairly light with this round, but was followed by another area of low pressure working through the area on Saturday night and into Sunday. Overall, this system accounted for the brunt of the 1.59 state average for the week. Accompanying the weekend system was high winds with numerous gusts over 40 mph and some exceeding 50. Primary activities for this week included planting corn, seeding tobacco transplants, and preparing fields. Farmers are performing fieldwork at every opportunity, however intermittent rain continues to stymie progress. Corn producers are ready to get their crop in the ground, but weather conditions have not been conducive in the early planting season. The crop is ahead of last year, but considerably behind 2017 at this juncture. Seventy five percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 22 percent 2-4 inches, and 3 percent above 4 inches. Transplants were reported as in mostly fair to good condition. Winter wheat condition is mostly fair to good with an average height of 13 inches. Freeze damage to winter wheat was reported as 1 percent moderate, 11 percent light, and 88 percent with no damage. The average height of alfalfa was 6 inches. Freeze damage to alfalfa was reported as 1 percent severe, 9 percent moderate, 29 percent light, and 61 percent with no damage. Pastures are starting to show some growth easing the demand for hay which is in short supply. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 8, 2019 04-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced slightly above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.56 inches, 0.43 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 53 degrees for the week, 1 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 2 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 20 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.7 out of a possible seven. The month of April started on a cold note with low temperatures dipping well into the 20s on Monday morning. This prompted the first freeze warnings of the spring season to be issued across the southern half of Kentucky. Dry conditions and warmer temperatures then prevailed through midweek, eventually rising into the middle 60s to around 70 on Wednesday. An upper level disturbance then brought light rain showers to the region on Thursday night and into Friday. This was followed by a more intense round on Sunday as showers and scattered storms pushed through the Bluegrass State. Overall though, the state only averaged just over a half inch for the week. Primary activities for this week included seeding tobacco transplants, field preparation, and corn planting where weather would allow. The commonwealth has had some drier conditions recently, however soil remains very moist in many areas hampering fieldwork. A freeze at the beginning of the week was also of concern, but normal spring weather returned as the week progressed. Although corn planting has begun, very little is in the ground at this juncture. Pastures have begun to grow, but an abundance of weeds are present due to the abnormally wet winter. Many farmers are still feeding hay and supplies remain short. Winter wheat condition is mostly good to fair with an average height of 7 inches. Twenty percent of apples and 30 percent of peaches are in bloom at this time. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 1, 2019 03-19 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.08 inches, 0.06 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 50 degrees for the week, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 1 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.8 out of a possible seven. The month of March came to a close with a week of slightly above normal rainfall and near normal temperatures. The period started with low pressure sliding southeast across the area, sparking showers and isolated storms. A few dry days followed with mostly sunny skies taking temperatures on the uphill climb. Highs were sitting in the 70s by Thursday for much of Kentucky. Rain chances then went on the increase again starting Thursday night and lasting through Saturday. Rainfall totals were on the light side early-on, but a strong cold front passed through the state on Saturday, sparking a line of showers and storms. This line accounted for the brunt of the rainfall for the week, a little over an inch on average. This broke a two week stretch of below normal rainfall through the mid- section of March. Overall, data at the Ag Weather Center shows Kentucky averaged 3.46 inches for month, which was the first month of below normal precipitation since October of last year. Primary activities for this week included seeding tobacco transplants along with spraying and preparing fields for the planting season. Warm, dry conditions allowed fields to start drying out before more rain and cooler temperatures moved in on the weekend. There was very little freeze damage to winter wheat and the crop is in mostly good condition. Alfalfa was also largely spared from freeze as small amounts of light and moderate damage were reported. Livestock condition is mostly good to fair at this juncture, however cattle have been adversely affected by wet, muddy pastures and an overall hay shortage during the winter months. In some cases cows will be moved to a fall breeding schedule due to their current body conditions. Approximately 20 percent of feed for cattle and calves was obtained from pastures. Pasture condition was rated as mostly fair at this time. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 26, 2018 40-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.32 inches, 0.69 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 43 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 65 percent adequate and 35 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 31 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.3 out of a possible seven. The period started with cool, cloudy, and light rain showers in place on Monday. That cloud cover stayed with the area through Tuesday, before diminishing for Wednesday and the Thanksgiving holiday. Temperatures went on a warming trend through the week, starting with highs in the 40s and eventually making it into the 50s and 60s by Friday and into the weekend. Light rain showers returned to the area Friday night with a disturbance passing aloft and then again late Sunday.Overall, the state as a whole averaged less than a third of an inch for the week and ended a three-week stretch of above normal precipitation. Looking at the growing season from April to October, data shows that 2018 was the sixth wettest on record for the Bluegrass State with data going back to 1895. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, and stripping tobacco. Soybean harvest has been continuously stalled by precipitation and poor drying conditions for most of November. Yields and quality remain of concern, with reports of farmers being docked for deteriorated quality and disease. Fields and pastures remain saturated, some of the last cuttings of hay were lost due to the inability to dry and bale. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as mostly adequate. Some producers have “mudded in” the rest of their wheat crop, and any remaining acres to be planted may likely be abandoned unless more favorable weather conditions occur very soon. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 19, 2018 39-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.38 inches, 0.46 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 38 degrees for the week, 10 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 37 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 68 percent adequate, and 32 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.5 out of a possible seven. Winter came early for the Bluegrass State as temperatures ran below normal for a second straight week and a wintry mix of precipitation fell on several occasions. The most significant event came Wednesday night and into Thursday. A Winter Weather Advisory was issued for the majority of the state. Freezing rain fell across much of Central Kentucky and the Bluegrass with numerous accumulations between a tenth and quarter inch. Ice accumulations were mainly limited to elevated surfaces with warm ground temperatures in place. While this mitigated road impacts, the ice did lead to many downed limbs and associated power outages. Precipitation fell in the form of snow for extreme portions of Western Kentucky with accumulations between 1 and 2 inches. Combined with additional rain showers on Monday/Sunday and other light snow events, accumulations averaged 1.2 inches for the week. Behind the winter weather, Kentucky saw a warming trend through the weekend, increasing into the 50s on Saturday and Sunday. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco, and planting winter wheat when weather conditions permitted. Harvesting and planting continued to be limited this week by rainfall, freezing rain, and snowfall across most of the state. The ice accumulation caused some lodging in unharvested soybeans, and delays in harvesting have some beans starting to pop resulting in lower yields and quality. Wheat planting has been delayed for several weeks due to weather conditions, and some producers are considering abandoning winter wheat acres and taking prevented planting through crop insurance. The winter wheat that has been planted is slow to germinate due to the cold and wet soils. Fall breeding of cattle has begun; pastures remain muddy from frequent precipitation events this fall. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 13, 2018 38-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.06 inches, 1.28 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 45 degrees for the week, 5 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 66 percent adequate and 34 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 30 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.8 out of a possible seven. Kentucky saw a second straight week of above normal precipitation with a state average over two inches for the period. The brunt of the rainfall fell Monday night as widespread showers formed ahead of a cold front. A very moist air mass in place led to moderate to heavy rainfall at times and produced between 1 and 2 inches across much of the Commonwealth with this system alone. Numerous to widespread showers formed yet again Thursday night and into Friday with highest accumulations closer to an inch across Eastern Kentucky. Overall, it has been a very wet start to November with data at the Ag Weather Center showing a state average of 3.27 inches through the first eleven days of the month. Behind the second system, the coldest temperatures of the fall season were seen Saturday and Sunday mornings with temperatures dipping into the upper teens to middle 20s for much of the state. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, planting wheat, and stripping tobacco. Continued precipitation and forecasted rainfall in the upcoming week led to delays in fieldwork without adequate time for fields to dry out. Soybean quality and yields remain of concern with over-maturity, saturated soils, and deteriorated pods. Some low lying soybean fields have been flooded, and as a result winter wheat planting decisions are in question in these areas due to the water level. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 5, 2018 36-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.64 inches, 0.88 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 53 degrees for the week, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 29 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 1 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.7 out of a possible seven. The period started with near perfect weather in place as high pressure slowly worked across the area. This feature provided dry weather, mostly sunny skies, and warming temperatures, peaking in the upper 60s to middle 70s on Tuesday. Conditions deteriorated on Halloween and the first day of November as a cold front was very slow to work through the region. Widespread rains fell across the Commonwealth, but the majority of the soaking rainfall fell across Western Kentucky and areas northeast up into the Bluegrass. Many in this area saw 2 to 4+ inches for the week. Areas to the southeast missed out on much of the rainfall as the boundary stalled and only averaged a quarter to 1 inch for the week. Additional rain fell Friday and Sunday, but with much less in the way of any accumulations. Primary activities for the week included harvesting corn and soybeans, sowing wheat, and stripping tobacco. However, wet conditions hampered field activity and resulted in some reports of quality issues in soybeans, lodging in corn and houseburn in tobacco. Pastures are in mostly good condition with cattle and calves obtaining 59 percent of feed from them. Some hay is being fed. Eighty percent of the current wheat crop is in good to excellent condition. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 29, 2018 35-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.47 inches, 0.25 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 48 degrees for the week, 8 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 86 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.9 out of a possible seven. Cool conditions pushed Kentucky to a second straight week of below normal temperatures. The cold was most noteworthy Monday morning as the majority of state dropped below freezing, into the upper 20s to low 30s. The first half of the workweek remained dry, but an area of low pressure sparked widespread light showers Thursday night and into Friday. Scattered coverage remained on Saturday, before a final round on Sunday with the passage of a cold front. All together, the state averaged about a half inch, a bit less across Western Kentucky and more so across Eastern Kentucky. The frontal passage to end the period was accompanied by another round of high winds with gusts in excess of 40 mph at times. Primary activities for this week included continuing harvest of corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco, and planting winter wheat. Scattered precipitation and seasonably cool temperatures hampered field work to a degree, however farmers were able to push ahead. Livestock and pasture condition is mostly good at this time despite cool temperatures and wet weather. Housed tobacco is also in mostly good condition at this juncture. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 22, 2018 34-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.06 inches, 0.36 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 50 degrees for the week, 7 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.3 out of a possible seven. The passage of multiple cold fronts kept a cooler air mass situated over the Bluegrass State for much of the period. Frost Advisories and Freeze Warnings were issued on multiple occasions. Most of the state saw extreme low temperatures drop into the upper 20s to middle 30s at some point over the past week. This was especially the case Saturday night, behind the passage of a strong cold front. This frontal boundary was the focus for high winds late Saturday with gusts in excess of 40 mph at times. Overall, the state average temperature for the week was 7 degrees below normal, which broke a seven week streak of above normal temperatures. Precipitation averaged about an inch with a couple widespread rounds of light to moderate showers, one coming on Monday and the other on Friday, carring over into the early stages of Saturday. Primary activities for this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco, and planting winter wheat. Cool temperatures and some scattered rain hindered fieldwork at times, however harvest continues to progress. Pasture condition is mostly good at this time with cooler temperatures and light frost slowing growth. Soybeans and housed tobacco were both reported as in mostly good condition. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 15, 2018 33-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.80 inches, 0.06 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 62 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 16 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.8 out of a possible seven. The transitional season of fall to cooler weather was in full effect this period. The week started with unseasonably warm temperatures and mostly dry conditions in place. High temperatures jumped into the mid to upper 80s on Monday and Tuesday, before a strong cold front pushed through the area on Wednesday. The boundary was the focus for periods of showers through the day, but the bigger story was an abrupt change to fall weather. Behind the front, northwest flow ushered much cooler and drier air into the Bluegrass State for the second half of the week. Low temperatures dropped into the upper 30s to middle 40s both Friday and Saturday mornings. Even had some spots drop into the middle 30s. Additional disturbances moved through the area over the weekend, sparking light to occasionally moderate showers. Overall, the state averaged 0.80 inches for the week, which was slightly above normal for this time of year. Primary activities for this week included the continued harvest of corn, soybeans, and tobacco along with winter wheat planting and tobacco stripping. While temperatures were seasonably cool as the week progressed, scattered rain interrupted fieldwork at times. Pasture condition is mostly good at this time with cooler temperatures slowing growth. The condition of housed tobacco was reported as mostly good as were soybeans. Although the majority of winter wheat is yet to be planted, a small portion of the crop has begun to emerge. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 8, 2018 32-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.47 inches, 0.33 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, 14 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.2 out of a possible seven. The transitional season of fall to cooler weather was in full effect this period. The week started with unseasonably warm temperatures and mostly dry conditions in place. High temperatures jumped into the mid to upper 80s on Monday and Tuesday, before a strong cold front pushed through the area on Wednesday. The boundary was the focus for periods of showers through the day, but the bigger story was an abrupt change to fall weather. Behind the front, northwest flow ushered much cooler and drier air into the Bluegrass State for the second half of the week. Low temperatures dropped into the upper 30s to middle 40s both Friday and Saturday mornings. Even had some spots drop into the middle 30s. Additional disturbances moved through the area over the weekend, sparking light to occasionally moderate showers. Overall, the state averaged 0.80 inches for the week, which was slightly above normal for this time of year. Primary activities for this week included the ongoing harvest of corn, soybeans, and tobacco. Winter wheat planting is continuing with a small percentage of the crop beginning to emerge. For most of the state the weather was hot and dry allowing farmers to move ahead with fieldwork. Pasture condition is mostly good at this time, however the unseasonal heat may have a negative effect going forward without some rain. Housed tobacco is in mostly good condition with evident houseburn rated as 7 percent severe, 13 percent moderate, 29 percent light, and 51 percent with none. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 1, 2018 31-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and well above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.58 inches, 1.74 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 67 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 35 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 28 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.4 out of a possible seven. Carrying over from the previous weekend, a wet pattern continued through Thursday with daily showers and some storms. A combination of frontal passages and disturbances aloft sparked this activity within a very moist air mass. Rainfall was widespread at times and did aggravate ongoing flooding issues from the weekend before with already saturated grounds for many locations. A week after averaging 2.19 inches, the Commonwealth turned around and averaged another 2.58 inches. Preliminary data from the Ag Weather Center suggest September 2018 will place in the top 5 wettest September’s on record for the state of Kentucky. Following the passage of a disturbance aloft on Thursday, dry conditions and seasonable temperatures worked into the area for the remainder of the period. Primary activities for this week included the continued harvest of tobacco, corn, soybeans, and hay along with the early stages of winter wheat planting. Although fieldwork was limited in the early part of the week due to precipitation, the latter part of the week presented favorable conditions. Rain was very heavy in areas of the state leading to the flooding of some fields, however crop damage does not appear to be widespread. Crop conditions and disease possibility will be monitored carefully as fields begin to dry. Livestock and pasture conditions are mostly good at this time despite the heavy rain. Hay supplies were reported as 3 percent very short, 17 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 4 percent severe, 12 percent moderate, 32 percent light, and 52 percent experiencing none. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 24, 2018 30-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and well above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.19 inches, 1.36 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 75 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 11 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.1 out of a possible seven. This past week added to an already wet month for the Bluegrass State. Starting out, the remnant low of Florence drifted north across the eastern border of Kentucky on Monday. Light to moderate showers continued to fall across primarily the eastern half of the state, before the system moved out of the area that night. Summer heat and isolated afternoon storms then returned the next few days. Highs jumped into the low to middle 90s, much above normal highs of upper 70s to low 80s for this time of year. With that said, a strong cold front passed through the area Friday and Friday night. Ahead and along the boundary, thunderstorms developed within an unstable atmosphere, even forming a line at one point, producing gusty winds and heavy rain. While cooler temperatures arrived for the first day of fall on Saturday, the frontal passage signaled the start of a very active weekend in which several rounds of showers pushed through the state. Steady moderate showers even led to substantial flooding across portions of the Southern Bluegrass and Northeast Kentucky. Overall, the state averaged 1.75 inches over the past 3 days and 2.19 inches for the week. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, tobacco, and hay. Wet weather over most of the state from remnants of Florence delayed fieldwork at times and made harvesting activities difficult. Northern and eastern counties that have experienced higher precipitation totals over the season have some flooded fields and are reporting increased disease pressure. Rainfall and higher temperatures this week, as well as forecasted rain next week, have some tobacco producers concerned over harvesting fields in time and house burn exposure. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 17, 2018 29-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.16 inches, 0.68 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 72 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 14 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 15 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.4 out of a possible seven. Tropical Depression Florence started working through Kentucky over the latter half of the weekend. This became the third tropical system to make an appearance across the Commonwealth this year, along with remnants of Alberto and Gordon. Light to occasionally moderate showers associated with Florence were mainly confined to the eastern half of the state and for many, was the only precipitation seen for the week. While Eastern Kentucky averaged just over a half inch for the period, Western and Central Kentucky did not receive any significant rainfall. Most across this area either did not see accumulations or totals were below a tenth of an inch. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, making hay, and cutting tobacco. Several tobacco producers have noted that finding labor for harvesting is an ongoing challenge. Northeastern counties experienced heavy rain showers and humidity at times, leading to house burn in curing tobacco. Cattle producers are preparing for fall breeding and securing supplies. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 10, 2018 28-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.52 inches, 1.74 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 6 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 14 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 15 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.1 out of a possible seven. The remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon left much of the state wet and soggy this past period. The system started impacting the area on Wednesday as tropical moisture was pulled northward into the Ohio Valley. While showers and storms were scattered in nature on Wednesday and Thursday, coverage grew upscale Friday and over the weekend as the remnant system slowly worked across the area. The abundance of rainfall and high intensity at times led to several bouts of flash flooding and even sent some rivers into minor flood stages. While the state averaged a little over 2.5 inches for the week, much higher totals were seen across counties bordering the Ohio River, in addition to Northeastern Kentucky. Many were over 4 inches. Temperature-wise, above normal temperatures and high humidity continued over the first half of the week with highs jumping into the low to middle 90s. Saying that, cloud cover and rainfall from Gordon brought temperatures back below seasonable norms by the end of the week with highs on Sunday only in the 60s and 70s. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn, and cutting hay and tobacco. Heavy rain later in the week and over the weekend from remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon led to minor flooding; rains were mostly absorbed into the soil from past dry weather. Fieldwork was delayed towards the end of the week, as farmers held off on harvesting crops. Recent wet weather has tobacco producers concerned over house burn and curing conditions. Excessive rainfall in areas has increased weed pressures in fields and pastures. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 4, 2018 27-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.67 inches, 0.07 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 79 degrees for the week, 5 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 19 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 21 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. It may be the first week of September, but Kentucky saw some of the hottest temperatures of the year over the period. The state average maximum temperature of 89 degrees for the week was only equaled one other time this year in early July. The majority of Kentucky saw peak temperatures in the low to middle 90s at some point. Normal high temperatures for early September run in the middle 80s. Combined with no relief from the muggy conditions, heat indices continued to run close to 100 at times. Rainfall remained isolated to scattered throughout most of the week, keeping some areas dry, while others saw torrential rainfall. Central Kentucky and points east were around normal for the week, but Western Kentucky missed much of the activity and only averaged 0.44 inches. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and hay, topping and cutting tobacco, and preparing equipment for upcoming harvests. Dry weather has helped in drying down corn, but needed rainfall in western and central counties would improve pastures, hay, and soybeans to fend off early signs of drought stress. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 27, 2018 26-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.55 inches, 0.27 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 18 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 19 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.4 out of a possible seven. Rainfall was scattered in coverage for most of the week, leading to quite different totals from one location to another. While some locations picked up more than an inch of rainfall, others were under a tenth. A couple rounds of storms early in the period ended on Tuesday with the passage of a cold front. Behind the boundary, much cooler and drier air filtered into the Bluegrass State, bringing the area a glimpse of fall. Highs only rose into the 70s midweek and lows dropped into the 50s. Saying that, the fall-like air mass was short lived as heat and humidity gradually returned over the weekend. By Sunday, high temperatures were back to around 90 with the heat index in the middle 90s to around 100. Primary activities for this week included cutting and topping tobacco along with continued hay harvesting. Although fieldwork was limited at times due to scattered rain, progress was evident. Corn harvest has begun, but is still in the initial stage. Corn, soybeans, tobacco, and pasture remain in mostly good condition at this juncture. Harvested hay was also reported as in mostly good condition. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 20, 2018 25-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.70 inches, 0.84 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 18 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 22 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.3 out of a possible seven. Kentucky saw above normal rainfall for a third straight week as the Lower Ohio Valley was confined to yet another wet pattern. A combination of frontal boundaries and upper level disturbances sparked numerous rounds throughout the period, especially over the second half of the workweek. With a tropical air mass in place, storms produced torrential rainfall at times leading to excessive accumulations for some portions of Kentucky. This was the case for some North Central Kentucky counties, which received in excess of three inches over the period. Overall, Central Kentucky and the Bluegrass Region each averaged over two inches for the week, while Western and Eastern Kentucky were closer to an inch. Primary activities for this week included continued hay harvesting along with topping and cutting tobacco. Corn harvest preparations have begun for some farmers. In areas of the state fieldwork progress was hampered by scattered precipitation. Rain was heavy at times, however widespread crop damage was not reported. Corn, soybeans, tobacco, and pasture remain in mostly good condition at this juncture. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 13, 2018 24-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.25 inches, 0.34 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, 1 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 30 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 31 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.3 out of a possible seven. The state remained situated within an active pattern for a second straight week as Kentucky saw near daily bouts of showers and storms. While not everyone saw rainfall each day, the repetitive nature of the storms led to significant accumulations for much of Kentucky. The highest totals were seen across the Bluegrass, South-Central, and Southeastern Kentucky where 2+ inches was observed for many locations, even prompting some flooding issues. Portions of the Purchase area across Western Kentucky also benefited with an inch+. The much-welcomed rainfall occurred as the US Drought Monitor downgraded portions of the Purchase area into a Moderate drought with the latest update on Thursday. Until this period, Western Kentucky had gone three straight weeks of seeing below normal rainfall. While much of the state did see significant rainfall, one exception was counties bordering the Ohio River from Union County to roughly Jefferson, which received minimal amounts for the period. Primary activities for this week included hay harvesting, topping of tobacco, and spraying. There were also reports of a small portion of the tobacco crop being cut. In parts of the state scattered rain showers limited field activity, but improved conditions. There were a few pockets of the state that received heavy rain, however crop damage was not seen on a large scale. Corn, soybeans, and tobacco are in mostly good condition at this point in the season as was pasture ground. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 6, 2018 23-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.21 inches, 0.24 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 34 percent short, 55 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 32 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.6 out of a possible seven. An active pattern set up for much of the Bluegrass State over the first half of the week with multiple rounds of rainfall. The Bluegrass area of Northern Kentucky saw the brunt of the rainfall, averaging two inches for the week. While Central and Eastern Kentucky still averaged around an inch, Western Kentucky continued to see lower amounts compared to the rest of Kentucky. This was especially true for the Purchase area, where the US Drought Monitor expanded the area of ‘Abnormally dry’ conditions a bit farther east and north. Rain showers and cloud cover kept temperatures below seasonable norms through the first half of the week, but by the weekend, temperatures were once again back around 90 with summer-like humidity. Primary activities this week included scouting crops for disease, topping tobacco, and harvesting hay. Conditions were mixed across the state, with western counties remaining mostly dry and scattered precipitation falling in mainly central and eastern counties. Limited rainfall had some tobacco farmers in the west irrigating their crops, while excessive rainfall in the east had some tobacco crops turning yellow. Continued rainfall increased forage growth as well as weed pressures in the eastern portion of the state. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 30, 2018 22-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.18 inches, 0.79 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 4 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 30 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 22 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. Rainfall was minimal for most of the state over the course of the period. Other than a few rounds of isolated to scattered showers/storms through the workweek, high pressure kept the area dry. The state only averaged 0.18 inches and that number diminished to less than a tenth of an inch across Western and Central Kentucky. Western Kentucky missed out on much of the precipitation the week beforehand and has now gone two straight weeks with well below normal rainfall. This has pushed portions of far Western Kentucky into the ‘Abnormally Dry’ category by the US Drought Monitor. While it was dry, Kentucky continued to benefit from a break in temperatures and humidity. An upper level disturbance provided plenty of cloud cover early in the week to keep temperatures in the middle 70s to middle 80s. While increasing midweek, a cold front again brought temperatures and humidity back to seasonably cool and comfortable conditions for the weekend. Primary activities this week included harvesting hay, spraying soybeans, and topping tobacco. Dry conditions continued for western Kentucky, as central and western portions of the state saw little rainfall this week. Overall, crop conditions have started to decline as many areas are in need of precipitation. When scouting fields some farmers have noticed corn pollination problems from the heat and humidity earlier in the summer. Throughout the season, the high frequency of rain events delayed producers from harvesting hay on time. Most expect second and third cuttings to be of higher quality. In eastern counties, where more ample rainfall has fallen recently, weed pressures have increased in hayfields and pastures. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 4 percent very short, 19 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 23, 2018 21-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.85 inches, 0.88 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, 1 degree below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 24 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 21 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.3 out of a possible seven. Damaging storms developed this past week, in addition to a long awaited break in summer heat. The main focus was Friday as the state sat within a very unstable air mass. Multiple rounds of severe storms moved through the area during the afternoon hours and carrying into the evening/overnight, producing everything from torrential rainfall, large hail, damaging winds, and even a few weak tornadoes. The majority of the severe weather and rainfall was situated across the Bluegrass and Central/Eastern Kentucky. In addition to activity early in the period and over the weekend, these areas averaged over two inches for the week. Western Kentucky missed out on much of the rainfall and averaged under a third of an inch. Temperature-wise, conditions were a bit cooler for the week, especially over the weekend as showers and cloud cover kept highs limited to the middle 70s to middle 80s. Overall, Kentucky temperatures averaged below normal for the week, which is the first time that had happened since the end of April. Primary activities this week included applying herbicides and fungicides, topping tobacco, and scouting fields for damage from recent storms. The above normal rainfall fell mostly in central and eastern portions of the state, which did help to improve crop and pasture conditions in these areas. Western counties still experienced below normal rainfall and continued dry conditions. The severe storms over the weekend brought heavy rainfall, hail, and strong winds. There were some reports of blown over tobacco, lodged corn, and damaged soybean fields. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 16, 2018 20-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.41 inches, 0.58 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 1 degree above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 32 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 24 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.4 out of a possible seven. The second week straight in July with dry conditions was unlike the very wet first-half of the year for the Bluegrass State. Several counties in the west did a little bit better on the rain than the remainder of the state pushing the western climate division above normal for rainfall. The west also had more of the heat than the remainder of the state but a couple of slightly cooler days occurred at mid-week. Yet, the trend of warmer than normal temperatures continued for the week and for the past 11 weeks. Primary activities this week included spraying soybeans, applying fungicides to corn, baling hay, and scouting fields. The high temperatures and limited rainfall have continued to show effects of stress on crops and pastures. Scattered showers during the week varied the impacts of moisture stress throughout the state. The dry weather did allow farmers to catch up on fieldwork. Depleted pastures had some cattle producers feeding hay and supplementing. Farmers continue to monitor tobacco fields for disease; some incidences of black shank have been reported. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 9, 2018 19-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.62 inches, 0.37 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 79 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.5 out of a possible seven. Oppressive heat continued across the Lower Ohio Valley for the first week of July. Temperatures peaked on the 4th and the 5th with highs getting into the low to middle 90s. Even some upper 90s in spots. ‘Heat Advisories’ and even some ‘Excessive Heat Warnings’ were issued as heat indices topped out around 110 degrees at times. Luckily, the Commonwealth did see a cold front push through the area on Friday. While temperatures stayed in the 80s for Saturday, conditions were noticeably less humid. Even with the frontal passage, the heat won out and led to a 10th straight week of above normal temperatures, dating back to the start of May. Looking at rainfall, coverage was scattered to numerous at times, but not nearly as frequent as weeks past. Still, torrential downpours continued to be an issue for anyone that did see a storm. Overall, the state averaged 0.62 inches for the week, but totals varied widely across Kentucky with the scattered coverage in place. While some saw in excess of 1.5 inches, other locations were less than a tenth of an inch. Primary activities for this week included cutting hay and spraying crops. Corn, soybeans, and tobacco are in mostly good condition at this time despite several reports of damage from heavy rain and disease. The average height of emerged soybeans was 20 inches. Pasture land is in mostly good condition and has started improving in some areas due to rain this past week. Farmers continue to cut hay and the hay crop should be aided by the precipitation in some areas. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 2, 2018 18-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.70 inches, 1.72 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 22 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.3 out of a possible seven. Excessively wet conditions were the highlight of the period. Kentucky saw several rounds of storms push through the region over the course of the week. The more intense period lasted from Monday through Thursday with clusters and lines of storms producing torrential rainfall, damaging winds and even a few confirmed tornadoes. Tropical-like downpours and repeated rounds of rainfall led to many bouts of localized flash flooding. Overall, the state averaged 2.70 inches for the week, which is the most Kentucky had seen in one week since February. While there was additional isolated to scattered activity over the weekend, the bigger story was the heat. Temperatures peaked in the low to middle 90s each day. Combined with dew points in the 70s, heat indices topped well over the century mark. This prompted a heat advisory to be issued for much of the western half of Kentucky and led to a ninth straight week of above normal temperatures for the Bluegrass State. The elevated heat continued to pose a concern for livestock as the heat stress index ran in the danger to emergency categories. Primary activities this week included harvesting wheat and hay, planting soybeans, spraying fungicides, and scouting fields for damage from recent weather. Heavy rainfall, high winds, heat, and humidity over the past week had varied impacts across the state. Damage reports included crop stress, tobacco laid over from winds, and excessive moisture in pastures and crop fields. Fieldwork was delayed at times as farmers tried to finish up winter wheat harvest and soybean planting. The average height of emerged soybeans was 13 inches, compared with 10 inches last year. Several reports of hay yields being low and of marginal quality due to over-maturity from harvesting delays. The quality of harvested hay was rated 64% in good to excellent condition. Producers are more optimistic for second cutting yields from recent rains. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 25, 2018 17-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.25 inches, 0.23 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.0 out of a possible seven. Heat and humidity has been unrelenting recently and that trend continued over the course of the period, especially early in the week. Continuing from the hot and humid weekend beforehand, temperatures on Monday and Tuesday reached into the upper 80s to middle 90s for much of the state. Combined with dew points in the 70s, heat indices topped out around 100 at times. This led the way in pushing Kentucky to an eighth straight week of above normal temperatures. In addition to the warmth, an active pattern led to several rounds of rainfall. Most of the time, storms remained isolated to scattered in coverage, but unlike recent weeks, the state did see a round of widespread showers on Thursday. Even with the scattered coverage, the repetitive nature of the storms did lead to accumulations of more than an inch for most of Kentucky. Primary activities for this week included harvesting wheat, cutting hay, and planting soybeans. The weather early in the week was suitable for fieldwork, however as the week progressed rain and cooler temperatures arrived. The average height of emerged soybeans was 5 inches. Corn, soybeans, and wheat are all in mostly good condition at this time. Ninety four 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 16 inches. Both pastures and hay are in mostly good condition at this juncture. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 18, 2018 16-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and near normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.03 inches, 0.01 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, 5 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 19 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.3 out of a possible seven. The period opened with active weather continuing from the previous weekend. Multiple rounds of scattered to numerous storms formed on Monday and Tuesday as Kentucky sat within an unstable air mass. Heavy rain continued to lead to localized flooding at times, as a very moist air mass remained across the region. Strong to severe storms even formed Monday evening with some storms producing damaging winds and small hail. Overall, the state averaged an inch of rainfall, but just like previous weeks, the scattered coverage of the storms led to a wide range of accumulations. After the passage of a front late Wednesday and into the overnight, the remainder of the period was mostly dry, but with the thermometer on the climb. Temperatures and humidity peaked over the weekend with highs rising into the upper 80s to middle 90s and heat indices around 100 at times. This kept the livestock heat stress index running in the Danger category during the better part of the day. Primary activities this week included harvesting wheat, cutting hay, planting soybeans and tobacco, as well as applying fertilizers and herbicides. Scattered showers during the week delayed fieldwork at times. Overall, the hot and dry weather have crop fields and pastures starting to show signs of stress. The heat has made for good hay curing weather though. The average height of emerged corn was 34 inches, compared to 38 inches last year. The average height of tobacco in the field was 11 inches, compared to 9 inches last year. Some producers have noted low test weights for wheat, and higher temperatures in the spring and short grain fill as contributing factors. Additionally, farmers are anticipating initial hay yields to be lower than the first cuttings for last year. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 11, 2018 15-18 Agricultural News: 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. Through the first half of the work week, Kentucky saw dry, cooler, and noticeably less humid conditions, resulting in quite the difference compared to past weeks. Saying that, it turned into a rather short-lived break as heat and humidity returned over the second half. Highs on Friday peaked in the upper 80s to low 90s statewide, warmest temperatures across Western and Central Kentucky. This helped push the state to a sixth straight week of temperatures averaging above normal. While mostly dry conditions continued through Friday, an unstable atmosphere led to scattered to numerous showers and storms over the weekend. The highest coverage was seen on Sunday as multiple storm complexes progressed through Kentucky. Just like previous weeks, heavy rainfall, lightning, and occasional gusty winds continued to be the main hazards. Much of the rainfall on Sunday evening occurred after the data cut-off for this period and will be reflected in the report next week. 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. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 5, 2018 14-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.86 inches, 0.75 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, 7 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 24 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.3 out of a possible seven. It may be early in the year to be talking about tropical storms, but Kentucky had to deal with the remnants of Subtropical Depression Alberto early in the period. Outer bands on the north side of Alberto started affecting the region on Monday with scattered to numerous showers/storms in place. More of the same followed on Tuesday and Wednesday as the remnants passed through Western Kentucky and north of the region. A very moist atmosphere in place with dew points in the 70s led storms producing torrential rainfall at times and in turn, localized flash flooding. While the state had already seen an abundant amount of rainfall, more rounds followed over the second half of the period, highlighted by a passing disturbance on Thursday with a couple rounds of strong to severe storms. While heavy rain and flooding continued to be an issue, these storms also produced damaging winds across much of the state. Overall, the state averaged nearly two inches for the week, but several locations across Western and Central Kentucky saw more than three. As a side note, temperatures continued to run above normal and based on preliminary data at the UK Ag Weather Center, this past month would be the warmest May on record for the state of Kentucky. Primary activities for this week included planting corn and soybeans along with tobacco setting when the weather allowed. Fieldwork progress was stunted as hot weather brought several rounds of rain. Some areas in the state received very heavy rain leading to standing water in fields. Even with the recurring precipitation, corn planting is nearing completion with 94 percent in the ground. Farmers sprayed the corn crop when there were opportunities between rain showers. The average height of corn was 14 inches, compared to 9 inches last week. Pastures continue to be in mostly good condition and are improving in many areas of the state. The hay harvest is behind at this juncture, but with favorable weather a recovery is possible. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 29, 2018 13-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.88 inches, 0.23 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 7 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 88 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.0 out of a possible seven. Kentucky remained situated within a hot and humid air mass this past week. High temperatures continued to run solidly in the 80s, topping out Friday and into the weekend with the majority of the state in the middle 80s to around 90. Normal high temperatures for late May run in the upper 70s to low 80s. The state has now gone four straight weeks with above normal temperatures in place. Just like the previous period, the Bluegrass State saw scattered showers and storms develop during the afternoon and evening hours throughout much of the week. With a very moist air mass in place, heavy down pours continued to be an issue, in addition to frequent lightning and gusty winds at times. Overall, the state averaged 0.88 inches, but that number may be a bit misleading as the scattered nature led to a wide range of accumulations. While some received less than a quarter inch for the week, others saw in excess of two. Primary activities for this week included planting corn, soybeans, and tobacco along with cutting hay and spraying. Although there was some rain this week, farmers were still able to make steady progress on field work. Corn planting was on par with last year while soybeans and tobacco are slightly ahead of 2017 for this juncture in the season. The average height of corn was 9 inches, matching last year. Winter wheat is 91 percent headed Pasture and livestock are in mostly good condition at this time. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 4 percent very short, 20 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. The majority of hay was reported in good condition although a few producers expressed yield concerns due to a very wet season and late first cuttings. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 21, 2018 12-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.23 inches, 0.09 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 9 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 88 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.0 out of a possible seven. A summerlike pattern continued for a second straight week, but unlike the previous period, Kentucky saw daily rounds of showers and storms. Each day was a near replay of the previous as scattered showers and storms fired each afternoon and evening, before diminishing overnight. While coverage was not widespread, much of Kentucky still managed to pick up more than inch for the week. This was mostly due to the very moist and unstable atmosphere in place, which led to torrential rainfall at times and in turn, localized flooding. Temperatures remained very warm for this time of year, peaking early in the week. Kentucky saw record heat on Monday as highs pushed into the upper 80s to low 90s statewide. Primary activities this week included planting corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, and spraying fields. Periodic afternoon rainfall postponed fieldwork at times. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 2 percent short, 91 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Hay cutting continued this week for areas that experienced good drying conditions, although producers are noting lower yields. Scattered thunderstorms delayed some farmers from fieldwork, mostly in far eastern and western counties where precipitation totals were higher. There are concerns of forages becoming over mature and leading to lower quality, due to rainfall delays in cutting. Spring breeding of cattle is underway. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 14, 2018 11-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.15 inches, 0.95 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 71 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 13 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 86 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. It might be a month early, but it felt more like summer for much of the period. Temperatures and humidity gradually increased throughout the week. The Bluegrass State started with highs in the upper 60s to middle 70s on Monday and ended with middle 80s to low 90s on Sunday. The livestock heat stress index even increased into the danger category for short time periods late in the week during the afternoon and early evening hours. The summerlike conditions led to the first time since late February/early March that the Commonwealth had consecutive weeks of above normal temperatures. Other than some occasional isolated showers and storms through the workweek, Kentucky was dry for the majority of the period. In fact, the state was almost an inch below normal for the week. Primary activities this week included planting corn, soybeans, and vegetables, setting tobacco, cutting hay, and fertilizing fields. Initial reports from some producers note that first cutting hay yields are poor due to the late spring. Favorable warm and dry weather over the past week helped to improve pastures and hay, and allowed for significant planting progress to be made. Weather forecasts for rain in the next week have delayed some farmers from cutting hay to allow for enough time to bale. Cattle producers are preparing for spring breeding. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 2 percent short, 90 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Eighteen percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 43 percent between 2-4 inches, and 39 percent over 4 inches. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 7, 2018 10-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.33 inches, 0.24 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 66 degrees for the week, 5 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.0 out of a possible seven. The first couple days of May featured dry conditions and above normal temperatures as high pressure took control of the Ohio Valley early in the period. By Wednesday, high temperatures soared into the low to middle 80s behind breezy southwest flow and it even felt a bit humid outside as dew points inched into the 60s. Showers and storms then returned for the latter half of the period, starting with a weakening line of storms on Thursday morning pushing east. Scattered to numerous showers and storms followed on Friday with the passage of a cold front, before coverage turned widespread for Derby Day. In fact, Louisville International Airport recorded over three inches for the one-day period on Saturday. After another round of scattered storms Sunday afternoon/evening, Kentucky averaged 1.33 inches for the week, marking the second straight period of above normal rainfall. Rising temperatures helped in drying out fields this week. Primary activities included planting corn and soybeans, setting tobacco, as well as spraying, fertilizing, and field preparations. Rain and scattered storms over the weekend did limit fieldwork. Overall, the wet and cool start to spring has led to several issues including short and thin hay, little stem elongation in wheat heads, slugs in wheat fields, and poor emergence in corn. Some corn fields are being replanted as a result. Pastures and forages are growing faster from the recent warmer temperatures. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 2 percent short, 90 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Twenty-six percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 43 percent between 2-4 inches, and 31 percent over 4 inches. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 30, 2018 09-18 Agricultural News: 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. An area of low pressure aloft slowly progressed across the region to begin the period. This kept Kentucky in a wet pattern with bands of light to moderate rain showers moving through the area. In addition to some light rainfall on Thursday across the southern half of Kentucky, total accumulations for the week averaged just over an inch for the state. The clouds and precipitation kept temperatures below normal by day and above normal at night. Sunshine returned for the weekend, but a frontal passage early on Saturday kept temperatures below normal as high pressure filtered cooler air from Canada down into the Bluegrass State. In fact, lows on Saturday night/Sunday morning dipped into the low to middle 30s across the eastern half of Kentucky, leading to some patchy light frost. 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. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 23, 2018 08-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.29 inches, 0.70 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 50 degrees for the week, 6 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 61 percent adequate and 39 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 65 percent adequate and 35 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.6 out of a possible seven. Winter-like weather continues to make an appearance across the Bluegrass State. The period started with well below normal temperatures on Monday and even some bursts of intense snow showers that led to reduced visibilities at times. Lows that night dipped into the upper 20s to low 30s, which produced some patchy areas of frost. Temperatures quickly took a turn for the better on Tuesday and Wednesday with highs back in the 60s and 70s behind breezy southwesterly winds. Another cold front then moved through the area Wednesday and that night, producing a line of light to moderate showers. Yet again, this sent temperatures below normal. More frost followed the following couple of mornings, before warmth returned again over the weekend. The period closed with an upper level disturbance moving into the Ohio Valley on Sunday, producing showers across the southern half of the state. Overall, the state averaged just over a quarter inch for the week. Primary activities for this week included the continuation of corn planting and tobacco transplant seeding. The weather continues to impede progress in the fields as cool, wet conditions persist. Corn planting, at 10 percent, is well behind last year at 28 percent, and the five year average of 21 percent. Sixty three percent of tobacco transplants are under 2 inches, with 26 percent 2-4 inches, and 11 percent over 4 inches. Soybean planting has been restricted by the weather and the lag in corn planting progress. The average height of winter wheat was 17 inches, up from 13 inches last week. Average height of alfalfa hay was 9 inches, compared to 7 inches the previous week. Apple freeze damage was reported as 2 percent severe, 11 percent moderate, 31 percent light, and 56 percent with no damage. Peach freeze damage was reported as 4 percent severe, 13 percent moderate, 32 percent light, and 51 percent with no damage. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 16, 2018 07-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.40 inches, 0.38 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 56 degrees for the week, 1 degree above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 50 percent adequate and 50 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 55 percent adequate and 45 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.6 out of a possible seven. High pressure kept the area dry through the workweek, but with a large swing in temperatures. With the center of the high situated east of the state on Monday and Tuesday, northerly flow kept temperatures well below normal. Lows dropped into the upper 20s to middle 30s on Tuesday night, prompting Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories to be issued. As the high moved east of Kentucky on Wednesday, breezy southwest flow led to an abrupt warm up across the area, eventually hitting the upper 70s to low 80s on Friday. While it did get warm, a combination of high winds, low humidity, and dry fuels did lead to some fire weather concerns. Kentucky soils did get a chance to dry out through Friday, but rounds of rainfall returned over the weekend. A light and steady rainfall led to a soaking 1 to 2+ inches for most of Kentucky. Overall, the state averaged 1.40 inches, which led to a fourth straight week of above normal rainfall. Primary activities for this week included seeding of tobacco transplants, corn planting, and fertilizer application when weather permitted. There were a few days conducive to field work, however cold temperatures and rain returned for the weekend. Corn planting continues to lag behind 2016 and 2017 at this juncture of the season. Seventy-two percent of tobacco transplants were under 4 inches, with 24 percent 2-4 inches, and 4 percent above 4 inches. The majority of winter wheat and alfalfa were not subjected to freeze damage. Winter wheat freeze damage was reported as 2 percent moderate, 20 percent light, and 78 percent experiencing none. The average height of winter wheat was 13 inches. Alfalfa freeze damage was reported as 1 percent severe, 12 percent moderate, 33 percent light, and 54 percent experiencing none. The average height of alfalfa was 7 inches. The return of rain and cold temperatures is taking a toll on pastures and some producers reported a shortage of hay. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 9, 2018 06-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.34 inches, 0.35 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 44 degrees for the week, 8 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 38 percent adequate and 62 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 46 percent adequate and 54 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 1.4 out of a possible seven. Weather-wise, Kentucky went through a rollercoaster this past week, seeing glimpses of both winter and spring. Early in the week, focus was on severe weather. With the state located within an unstable air mass, strong to severe storms formed ahead and along a strong cold Tuesday evening and into the overnight. Several tornadoes were confirmed across Western and Central Kentucky, in addition to damaging winds. Ahead of the boundary, temperatures soared into the 70s, but then took quite the step back with the frontal passage and Canadian high pressure building into the Ohio Valley. Thursday morning lows dipped into the middle 20s to low 30s, prompting the first freeze warnings of the spring season to be issued as some agriculture becomes susceptible. While mild on Friday, another cold front pushed through the area Friday night. Precipitation transitioned to a wet snow and led to some minor accumulations with most under an inch. Skies cleared Saturday night and another freeze warning was issued with lows dipping again into the 20s. Even had several locations in the upper teens to low 20s. Primary activities for this week included seeding of tobacco transplants and planting preparation for field crops. Continuous wet weather has kept farmers from making progress in terms of fieldwork. There was some tornadic activity early in the week across the western and central portions of the state. This severe weather gave way to more precipitation and cold temperatures as the weekend approached. A freeze and some snow over the weekend threatens growth of wheat, pasture, and hay. There were reports of hay shortage as some pastures are being damaged due to the excess rain coupled with livestock traffic. The average height of winter wheat is 10 inches at this time. Eighteen percent of apples and 21 percent of peaches are in bloom at this juncture. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 2, 2018 05-18 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.95 inches, 0.93 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 54 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 32 percent adequate and 68 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 40 percent adequate and 60 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 1 out of a possible seven. As the growing season comes to a start, Kentucky grounds are saturated behind excessively wet conditions over the last week of March. From Tuesday through Friday, a frontal boundary remained in the vicinity of Kentucky and was the focus for multiple rounds of rainfall as disturbances passed overhead. A deep plume of moisture from the Gulf led to a very moist atmosphere and moderate to heavy rainfall from time to time. While the main show came over the course of the workweek, a couple more rounds arrived over the weekend. Overall, Kentucky averaged nearly two inches for the week, which led to a second straight week of above normal precipitation for Kentucky. Temperature-wise, highs jumped into the 50s and 60s on a daily basis. Even hit the 70s in some spots. This period marked the first time that Kentucky temperatures had averaged above normal since the first week of March. Primary activity for this week was seeding of tobacco transplants. Persistent rainfall and cool temperatures statewide have kept farmers from working the fields in preparation for spring planting. The ground is saturated in many areas with some ponding reported in low lying fields. There was very little freeze damage reported for winter wheat and the crop is in mostly good condition at this time. Freeze damage to Alfalfa was not prevalent in the state and was reported as light where it existed. Livestock operations are looking ahead to spring calving and monitoring the condition of their herds. The condition of livestock was rated as 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 68 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Approximately 30 percent of feed for cattle and calves was obtained from pastures. The condition of pastures was reported as 6 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. The muddy conditions and temperature swings have had an effect on cattle according to some producers. Hay supplies are getting short for some farmers as they await spring rejuvenation of pastures. The extremely wet conditions have caused a good deal of damage to some grazing land due to livestock traffic. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 27, 2017 39-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.00 inches, 1.02 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 43 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 89 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 88 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.8 out of a possible seven. Fall harvest was helped along with an entire week of dry conditions and mostly sunny skies. High pressure was in control for most of the period, keeping the area rain- free. Even a couple cold fronts ended up in mostly dry passages through the Bluegrass State. Looking at the 95-station database with the UK Ag Weather Center, only three stations recorded rainfall for the week and the maximum was three hundredths. Bottom line, the majority of the state did not see any rainfall and led to a second straight week of below normal precipitation. Primary activities for the week included harvesting corn and soybeans along with tobacco stripping. Farmers were finally able to get back in the fields this week as the weather stayed dry and temperatures were relatively mild. With that being said, the harvest of both corn and soybeans remains behind both last year and the five year average due to wet conditions through most of November. The percentage of tobacco stripped is on pace with last year. The current supply of hay and roughage is mostly adequate at this time and will be aided by good pasture conditions. The condition of planted winter wheat was reported as mostly good with seventy six percent of the crop emerged. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 20, 2017 38-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.65 inches, 0.29 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 45 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.9 out of a possible seven. A good stretch of dry conditions has been hard to find as of late. The Bluegrass State saw a couple more frontal systems pass through the area keeping soil conditions on the moist side. The first round occurred on Wednesday with a passing cold front. Much of the state stayed under a quarter inch. The more significant system arrived on Saturday. Winds became very breezy for an extended period of time ahead of, along, and behind a strong cold front. A Wind Advisory was issued with gusts topping 40 mph at times. A strong to severe line of showers and storms accompanied the frontal boundary, producing damaging winds in isolated spots and a few weak tornadoes. In addition to the rainfall on Wednesday, much of Kentucky saw at least a half inch for the week. Primary activities for the week included the continued harvesting of corn and soybeans, tobacco stripping, and seeding of winter wheat. Farmers have had a difficult time getting into fields as wet conditions persist and continue to hamper progress. Corn harvest, soybean harvest, and wheat seeding are all behind both the five year average and the previous year at this time. Some farmers have begun feeding hay to cattle, however many rotational grazers won’t begin for another couple of weeks. Planted winter wheat and pastures remain in mostly good condition. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 13, 2017 37-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.94 inches, 0.15 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 45 degrees for the week, 5 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.7 out of a possible seven. The period started with a strong cold front passing through the Bluegrass State. This boundary sparked a strong line of showers and storms during the overnight hours of Monday morning. This was followed by another widespread round of showers Monday night and Tuesday as an area of low pressure moved through the area. In addition to some light showers on Sunday, much of the state saw at least a half inch of rainfall for the week. Saying that, quite a few locations did record over an inch, especially across Western Kentucky and the Bluegrass. Looking at temperatures, Kentucky saw the coldest temperatures of the fall season following the passage of a dry cold front late in the workweek. Lows both Friday and Saturday mornings dipped into the middle 20s to low 30s for most of the state. Highs on Friday were only in the upper 30s to middle 40s, which was roughly 20 degrees below normal for this time of year. Primary activities for the week included harvesting corn and soybeans, sowing wheat, and stripping tobacco. Farmers are still awaiting favorable conditions to make good progress in the fields as November has been a wet month thus far. The precipitation along with cool, cloudy days has kept the fields from drying out adequately and hampered corn and soybean harvest. Sowing of winter wheat has also been stalled due to the weather conditions. Both planted winter wheat and pastures are in mostly good condition at this time. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., November 6, 2017 36-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.62 inches, 0.14 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 57 degrees for the week, 5 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 6 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.3 out of a possible seven. An active pattern remained in place as warm and cold fronts pushed north and south through the area. This led to multiple opportunities for rainfall, along with fluctuations in daily temperatures. While it was an active week with rainfall widespread at times, accumulations tended to stay under an inch for the week. While Western and Central Kentucky averaged around three quarters of an inch, Eastern Kentucky came in well below at under a quarter inch for the period. The rainfall associated with the stronger cold front late in the weekend will be reflected in next week's data. The period started with clear skies in place and temperatures in the middle 20s to low 30s, resulting in a Freeze Warning for part of the area. Temperatures did show a warming trend through the end of the week, topping in the 70s over the weekend. Primary activities for the week included harvesting corn and soybeans, sowing wheat, and stripping tobacco. With a wet start to November, progress in the fields was slowed considerably statewide this past week. Pastures are in mostly good condition with cattle and calves obtaining 59 percent of feed from them. Eighty percent of the current wheat crop is in good to excellent condition at this juncture. The majority of the harvested hay crop is in good condition. Farmers will make up ground on corn and soybean harvest as the weather permits. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 31, 2017 35-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.00 inches, 1.26 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 49 degrees for the week, 6 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.3 out of a possible seven. Kentucky saw multiple rounds of rainfall this period, widespread early in the week and yet again Friday and Saturday with the passage of a slow moving cold front. Each of these rounds brought significant accumulations with the state averaging two inches for the week. This added to an already wet October with the state average over 5 inches. The wet pattern was accompanied by a return to colder temperatures. A good portion of the area saw a frost/freeze. At some point through the period, the entirety of the state dropped into the low to middle 30s. Some even into the upper 20s. The coldest temperatures were seen behind the passage of the cold front over the weekend. Highs only topped out in the upper 30s to middle 40s on Saturday and Sunday. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco, and planting winter wheat and cover crops as the weather permitted. Heavy widespread rainfall delayed fieldwork, and most of the state also experienced a frost/freeze event over the past week. Conditions of crops still in the field continue to be evaluated for damage from recent accumulations and the dip in temperatures. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 23, 2017 34-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.07 inches, 0.63 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 58 degrees for the week, 1 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 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. Kentucky experienced a mostly dry week with much of the state recording little to no rainfall. One exception was for locations across Western Kentucky that did see some significant precipitation ahead of a cold front late on Sunday. The rest of the rainfall associated with this frontal passage will be reflected in next week’s data. Temperatures continued to fluctuate throughout the week. Early in the period, temperatures were below normal with lows dropping into the middle 30s to low 40s both Monday and Tuesday nights. High pressure then moved east for the remainder of the week, which shifted winds to the south. This led to a steady increase in temperatures throughout the week, eventually peaking in the middle 70s to low 80s on Sunday. The second half of the period with warm temperatures in place pushed Kentucky to a fifth straight week of temperatures averaging above normal. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco, and planting winter wheat. Dry weather conditions also allowed for some late hay baling to occur. Farmers continued to tend to fields by spreading manure, and applying fall fertilization and weed control treatments. Cattle producers are administering shots and preparing for fall breeding. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 16, 2017 33-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.05 inches, 0.32 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 68 degrees for the week, 9 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.9 out of a possible seven. Wet conditions remained for a second straight week with the passage of a couple frontal systems. The first arrived on Tuesday as a warm front lifted north across the area. Widespread showers slowly pushed east/northeast across Kentucky during the day, before eventually becoming scattered overnight. The trailing cold front arrived on Wednesday and with moisture trapped in the low levels, mostly cloudy skies remained through Thursday. Skies cleared for the end of the workweek and start of the weekend with above normal temperatures returning to the area, but a secondary cold front quickly followed on Sunday. While accumulations were light with the frontal passage, winds became gusty behind the front at 30 to 40+ mph, ushering significantly cooler air into the area. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, planting winter wheat, and cutting and stripping tobacco. Widespread rainfall across much of the state left some low-lying corn and soybean fields in standing water. Fieldwork was delayed as a result of showers this week, and any resulting damage continues to be evaluated. Pasture and hay fields had been showing signs of stress from previous dry weather, but recent precipitation has started to improve conditions. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 10, 2017 32-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.06 inches, 1.27 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 68 degrees for the week, 6 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 23 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 22 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.9 out of a possible seven. For the third time this year, Kentucky had a remnant tropical system provide the area with widespread rainfall. This time, the remnant system of Nate interacted with a cold front over the weekend. Widespread showers with embedded storms started moving into the area on Saturday and lasted through much of the day on Sunday. Showers were heavy at times, especially early in the event, as Nate was pushing tropical moisture northward into the region. Overall, the state averaged over 2 inches, which was over an inch above normal. The state was becoming fairly dry as most had gone over 2 weeks without any rainfall. In the latest update to the US Drought Monitor, abnormally dry conditions was introduced into portions of Western Kentucky. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, hay, and tobacco. Heavy rainfall occurred across much of the state from remnants of tropical storm Nate. Some low lying fields experienced flooding, with reports of soybeans being waterlogged. Pastures continue to show signs of stress from extended dry conditions during previous weeks. Tobacco growers have reported difficulty in finding labor to house the crop. Producers continue to monitor weather forecasts for potential fall frosts. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 2 percent heavy, 3 percent moderate, 13 percent light, with 82 percent experiencing none. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., October 2, 2017 31-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.00 inches, 0.83 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 68 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 21 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 19 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.6 out of a possible seven. Kentucky is trending toward the dry side with yet another week of below normal rainfall. In fact, most of the state did not see any precipitation for the week. This now makes four straight weeks of below normal rainfall. The period started out dry and very warm with highs peaking in the upper 80s to low 90s for much of Kentucky. The extended late season heat wave, carrying over from the previous week, finally ended on Wednesday with the passage of a strong cold front through the area. The boundary did not have much moisture to work with and only amounted to isolated showers and minimal accumulations (hundredths). Much cooler air then filtered into the state for the remainder of the week with highs only topping out in the 70s. Temperatures were coolest on Saturday night when several locations across Eastern Kentucky and the Bluegrass dipped into the low to middle 40s, some in the upper 30s. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, hay, and tobacco. Dry weather has advanced harvesting activities, but additional rain would benefit pastures and remaining soybeans. In between few spotty showers producers cut and housed tobacco. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 1 percent heavy, 3 percent moderate, 13 percent light, with 83 percent experiencing none. Corn and soybean yield reports so far are mostly good, with overall crop conditions rated similarly. Some farmers have started to put up the last of fall hay cuttings. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 25, 2017 30-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.34 inches, 0.50 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 75 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 13 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 14 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.7 out of a possible seven. Fall officially started on the 22nd, but it sure did not feel like it. Kentucky temperatures averaged 8 degrees above normal for the week as summer heat and humidity returned to the area. Temperatures routinely peaked in the middle 80s to low 90s for most of the period. This broke a four-week streak of below normal temperatures in Kentucky. Scattered to numerous showers and storms pushed through the area on Monday and Tuesday. The highest accumulations were across Western Kentucky, which averaged a half inch. That number diminished to under a tenth of an inch across Eastern Kentucky. Other than those two days, the rest of the week featured mostly dry conditions with high pressure in place. Primary activities for the week included harvesting corn, soybeans, tobacco, and hay. The majority of the state experienced hot and dry conditions this week allowing for good progress in the fields. Harvesting of corn and soybeans is behind last year at this time while tobacco cutting is slightly ahead. Early yields for corn and soybeans are looking positive with condition rated as mostly good for both crops. Condition of housed tobacco was rated as mostly good, however it is noteworthy that there was some reported house burn due to the hot weather this week. Pasture conditions remain good, but the heatwave did stress cattle in several areas. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 18, 2017 29-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.75 inches, 0.09 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 67 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 85 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 11 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.5 out of a possible seven. For the second time this year, Kentucky had a remnant tropical system pass through the area. This time, it was the remnant system of Irma as is it moved from Florida to the Tennessee Valley by Tuesday and then through the Bluegrass State on Wednesday. This brought roughly a two to three day period of on and off showers. Unlike Harvey a couple weeks ago, even though coverage was widespread at times, rainfall was light to moderate throughout the event, leading to less in the way of accumulations. Overall, the state averaged three quarters of inch, which was slightly below normal for this time of year. The thick cloud cover and rain showers kept temperatures on the low side for the first half of the period, before a warming trend took the state back to near normal over the weekend. Primary activities this week included harvesting tobacco, hay, corn, and soybeans. Recent rainfall delayed fieldwork at times, but helped in germinating fall grass seedings and reviving pastures. Farmers continue to monitor grain moisture content in harvesting corn. Livestock producers are preparing for fall breeding and vaccinating cattle. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 11, 2017 28-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well below normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.39 inches, 0.40 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 64 degrees for the week, 8 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 11 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.2 out of a possible seven. Much of the area got a chance to dry out from the excessive rainfall that the remnants of Harvey had brought the period before. The only showers and storms occurred early in the week with the passage of a strong cold front. While there were some locally higher accumulations, scattered to numerous coverage on Tuesday gave way to totals under a half inch for most of the state. Following the boundary passage, Kentucky stayed under the influence of high pressure for the remainder of the period. This feature kept the area dry and unseasonably cool. High temperatures typically stayed in the upper 60s to middle 70s for much of the area. From Tuesday night onward, at least some portion of the state dipped into the 40s. In fact, Wednesday night/Thursday morning was the coolest night of the week with the majority of the state in the 40s, which is more typical of the latter half of October. The lowest readings came in at 42 degrees. This pushed Kentucky to a third straight week of below normal temperatures. Primary activities this week included cutting hay and tobacco along with corn harvesting. Soybean harvest has just begun, but it is on par with last year and the five year average. There was some rain and cool temperatures this week to alleviate the dry conditions in parts of the state. Much of the state received heavy rainfall from Hurricane Harvey the previous week and the ground moisture has remained sufficient for crop development. There is considerable weed pressure, however crops have been able to compete due to continued growth. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., September 5, 2017 27-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 3.25 inches, 2.50 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 69 degrees for the week, 5 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 15 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 16 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.5 out of a possible seven. The remnants of Hurricane Harvey brought a tremendous amount of rainfall in a short period of time. Showers from the system started lifting through the area Thursday morning and lasted into Saturday. The heaviest activity occurred from Thursday night and lasted through the day on Friday. Widespread moderate to locally heavy showers were most prevalent across Central Kentucky, where combined with activity earlier in the week, averaged nearly 5.5 inches. This was over 4.5 inches above normal and more than what would typically be seen during the entire month of September. A number of locations even recorded over 7 inches. While Central Kentucky saw the brunt of the activity, most everyone saw significant rainfall for the week as the state averaged 3.25 inches. This was by far the wettest week of 2017 in Kentucky and highest average total since early July of 2016. This amount of rainfall in such a short period led to numerous flood warnings over the course of the event. Winds also increased with 30 to 40+ mph wind gusts from time to time. The combination of precipitation and low clouds led to very cool temperatures both Friday and Saturday with many not getting out of the 60s for highs. This pushed Kentucky to the fourth week out of the past five with temperatures averaging below normal. Primary activities for the week including harvesting hay, cutting and topping tobacco, and the beginning of the corn harvest. A good deal of rain brought on by Hurricane Harvey covered most of the state by the weekend. The steady rainfall was much needed in a few dry areas, however some portions of the state had flooding and high winds to the detriment of field crops. There were several reports of damage to the tobacco crop, but it was not widespread. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 28, 2017 26-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.52 inches, 0.28 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 72 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 31 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 26 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. The much-anticipated solar eclipse came and went on a hot and humid Monday. Highs peaked in the low 90s after taking a dip of more than 5 degrees in some areas of Western Kentucky during totality. The heat did not last long as a strong cold front swung through the area on Tuesday. This boundary sparked a line of storms, some strong to severe, with damaging winds as the main threat. Overall, this was the only rainfall event for the week, but with a moist air mass in place, the state still averaged a half inch. Some areas received much more than others. A more fall-like air mass then moved into the area for the remainder of the period. High temperatures peaked in the upper 70s to middle 80s with lows dropping into the 50s, which is more typical of mid to late September. Some of the typical cooler spots even dipped into the 40s. This continued the trend of a cooler August as temperatures have averaged below normal three of the past four weeks in Kentucky. Primary activities this week included topping and cutting tobacco, and harvesting hay. Producers cut silage, and the harvest of corn for grain started in a few areas. Western and central portions of the state continued to experience dry conditions, with some improvements reported in eastern counties this past week from scattered storms. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 21, 2017 25-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.99 inches, 0.13 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 23 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 23 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.7 out of a possible seven. The Bluegrass State saw a second straight week of above normal rainfall, while summer heat and humidity returned to the area after a two-week absence. Scattered to numerous showers and storms returned on Wednesday and Thursday, diminishing going into the day on Friday with the passage of a cold front. Combined with some activity on Monday, much of the area saw more than a half inch of rainfall, peaking in Eastern Kentucky with an average of nearly 1.5 inches. With that said, the moist air mass in place and multiple rounds of storms led to some locally higher amounts in the 2 to 3 inch range. Ahead of the front, temperatures consistently lifted into the middle 80s to lower 90s for much of Kentucky. High dew points gave the feel that summer had returned, pushing heat indices well into the 90s and even approaching 100. Even with the passage of a cold front going into the weekend, temperatures did not break much with only less muggy conditions in place. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, topping and cutting tobacco. Early planted corn is drying down; some producers are chopping silage. Varied rainfall was experienced across the state this week, with more precipitation in central and eastern portions of the state. Some areas remain dry with rainfall needed to replenish pastures and finish out crops. Showers delayed fieldwork at times, including topping tobacco and cutting hay. Pastures are holding well in most locations, but higher temperatures this week affected cattle grazing times. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 14, 2017 24-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.50 inches, 0.60 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 72 degrees for the week, 4 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 22 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 24 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.6 out of a possible seven. Carrying over from the previous period, widespread showers continued to fall early Monday with a passing area of low pressure. Scattered coverage remained later in the day before diminishing going into Tuesday with high pressure building into the Bluegrass State. After a couple of dry days, isolated to scattered showers returned Thursday through Saturday, ending with the passage of a weak cold front. Central and Eastern Kentucky were the focus for any accumulations. Overall, Eastern Kentucky came out well ahead of other portions of Kentucky, averaging over 2.5 inches for the week. The active pattern led to a second straight week of unseasonably cool temperatures. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, topping and cutting tobacco, and monitoring fields for disease. Corn harvesting has begun in areas that received favorable weather. Some producers reported corn stress due to dry weather during pollination. Double crop soybeans are also struggling in some areas due to heat and dry weather. Even with the sometimes adverse conditions, corn was rated seventy nine percent good to excellent. Soybeans were rated as seventy four percent good to excellent. Tobacco was in mostly good to fair condition based on producer reports. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., August 7, 2017 23-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.80 inches, 0.16 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 72 degrees for the week, 4 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 25 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 23 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.6 out of a possible seven. The week started with high pressure in place, keeping the area dry. From there on out, an active pattern set up for much of the remaining period. Isolated to scattered coverage was seen Tuesday through Friday, eventually ending with the passage of a cold front. This boundary really sent temperatures and moisture on the downhill slide as high pressure of Canadian origin moved into the area. Fall-like temperatures were seen over the weekend with lows dipping well into the 50s and highs only in the 70s. Showers and storms returned on Sunday, eventually becoming widespread later in the day. Rainfall continued into the overnight and surpassed the cutoff time for data entry into this period (represented in next week’s summary). Primary activities this week included scouting crops for disease, spraying fungicides, and cutting hay. Preparations for cutting tobacco are underway, with some reports of harvesting starting in western counties. Heat, scattered storms, and disease are having varied impacts on crops across the state. Some disease incidence reports include sugarcane aphids on sorghum, common and southern rust in corn, and downy mildew on soybeans. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 31, 2017 22-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.14 inches, 0.16 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 31 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 25 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.7 out of a possible seven. Kentucky finally saw some relief from both the dry conditions and extreme heat/humidity. This relief came in the form of a cold front late in the workweek. After only seeing isolated coverage early in the period, scattered to numerous showers and storms formed late Thursday. This activity continued into the overnight and until the eventual passage of the cold front later in the day on Friday. Eastern Kentucky came out well ahead of other portions of the state, averaging more than 2 inches for the seven-day period. That number decreased down to about a half inch for Western Kentucky. The above normal temperatures early in the week turned below normal for the weekend. High pressure of Canadian origin kept the Commonwealth much cooler and noticeably less humid. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, topping tobacco, and monitoring of corn and soybeans. There was some relief from the hot/dry conditions this week as scattered rain brought in cooler temperatures. Even with the recent precipitation some areas are still very dry and stress can be seen in the crops. It is of note that some areas received very heavy rain and some tobacco was reported as damaged from flooding. Tobacco, corn, and soybean conditions remain mostly good despite unpredictable weather. Pasture and hay fields are in mostly good condition. Hay supplies are 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 24, 2017 21-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.66 inches, 0.31 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 80 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 26 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 20 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.4 out of a possible seven. Kentucky saw an extended stretch of heat and humidity build into the area. The heat peaked on Friday and Saturday with the majority of the state in the low to middle 90s, but some locations even jumped into the upper 90s. While temperatures for the week were not too far from normal, it was the amount of moisture in the air that led to oppressive conditions. Dew points in the low to middle 70s sent heat indices well over 100, approaching 110 at times. A Heat Advisory was issued for much of the state. Livestock heat stress continued to run in the danger to emergency category with not much recovery seen during the overnight hours. Up until the weekend, rainfall continued to be lacking. Only isolated activity was seen over the course of much of the period. That changed for the northern half of Kentucky late Saturday and into Sunday as a couple clusters of storms brought numerous to widespread rain coverage. Overall, other than the Bluegrass area, rainfall was below normal for a second straight week. Primary activities this week included spraying of tobacco, corn, and soybeans. Extreme heat and dry conditions have stressed both crops and pasture. Weather impact has been especially visible in pollinating corn and blooming soybeans. There have been some cases of disease in both crops, however not widespread. Even with the dry and hot weather, corn, soybean, and tobacco conditions remain mostly good to fair at this time. Rain over the weekend should improve conditions in some areas. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 17, 2017 20-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced slightly above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.30 inches, 0.70 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 1 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, 12 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. Hot and muggy conditions stuck around for much of the period, but comparing to what Kentucky typically sees in July, it was not that far from normal. Highs typically rose into the upper 80s to low 90s, but a handful of locations even jumped into the middle 90s. Combined with high dew points in the 70s, heat indices increased well into the 90s and low 100s at times, creating stressful conditions for livestock in the afternoon and evening hours. Mostly dry conditions accompanied the heat. Coverage at any point through the period was isolated to scattered at best. While some areas saw some beneficial rainfall, many locations received less than a tenth of an inch for the week. When looking at statewide accumulations, this was one of the driest weeks of the 2017 growing season. Primary activities this week included cutting hay and spraying row crops. Very wet weather early in the month gave way to hot, dry conditions typical for this point in the season. There is a presence of disease in some crops, but it is not widespread. Some crops were helped by the drier conditions, however others have been stressed by the intense heat throughout the state. Also pasture condition has been negatively affected by the hot, dry weather in some areas. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 10, 2017 19-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.91 inches, 0.92 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.0 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth saw an extended stretch of humid and wet weather that lasted through Friday. As several disturbances moved through the area, showers and storms developed on a daily basis. Storms were capable of very heavy rainfall as the state sat within a very moist air mass. The unsettled pattern ended with the passage of a cold front on Friday, bringing a line of strong to severe storms through the Lower Ohio Valley. Overall, the state averaged nearly 2 inches for the week, which was almost an inch above normal. This made for the second time in three weeks that the state had averaged over 1.5 inches. Dry conditions returned for the weekend with lower humidity in place. Wet conditions throughout the week hindered progress in the fields. Farmers need some dry weather to cut hay and apply herbicides to soybean fields with heavy weed growth. Average height of soybeans was 17 inches, compared to 11 inches last week, and 13 inches at this time last year. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., July 5, 2017 18-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.40 inches, 0.58 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 72 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.2 out of a possible seven. The period opened up with unseasonably cool temperatures and low humidity in place behind a departing cold front. A dry northwest flow kept high temperatures down in the middle to upper 70s both Monday and Tuesday. This pattern was short-lived as high pressure shifted to the east on Wednesday, turning winds to the south. Temperatures and humidity gradually increased across the area, returning to more seasonable norms. After a mostly dry first half of the period, showers and storms returned on a daily basis between Thursday and Sunday, ending with the passage of a cold front. Even with the unsettled pattern in place, rainfall coverage and accumulations were lacking. The state ended the week over a half inch below normal on average. Rainfall was scattered across the state with some areas getting heavy precipitation while others remain very dry. As a result of the heavy showers there was some drowning out of tobacco and some sign of disease. These conditions were very concentrated and not widespread. Primary activities for the week when weather permitted were hay baling and any necessary replanting of tobacco, corn, and soybeans. The average height of emerged soybeans was 11 inches, compared to 6 inches last week, and 9 inches for this time last year. The quality of hay made was 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 26, 2017 17-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.32 inches, 1.30 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 1 degree below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 7 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.7 out of a possible seven. Extremely wet conditions returned to the Bluegrass State as the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy and a cold front interacted with one another over the latter half of the workweek. The state saw a couple rounds of widespread showers and storms, the first coming on Thursday and the other Friday. With abundant moisture in place, torrential downpours were common across the area. This led to numerous reports of flash flooding and creeks/streams on the rise, more so on Friday. Overall, much of the state saw over an inch for the week, but some areas in the Bluegrass hardest hit by flooding received in upwards of 2 to 3 inches. Just like earlier in the workweek, the passing cold front signaled the start of a cooler, less humid, and dry pattern for the weekend. Primary activities this week included harvesting wheat, planting soybeans, cutting hay, and scouting fields for pests and diseases. Heavy rain towards the end of the week from Tropical Storm Cindy delayed fieldwork, with reports of flash flooding and crop damage. Producers are monitoring crop conditions to determine if any replanting is needed. The average height of emerged soybeans was 6 inches. The average height of tobacco in the field was 14 inches, compared to 10 inches last week and 12 inches last year at this time. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 19, 2017 16-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.41 inches, 0.40 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.2 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth saw an early start to summer as heat, humidity, and an unsettled pattern returned to the area. Highs consistently rose into the middle 80s to low 90s throughout the week. Combined with high humidity, heat indices increased well into the 90s. This pushed the livestock heat stress index into the danger category through the afternoon and early evening hours each day. With the heat and humidity in place, an unstable air mass developed almost each day of the week, leading to isolated to scattered storms. Even numerous coverage on Sunday. The very moist air led to torrential rainfall from time to time. Overall, the state averaged well over an inch for the week, just short of a half inch above normal. Primary activities this week included harvesting wheat, cutting hay, planting soybeans and tobacco, and scouting crops. Spotty showers and rainfall events led to some reports of local flooding in low-lying fields and delayed fieldwork periodically. Precipitation has helped to green-up pastures and hay fields. The first cutting of hay is finishing up in most areas. The average height of emerged corn was 38 inches, compared to 37 inches last year. The average height of tobacco in the field was 10 inches, compared to 9 inches last year. Some disease and insect pressure has been reported in fruit and vegetable crops. Livestock heat stress was of concern this week due to high temperatures and humidity. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 12, 2017 15-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.91 inches, 0.16 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 68 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 14 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.5 out of a possible seven. The week started out with a very moist air mass in place. Showers and storms progressed through the area over the course of Monday, ending with the passage of a cold front. For much of the state, this was the only rainfall for the week. Following the cold front, much cooler and less humid air pushed into Kentucky for the next few days. Most stayed in the 70s, but some in the Bluegrass only saw highs in the 60s on Wednesday. Other than some very light showers across the Bluegrass and Eastern Kentucky, most remained dry. The dry stretch continued into the weekend, but with southerly flow in place, temperatures rose each day. By Sunday, highs were once again in the middle to upper 80s. Primary activities this week included harvesting wheat, and planting soybeans and tobacco. Some soybean fields continue to be replanted due to damage from slugs and heavy rainfall events earlier in the season. Prevailing dry conditions allowed farmers to cut and bale hay during the week. Double crop soybean planting has started as winter wheat begins to be removed from fields. The average height of emerged corn was 23 inches, compared to 24 inches last year. The tobacco crop is rated in mostly good condition. The average height of tobacco in the field was 6 inches. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., June 5, 2017 14-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.32 inches, 0.78 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 70 degrees for the week, 1 degree above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.3 out of a possible seven. The Bluegrass State averaged slightly under a third of an inch this past period, which marked one of the driest weeks the state has seen in quite a while. In fact, according to data with the UK Ag Weather Center, the second week of February was the last time there was a lower average. Until Sunday, rainfall coverage was fairly low each day throughout the week. Most remained dry more times than not. Sunday brought more coverage, mainly across western and south-central Kentucky, as more moisture streamed into the area. While the period as a whole was dry, temperatures mostly stayed in the 80s throughout the week, finishing slightly above normal. Primary activities this week included planting corn and soybeans, and setting tobacco. Corn planting is nearing completion for the season. Other activities included sidedressing corn with nitrogen and spraying fields. The average height of emerged corn was 16 inches, compared to 9 inches last week. Weather conditions were favorable this week, providing an opportunity to harvest and bale hay. Some earlier planted soybeans are being replanted in fields that were severely damaged by excessive rainfall and slugs. Producers continue to monitor wheat conditions and test weights in preparation for harvest. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 30, 2017 13-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.88 inches, 0.77 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 66 degrees for the week, 1 degree below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 25 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.8 out of a possible seven. An active pattern once again led to multiple rounds of showers and storms throughout the week. The state averaged 1.88 inches, which was about three quarters of an inch above normal. This added to an already wet May, where Central/Eastern Kentucky and the Bluegrass have all averaged over 6 inches. Showers and storms were most widespread both Wednesday and Saturday with a couple passing low-pressure systems. With a very moist air mass in place, storms were very efficient rainfall producers, leading to flash flooding at times. The very unstable air mass on Saturday also produced numerous strong to severe storms with some producing damaging winds and large hail. With the active pattern in place, cloud cover and precipitation kept temperatures on the low side for most of the week leading to the second week in May with below normal temperatures. Storms and heavy rain led to delays in fieldwork this week and caused damage, with some reports of lodging in wheat. When weather conditions permitted, primary activities included planting corn and soybeans, and transplanting tobacco. Continued wet conditions have producers concerned for controlling weeds and pests. The average height of emerged corn was 9 inches. During dry stretches producers were able to cut hay. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Spring breeding of cattle is also underway. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 22, 2017 12-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.31 inches, 0.18 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 9 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.3 out of a possible seven. While it was the middle of May, it felt more like summer for much of the week as warm and muggy conditions returned to the Bluegrass State. Until the last day of the period, each day saw highs rise into the 80s for much of the area. Normal temperatures for this time of the year are in the middle to upper 70s. Depending on location, the period started with 3 to 4 days of mostly clear and dry conditions, but showers and storms returned for the latter half of the week. Starting Wednesday night, several rounds of scattered storms pushed across Kentucky through Sunday. Just like previous weeks, storms were capable of very heavy rain from time to time, along with intense lightning. Even with a few days of dry weather, most of the state still averaged over an inch for the week. Farmers were able to make some progress in the fields thanks to several days of warm temperatures and dry weather early in the week. The dry weather gave way to heavy rain towards the end of the week. Primary activities for the week included planting of corn, soybeans, and tobacco along with hay cutting. Producers expect good hay yields in most areas, however there were reports of low yields for first cuttings as well. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 15, 2017 11-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.05 inches, 0.05 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 64 degrees for the week, 1 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 28 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.2 out of a possible seven. The Bluegrass State remained in an active pattern for the workweek as a frontal boundary slowly worked north and south across the Lower Ohio Valley. Most of the showers and storms were seen across the northern half of the state to start the period, but slowly shifted south into the latter half of the workweek. Widespread showers and storms developed Thursday and Friday with some producing torrential rainfall and gusty winds at times. After three straight weeks with rainfall totals averaging above 1.5 inches, Western Kentucky finally got a break, only averaging less than a half inch for the week. The rest of the state was over an inch. Conditions then finally became dry heading into the weekend with mostly clear skies and temperatures on the rise. Temperature-wise, the week started with well below normal temperatures in place. Clear skies led to temperatures plummeting Monday morning across the eastern half of Kentucky. Many dipped into the 30s. Otherwise, highs rose back into the 70s and 80s for much of the period. Primary activities this week included corn and soybean planting, spraying, and hay cutting. There were a few days of relief from the wet weather that allowed farmers to resume fieldwork. Tobacco setting is moving forward steadily as farmers are optimizing their time when the weather permits. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 89 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Twelve percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 37 percent between 2-4 inches, and 51 percent over 4 inches. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 8, 2017 10-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.70 inches, 0.61 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 56 degrees for the week, 5 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 37 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.7 out of a possible seven. The wet pattern continued across the Bluegrass State, but this time, high accumulations were seen statewide. After a very active week, the state averaged 1.70 inches, which was over a half inch above normal. Most fell over the second half of the workweek as low pressure slowly worked across the area, leading to multiple rounds of widespread showers. Following a fast moving disturbance on Saturday and some lingering light showers, conditions finally dried off for the latter half of the weekend. The unsettled pattern kept temperatures running below normal for much of the period. Highs only rose into the middle 50s to low 60s on Friday, which was well below normal for this time of year. Skies cleared Saturday night and led to lows dropping into the 30s for much of Central/Eastern Kentucky and the Bluegrass. This period marked only the third time this year that the Bluegrass State had temperatures average below normal. Primary activities this week included the continuation of corn and soybean planting along with tobacco setting when the weather permitted. Excess precipitation and cool temperatures over the past week delayed planting progress for many producers across the state. While some farmers are optimistic about wheat production, others are expecting short yields due to a freeze in mid-March. That same March freeze may affect first cut Alfalfa yields as well. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 2 percent short, 92 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Nineteen percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 39 percent between 2-4 inches, and 42 percent over 4 inches. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., May 1, 2017 09-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and near normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.02 inches, 0.04 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 68 degrees for the week, 9 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 35 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 7 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 28 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.5 out of a possible seven. Depending on location, it was either a very wet or a dry week in Kentucky. Portions of the Commonwealth along the Ohio River, running from Western Kentucky and up into the Northern Bluegrass, saw the highest accumulations for the period. Western Kentucky averaged over 2 inches for a second straight week. In fact, the western- most couple tiers of counties accumulated 3 to 4+ inches. These totals diminished rapidly farther east as Eastern Kentucky averaged just 0.26 inches for the week. Most of the showers and storms passed through Kentucky Wednesday night/Thursday morning and another few rounds over the weekend. As the state sat within a very moist air mass, storms were capable of producing very heavy rainfall. Combined with repeated rounds of thunderstorms, this led to numerous reports of flash flooding for the areas mentioned above. Primary activities this week included planting corn and soybeans. Portions of the state continue to deal with wet conditions halting progress in the fields. Producers sprayed wheat for head scab and stripe rust when weather permitted. The average height of winter wheat was 26 inches, compared to 24 inches last week. Most hay has not been cut at this point as producers are awaiting a break in the wet weather. Alfalfa hay average height was 13 inches, compared to 10 inches last week. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 3 percent short, 89 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Twenty-six percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 46 percent between 2-4 inches, and 28 percent over 4 inches. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 24, 2017 08-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.10 inches, 1.11 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 63 degrees for the week, 6 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 30 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 20 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.0 out of a possible seven. The state saw exceptionally wet conditions over the course of the period. When looking at average statewide rainfall, this was the wettest week of 2017. Kentucky averaged 2.10 inches, which was over an inch above normal. Some areas, especially Southeastern Kentucky, accumulated 3+ inches. The Commonwealth became situated within a very active pattern with multiple frontal boundaries and disturbances pushing through the area. At least some portion of the state recorded rain each day of the week. While most of the workweek feature isolated to scattered precipitation, more widespread coverage arrived late Friday and into the first half of the weekend. This led to some minor river flooding across Eastern Kentucky. While Saturday and Sunday featured highs in the 50s, the rest of the period remained fairly warm, leading to a 5th straight week of above normal temperatures. On average, the state typically runs in the upper 60s to middle 70s for the last couple weeks of April. Primary activities for the week included the continuation of corn planting and seeding of tobacco transplants. Corn producers are showing planting restraint to avoid soil compaction due to excess precipitation. Forty two percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 45 percent 2-4 inches, and 13 percent over 4 inches. Soybean planting has just begun and has been restricted by the weather just as corn has. Wet conditions throughout the state kept farmers out of the fields most of the week. The average height of winter wheat was 24 inches, compared to 21 inches last week. Wheat growers are in need favorable weather conditions to spray fungicides, particularly for scab and stripe rust. Average height of Alfalfa hay was 10 inches, compared to 8 inches last week. Apple freeze damage was reported as 2 percent severe, 9 percent moderate, 35 percent light, and 54 percent with no damage. Peach freeze damage was reported as 10 percent severe, 22 percent moderate, 27 percent light, and 41 percent with no damage. --- Kentucky Crop and Weather Report Issued 4:00 P.M., April 17, 2017 07-17 Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.67 inches, 0.34 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 66 degrees for the week, 11 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 7 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.1 out of a possible seven. Above normal temperatures remained in place throughout the period, peaking Friday and Saturday with highs in the low to middle 80s for much of Kentucky. This pushed Kentucky to a fourth straight week of above normal temperatures. Gusty winds from the southwest and low relative humidity led to an elevated fire danger on Monday, but was followed by a frontal passage the next day. This boundary sparked isolated to scattered showers with most staying under a half inch. Conditions then remained dry through Saturday, before showers returned for the second half of the weekend. Storms fired within an unstable atmosphere ahead of a cold front.While the severe threat was low, storms were capable of producing heavy rainfall. Primary activities this week included planting corn, applying fertilizer and burndown applications, and seeding tobacco transplants. Fifty-one percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 39 percent between 2-4 inches, and 10 percent over 4 inches. Varied rainfall across the state slowed fieldwork and corn planting progress at times during the week. Some winter wheat fields appear to be recovering from freeze damage, but crop conditions and disease pressures continue to be monitored. The average height of winter wheat was 21 inches. Wheat winter freeze damage was reported as 11 percent severe, 26 percent moderate, 27 percent light, with 36 percent experiencing none. Alfalfa hay average height was 8 inches. Alfalfa hay freeze damage was reported as 6 percent severe, 16 percent moderate, 32 percent light, with 46 percent experiencing none. Alfalfa weevil activity and damage continues to be reported. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 10, 2017 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.85 inches, 0.14 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 56 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 8 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.5 out of a possible seven. The active start to spring continued with a couple rounds of strong to severe storms pushing through the state. The strongest system moved through the area Wednesday afternoon and into the early overnight hours. As low pressure moved north of the state, Kentucky became situated within a very unstable atmosphere. Scattered storms developed in the afternoon hours, some becoming severe, before merging into a line across the eastern half of Kentucky. Large hail, damaging winds, and even a handful of tornadoes were seen across the area. Combined with an unsettled pattern earlier in the week and showery activity on Thursday, the Bluegrass State averaged 0.85 inches, which was slightly below normal for the week. Temperatures continued the above normal trend with highs jumping into the 60s and 70s for most of the period. The one exception came Thursday and Friday when temperatures struggled to rise behind a departing cold front. Lows were coolest on Friday night/Saturday morning with temperatures in the 30s for most and some in the Bluegrass and Eastern Kentucky dropping below freezing. Primary activities this week included seeding tobacco transplants, preparing farm equipment for planting, and applying fertilizer and burndown treatments. Wet and windy weather delayed fieldwork, with limited corn planting this week. A severe storm on Wednesday produced large hail, strong winds, and tornado touchdowns throughout Central Kentucky, damaging fields and structures. The extent of freeze damage continues to be monitored in alfalfa hay, fruit trees, and winter wheat. The average height of winter wheat was 14 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 3, 2017 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.18 inches, 0.16 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 58 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 16 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.3 out of a possible seven. The Lower Ohio Valley saw an active spring pattern this past week with multiple rounds of rainfall. Strong to severe storms pushed through the area on a couple occasions, one coming on Monday and the other on Thursday as low pressure tracked just north of the area. Storms fired ahead of a couple cold fronts, resulting in some reports of damaging winds and hail. The second round was followed by cooler end to the workweek and start of the weekend as cloud cover remain entrenched over the area. Saying that, the rest of the period remained very warm with above normal temperatures in place. Other than Friday and Saturday, most of the state reached into the 60s and 70s each day, even hitting the 80s for some on Thursday. This marked the second straight week of above normal temperatures and 12th out of 14 since the start of 2017. Primary activities this week included seeding tobacco transplants, applying fertilizer and burndown treatments, and preparing for spring planting as weather conditions allowed. Alfalfa producers remain concerned about crop conditions as a result of Alfalfa Weevil infestations and freeze damage. Several alfalfa fields were sprayed this past week. Alfalfa hay freeze damage was reported as 5 percent severe, 16 percent moderate, 39 percent light, with 40 percent experiencing none. Freeze damage to winter wheat has been variable across the state depending on the crop stage, as the relatively mild winter had accelerated growth. Wheat winter freeze damage was reported as 6 percent severe, 26 percent moderate, 27 percent light, with 41 percent experiencing none. Livestock operations are preparing for spring calving and monitoring body condition. Cattle and calves obtained approximately 38 percent of feed from pastures. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 28, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.23 inches, 0.81 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 43 degrees for the week, 1 degree below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 35 percent very short, 41 percent short, and 24 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture was rated 34 percent very short, 41 percent short, and 25 percent adequate. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.9 out of a possible seven. Cooler temperatures stuck around for much of this period, ending a streak of 7 straight weeks of near to above normal temperatures. The coldest readings were seen early in the work week, following a strong cold front from the weekend before. Temperatures by Monday morning were in the upper teens to middle 20s for much of Kentucky. As high pressure shifted east, southerly flow brought those temperatures up over the next couple days. Rain showers then returned Wednesday and into Thursday as a system passed through the Ohio Valley. This brought the area widespread, light rain showers. Accumulations were highest in Western Kentucky, around a half inch. Those numbers dropped as the system moved east with Eastern Kentucky averaging under a tenth of an inch. According to data with the Ag Weather Center, the state has only averaged 1.86 inches over the past 60 days, which is over 5 inches below normal. While most of Kentucky remained under a 'Severe' drought with the latest update to the US Drought Monitor, portions of South-Central and Southeastern Kentucky were put into an 'Extreme' drought. Primary activities this week included harvesting crops and stripping tobacco. Light rainfall occurred, but soil and pasture conditions continue to remain very dry. Germination problems for cover crops and winter wheat have been reported due to the ongoing drought. Some farm ponds have dried up as well, causing water issues for livestock producers. Many farmers have been feeding hay earlier as a result of drought conditions late in the season. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 21, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.26 inches, 0.71 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 50 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 35 percent very short, 43 percent short, and 22 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture was rated 33 percent very short, 43 percent short, and 24 percent adequate. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.5 out of a possible seven. Kentucky saw a major change in the weather pattern this past week as record warmth on Friday was followed by a plunge in the thermometer over the weekend. Through the second half of the work week, winds steadily increased from the south, leading to a warming trend for the area. By Friday, winds were gusting to around 25 to 30 mph, pushing high temperatures into the middle 70s to around 80 for much of Kentucky. This was roughly 20 to 25 degrees above normal for this time of year. The record warmth was followed by a strong cold front pushing through the Commonwealth late Friday and into Friday night. A band of showers formed along and behind the front with statewide accumulations around a couple tenths to half inch, highest readings in Western Kentucky. While it was the highest totals seen in quite a while, it was still not near enough to cut into drought deficits. According to the latest update to the US Drought Monitor, nearly 83% of the state is now under a Severe Drought. Temperatures dropped drastically behind the front over the weekend. Highs by Sunday were only in the upper 30s to middle 40s. Soybean harvest and winter wheat planting neared completion this week; tobacco stripping continued. Most of the state is now in a severe drought according to the US Drought Monitor, and burn bans remain in place for the majority of the state as well. Some precipitation fell towards the end of the week, but had little impact on reversing drought deficits. Soil and pasture conditions still remain very dry. Many cattle farmers are concerned about hay supplies through the winter as drought conditions forced early feeding. Fall breeding is ongoing. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 14, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and well below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.14 inches, 0.68 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 49 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 31 percent very short, 45 percent short, 23 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 28 percent very short, 43 percent short, 28 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.5 out of a possible seven. Much of South-Central and Southeastern Kentucky are now in a Severe Drought according to the latest update to the US Drought Monitor. The state only averaged a little over a tenth of an inch this past week with the passage of a cold front on Election Day. Going back the past 60 days, the state has only averaged 2.71 inches, which is nearly 4 inches below normal. While dry conditions continued, frost and freezing temperatures returned, bringing an official end to the growing season. The first occurrence came Thursday morning as lows dropped into the upper 20s to middle 30s with widespread frost formation. The coldest temperatures of the fall season were then seen on Saturday night and Sunday morning as high pressure of Canadian origin moved overhead, leading to a hard freeze across the state. Skies cleared and allowed lows to drop into the 20s for much of Kentucky. Some of the typical cooler spots even hit the upper teens. Primary activities this week included harvesting soybeans, stripping tobacco, and seeding winter wheat. Most of the state remains under moderate drought conditions according to the US Drought Monitor, with southern and southeastern portions now in a severe drought. Very little growth is occurring for pastures, wheat, and cover crops due to the lack of moisture; frosts were also reported this week. Livestock producers continue to feed hay, and many are concerned about the water supply with ponds beginning to dry up. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 7, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced much above normal temperatures and well below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.06 inches, 0.70 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 62 degrees for the week, 10 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 21 percent very short, 48 percent short, 30 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 16 percent very short, 51 percent short, 32 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.7 out of a possible seven. Rainfall continues to run scarce for the Commonwealth as the state has now gone 7 straight weeks of seeing below normal precipitation. Most of Kentucky stayed under a tenth of an inch for the week. The only rainfall event came mid-week with the passage of a weak cold front, but coverage remained isolated to scattered and only minimal accumulations, leading to no drought relief. Major changes were seen on the US Drought Monitor as nearly 82% of the state is now under a 'Moderate Drought'. Well above normal temperatures stuck around for the first half of the work week as highs moved into the low to middle 80s. Kentucky had several locations break daily records, but also some that broke November all-time highs. Following the passage of the cold front mentioned above, winds shifted to the north and temperatures took a downhill turn going into the weekend. Lows dropped into the middle 30s to low 40s both Friday and Saturday nights, leading to some frost development. Saying that, for the week, the state average temperature was about 10 degrees above normal for early November. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco, and sowing wheat. Dry weather continued this week, with most of the state under moderate drought conditions according to the US Drought Monitor. Wheat and cover crops have struggled to germinate with the limited moisture. Many livestock producers are feeding hay or supplemental grain, and some have had to haul water with farm ponds drying up. Cattle and calves obtained approximately 56 percent of feed from pastures. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 31, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.02 inches, 0.74 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 61 degrees for the week, 7 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 15 percent very short, 46 percent short, 38 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 13 percent very short, 45 percent short, 41 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.5 out of a possible seven. Dry conditions continue to persist across the Lower Ohio Valley. Most of the state did not see any rainfall this past week as high pressure remained in control. Any locations that did see precipitation with a frontal passage midweek, only saw a couple hundredths for the most part. Long-term deficits continue to worsen with six straight weeks of below normal rainfall. The state is nearly 2.5 inches below normal for the month of October and over 3.5 inches for the past 60 days. While the US Drought Monitor kept much of the state under 'Abnormally Dry' conditions, 'Moderate Drought' was expanded into Southcentral Kentucky. Temperatures also continued to run well above normal. Over the weekend, gusty southwest flow pushed highs into the low to middle 80s, breaking several records across the state. Normal high temperatures for the last week of October are in the low to middle 60s. Climatologically speaking, most of Kentucky has now surpassed the average date of first freeze. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, planting wheat and cover crops, and stripping tobacco. Dry conditions allowed for harvest of corn and soybeans to advance ahead of normal. The lack of moisture continues to be a concern for germination of new seedings. Rain is needed to establish fall seeded crops. Pastures are also in need of rain as many livestock producers have started feeding hay earlier than normal. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 24, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.66 inches, 0.04 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 65 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 10 percent very short, 35 percent short, 52 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 34 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.6 out of a possible seven. This past week started off with very warm temperatures in place on Monday and Tuesday, some even record breaking. Highs rose into the mid to upper 80s for much of the state behind breezy southwest flow and mostly sunny skies. A cold front then pushed through the Lower Ohio Valley over the second half of the work week, bringing some much needed rainfall to the Commonwealth. While Western and Central Kentucky averaged around a quarter to half inch, the Bluegrass and Eastern Kentucky were closer to an inch. Prior to the event, the state had gone four straight weeks of much below normal precipitation. The US Drought Monitor expanded ‘Abnormally Dry’ conditions across almost the entirety of the state, while ‘Moderate Drought’ continued to increase in coverage across Southeastern Kentucky. Behind the cold front, much cooler air spilled into the Bluegrass State. Highs on Friday and Saturday only got into the upper 50s to middle 60s. Skies cleared from west to east on Friday night with lows dropping into the upper 30s to lower 40s. Several locations across Eastern Kentucky dropped into the middle 30s on Saturday night, some reporting frost. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, planting wheat and cover crops, and stripping tobacco. The lack of moisture is of concern for germination of new seedings. Most pastures are in need of rain as well. Livestock producers have started feeding hay. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 17, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.05 inches, 0.67 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 62 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 11 percent very short, 33 percent short, 55 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 29 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.5 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth didn't see much rainfall for a second straight week. High pressure kept the area mostly dry with any passing disturbances not amounting to much in the way of rainfall. Over the past 30 days, data at the UK Ag Weather Center shows the state has only averaged 1.71 inches, which is 1.69 inches below normal for that time span. The US Drought Monitor greatly expanded the area of Kentucky now showing signs of 'Abnormally Dry' conditions, now accounting for nearly 62% of the state. A small section of Southeastern Kentucky was even upgraded to a 'Moderate Drought'. In addition, temperatures continued to run above normal for a second straight week. Weekend highs rose into the upper 70s to lower 80s for much of the area. Dry conditions continued throughout the state. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, sowing wheat and stripping tobacco. Weather conditions have not been optimal for tobacco curing. Some livestock producers have begun feeding hay due to deteriorating pasture conditions. Rain would be welcome to improve pasture conditions, bring tobacco in case and for establishment of newly seeded fields. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 11, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.01 inches, 0.78 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 66 degrees for the week, 6 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 24 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 23 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.7 out of a possible seven. For the second time in less than a month, most locations in Kentucky saw very little to no precipitation over the course of the week. High pressure dominated the area, bringing mostly clear skies and dry conditions. Temperatures were unseasonably warm through the work week, rising into the low to middle 80s about each day. That changed late Friday and Friday night as a cold front pushed through the Ohio Valley. Winds turned to the north on Saturday, becoming breezy at times with gusts around 25 mph. Highs over the weekend took a significant fall, only rising into the upper 60s to low 70s. Much cooler temperatures were seen Saturday night with much of the state dropping into the low to middle 40s. Saying that, a handful of sheltered and typically cooler spots even dropped into the 30s. Dry conditions allowed farmers to make significant progress with all types of field work. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, hay, and tobacco. Tobacco harvest was winding down. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 2 percent heavy, 9 percent moderate, 17 percent light, with 72 percent experiencing none. Some livestock producers have begun feeding hay due to dry conditions. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 3, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.68 inches, 0.13 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 62 degrees for the week, 1 degree below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 18 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 19 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.6 out of a possible seven. Conditions finally started to feel like fall this past week. Temperatures were slightly below normal with highs staying in the 60s and 70s for much of the period. This broke a streak of 12 straight weeks with near to above normal temperatures. The cooler air started filtering into the area on Monday as a cold front crossed the region, followed by a brief period of high pressure. Early in the week, some locations even saw lows drop into the low to middle 40s as skies cleared at night. A disturbance aloft then slowly rotated over the area from Wednesday through Saturday. This brought an extended period of unsettled weather with multiple rounds of showers. Mostly cloudy skies kept temperatures much below normal during the day with highs only in the 60s for most. Combining the rainfall seen on Monday with the several days under the influence of the disturbance aloft, the state averaged 0.68 inches, which was slightly below normal. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, hay, and tobacco. Showers during the week slowed harvest progress somewhat, but corn harvest continued at a rapid pace. Many farmers would welcome some rain as many areas of the state remained relatively dry. Corn yields are varied depending on planting date and location. Pasture conditions were rated mostly good to fair. Livestock were rated in mostly good condition. Labor shortage being reported in some areas which is impacting the tobacco harvest. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 2 percent heavy, 8 percent moderate, 18 percent light, with 72 percent experiencing none. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 26, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.01 inches, 0.83 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 22 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 20 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.6 out of a possible seven. Fall officially began this past Thursday, but temperatures for the period felt more like the middle of summer. High pressure at the surface and aloft led to an extended period of hot and dry conditions. Under mostly clear skies for much of the week, high temperatures consistently ran above normal, rising into the middle 80s to lower 90s. Normal highs for this time of year are in the middle 70s to around 80. For the week, much of the state also didn't see any precipitation. Kentucky has now seen below normal rainfall four of the past five weeks. Over the past 30 days, data at the Ag Weather Center shows that Kentucky is 1.52 inches below normal. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn, soybeans, hay, and tobacco. Most of the state remains dry, with few areas receiving any rainfall over the past week. Corn yield reports range from below average to good, with some grain quality problems due to the excessive wet weather during the growing season. Producers reported early soybean yields as average or above-average. Dry conditions continue to decrease pasture and hay growth, and have started to impact fall seeding. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 1 percent severe, 10 percent moderate, and 18 percent light, with 71 percent experiencing none. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 19, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.05 inches, 0.21 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 5 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 16 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 14 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. Dry conditions continued through the first half of the work week as the Bluegrass State remained under the influence of high pressure. After a relatively cool day on Monday, temperatures increased on Tuesday and stayed that way through much of the period. This led to a 11th straight week of near to above normal temperatures that extends back into early July. Bottom line, it has been a warm summer. Showers and storms returned over the latter half of the work week and into the weekend. Ahead of a weak cold front, winds turned to the southwest, pulling moisture back into the area. A solid band of showers developed within this flow and slowly inched eastward over the course of the weekend. Conditions had been starting to turn dry with three straight weeks of below normal precipitation. The US Drought Monitor even introduced a couple small areas of 'Abnormally Dry' Conditions in South-Central and Eastern Kentucky. For the week, the band of showers helped push the state rainfall average over an inch, which was nearly a quarter inch above normal. Primary activities this week included cutting hay and tobacco, harvesting corn, and seeding fall alfalfa and grass fields. Early corn yields are reported to be mostly good. Harvest has also begun on some early soybean fields, with average or above- average yield expectations. Dry conditions during the week led to crops drying down quicker than normal, with some producers reporting reductions in kernel fill. Pastures are drying as well. The fall calving season is underway. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 12, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.50 inches, 0.31 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.4 out of a possible seven. The state remained mostly dry on Labor Day and on through the work week as high pressure remained in control aloft. Temperatures followed a warming trend with highs back in the low to middle 90s statewide by Wednesday. The warm conditions pushed the state to a tenth straight week of near to above normal temperatures. While there was some isolated to scattered showers and storms on Thursday and Friday, better coverage arrived over the weekend. A passing cold front sparked a broken line of showers and storms that pushed through the region during the day on Saturday. Overall, the state averaged a half inch for the week, which ended up being the third straight period that Kentucky had seen below normal rainfall. Primary activities this week included cutting hay and tobacco, and harvesting corn for grain; some corn silage was harvested as well. Continued hot and dry conditions assisted dry-down in grain crops, but started to negatively affect pasture and hay land. Farmers have concerns over labor shortages for harvesting tobacco, as well as disease impacts and resulting weights. Various disease incidences were reported this week including rust and diplodia ear rot on corn, and frogeye leaf spot and stem canker on soybeans. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 6, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.46 inches, 0.51 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 79 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.2 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth did not see much rainfall for a second straight period as the state averaged just over a tenth of an inch this past week. Other than some isolated showers on Monday and Tuesday, most remained dry with high pressure aloft. Temperatures each day remained above normal, along with high humidity. Scattered showers and storms then returned on Wednesday, ahead of a passing cold front. Behind the boundary, high pressure moved into the Great Lakes area. With Tropical Storm Hermine off the Mid-Atlantic Coast, this set up a northeasterly flow into the Lower Ohio Valley. Skies became mostly clear for the remainder of the week, along with much cooler temperatures and less humid conditions. Primary activities this week included spraying fungicides and cutting hay in between rain showers. Reports of more serious black shank and target spot in tobacco have producers concerned for anticipated harvest weights as preparations are made to start cutting. Southern corn rust and gray leaf spot have also been confirmed, and grain farmers are spraying fungicides. Corn and single crop soybeans are faring better overall from the excessive wet weather this season. High heat and humidity throughout the week put stress on livestock; pinkeye symptoms were also reported. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 29, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.33 inches, 0.47 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 4 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 5 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.6 out of a possible seven. High pressure at the surface and aloft led to a mostly dry week for the Commonwealth. The state only averaged a little over a quarter of an inch for the week, which was about a half inch below normal. After a couple dry days on Monday and Tuesday, rainfall remained isolated to scattered in coverage for the rest of the week. While it was mostly dry, summertime temperatures and humidity made a return. Highs were only in the upper 70s to middle 80s on Monday, but the cooler temperatures were short lived. As high pressure moved east on Tuesday, winds shifted to the south, opening the door to a warming trend and much more humid conditions. Heat indices increased to around 100 by late in the work week and into the weekend with highs topping out in the low to middle 90s, once again creating stressful conditions for livestock. This pushed the Bluegrass State to an eighth straight week of near to above normal temperatures. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, topping and cutting tobacco. Disease and insect pressure continues for field crops. Soybeans were sprayed with fungicides and insecticides where needed. Some tobacco fields are a complete loss due to wet weather and disease. The corn harvest has begun in a few areas. Pasture conditions remain in mostly good to excellent condition. Hot and humid weather continues to be stressful for livestock. Producers are getting equipment ready for the upcoming harvest. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 22, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.54 inches, 1.68 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 4 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 25 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 4 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 24 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.4 out of a possible seven. After another week of exceptionally high rainfall totals, the Bluegrass State has now seen above normal rainfall three of the past four weeks. Over this past period, the state averaged over 2.5 inches, which is over 1.5 above normal. According to data with the Ag Weather Center, the state is now nearly 2 inches above normal for the month of August with an average of 4.49 inches statewide. Just like recent weeks this summer, an active pattern set up over the Lower Ohio Valley this past period with several rounds of storms pushing through the area. Throughout much of the period, a plume of moisture was positioned over the region, keeping heavy rain and localized flooding as the main threats. Cloud cover and showers kept temperatures down during the day and elevated at night, which brought average temperatures around normal for the week. After the passage of a strong cold front, cooler and much less humid conditions filtered into the area for the end of the weekend, finally giving the Commonwealth a break from the summertime humidity. Rain last week limited field work and resulted in flooding in some areas. Disease and insect pressure continues for field crops. Fungicides have not been effective in some fields. Corn, soybeans and tobacco all showed deterioration in percent rated as excellent this past week. Dry weather is needed for hay producers eager to harvest hay and to improve conditions of crops. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 15, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.50 inches, 0.38 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 80 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 5 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 16 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.1 out of a possible seven. With the exception of Western Kentucky, much of the Bluegrass State saw below normal rainfall this past week. While Western Kentucky averaged just over an inch, Central and Eastern Kentucky dropped to around a quarter to a third of an inch. Much of the heavier activity and flooding threat stayed west and north of the region. Showers and storms were isolated to scattered in coverage on a daily basis, firing during the day and waning overnight. Heavy rain continued to be the main threat as the Commonwealth remained rooted in a very moist air mass. Dew points stayed in the 70s and combined with warm temperatures to keep the livestock heat stress index in the danger to emergency category. Looking back, the state has now seen 6 straight weeks of above normal temperatures. Rain showers in some areas has limited field work. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, topping and cutting tobacco and spraying crops for disease and insect control when conditions allowed. Some corn producers have reported pollination issues in corn due to flooding and high heat. Wet conditions in some locations has seriously impacted tobacco fields, resulting in disease and crop loss. Fifty-three percent of tobacco is rated as good to excellent compared to twenty percent rated as poor to very poor. High heat and humidity continue to put stress on livestock. However, cattle are benefitting from pasture conditions which are holding up well due to the moisture that has been received this year. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 8, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.46 inches, 0.51 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 79 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.2 out of a possible seven. Much like the month of July, an active pattern continued into the first week of August with several rounds of rainfall. The entire state averaged over an inch with Western Kentucky leading the way at 1.67. This resulted in a second straight week of above normal rainfall and followed the state’s 3rd wettest July on record with data going back to 1895. The humid air mass stayed in place through Saturday, keeping torrential rainfall and occasional localized flooding in the picture. After the final round of rainfall on Saturday along a cold front, a welcome change came for the latter half of the weekend. Behind the boundary, dew points took a fall, bringing much drier and less muggy conditions to the Bluegrass State. Saying that, for the week overall, temperatures were yet again above normal. Ten of the past eleven weeks have now seen near to above normal temperatures. Primary activities this week included spraying fungicides and cutting hay in between rain showers. Reports of more serious black shank and target spot in tobacco have producers concerned for anticipated harvest weights as preparations are made to start cutting. Southern corn rust and gray leaf spot have also been confirmed, and grain farmers are spraying fungicides. Corn and single crop soybeans are faring better overall from the excessive wet weather this season. High heat and humidity throughout the week put stress on livestock; pinkeye symptoms were also reported. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 1, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.76 inches, 1.78 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 79 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 22 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.7 out of a possible seven. Much like it started, the month of July came to a close with yet another exceptionally wet week. For the period, the state averaged over 2.5 inches. Showers and storms formed about each day, scattered in coverage for much of the week. The one exception came Wednesday night and through much of Thursday when activity became widespread. The slow moving nature of storms and very moist atmosphere promoted heavy rainfall from time to time, along with localized flash flooding. This all added to an already extremely wet month of July. Preliminary data at the UK Ag Weather Center shows that this could be one of the wettest July’s on record with the state averaging 8.86 inches. This is small in comparison to Western Kentucky alone, which averaged over 12. Temperatures through the week also remained elevated with highs peaking in the 90s from time to time. The average temperature for Kentucky remained above normal for a fourth straight week. Field work was limited this week as warm, wet weather continued. Activities included spraying soybeans and tobacco, and topping tobacco. An increase in fungal disease reports for tobacco include target spot, frog eye leaf, and black shank. Some soybean diseases are now showing up, mostly septoria brown spot. Crop conditions and yield expectations remain varied throughout the state, as some low lying areas are still reporting standing water and slight flooding. High humidity this week had livestock under heat stress. Pasture and hay fields remain in mostly good condition, with hay cutting anticipated as soon as the weather breaks. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 25, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.45 inches, 0.50 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 80 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.5 out of a possible seven. Extreme heat and humidity returned to the Bluegrass State this past week, but this time, for a prolonged period of time. The heat wave consisted of high temperatures routinely rising into the upper 80s to middle 90s each day, along with dew points in the 70s. This repeatedly pushed heat indices over 100 for much of the state, especially across the western half. Multiple heat advisories were issued throughout the week, along with an Excessive Heat Advisory across the Purchase area of Western Kentucky as heat indices approached 110 degrees in spots. Not much recovery was seen at night either as temperatures and dew points remained elevated. The high heat and humidity created dangerous conditions for livestock as the heat stress index rose into the danger to emergency category each day. Looking longer term, this is now the third straight week that Kentucky has seen above normal temperatures. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, spraying herbicides, fungicide applications and topping tobacco where conditions allowed. High moisture and humid weather is resulting in heavy disease pressure on crops. Tobacco conditions remain in the mostly good to fair range due to the lateness of the crop and excess water at the wrong time. Black shank continues to be a concern. Some tobacco growers will have significant losses to their crop. Pasture conditions remain in mostly good condition. High temperatures and humidity over the past week pushed the livestock heat stress into the emergency category. Livestock producers are treating cattle for pinkeye. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 18, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.94 inches, 0.06 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 1 degree above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 29 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.3 out of a possible seven. After one of the wettest weeks in years, an active pattern carried over into this past period. Showers and storms developed about each day of the week, but coverage was not as widespread across the state. While Western Kentucky averaged over 1.5 inches for the week, eastern portions of the state were around a half inch. According to data at the Ag Weather Center, Western Kentucky has averaged 8.44 inches of rainfall through July 17th, which is over 6 inches above normal. Any storms that did develop through the period were heavy rainfall producers as the state remained situated within a moist air mass. Temperatures were slightly above normal for a second straight week. Normal high temperatures for this time of year rise into the middle 80s to around 90, while lows drop into the middle 60s to around 70. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, spraying herbicides, and making fungicide applications when weather conditions permitted. Scattered storms continued over the past week with most of the accumulation in the western portion of the state. Reports of flooding and standing water in low lying fields persisted, with some farmers replanting soybeans in wet spots. Crop damage and expectations remain varied throughout the state, with the potential for entire crop losses. Early planted crops seem to be fairing much better than later planted crops. Many tobacco fields have patches of scald, along with reports of black shank and overgrown weeds. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 11, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 3.92 inches, 2.94 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, 1 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 29 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.4 out of a possible seven. Not since May of 2010, has Kentucky seen an average rainfall total higher than what was seen this past week. For the period, several rounds of rainfall led to the wettest week of the year with an average of 3.92 inches for the Bluegrass State. This number is actually small in comparison to Western Kentucky, which alone saw over 5.5 inches for the week. Throughout the work week, the Commonwealth was situated within a warm and extremely moist air mass. Excessive rainfall fell on the 4th of July holiday, leading to saturated ground in some locations. This was followed by a very unsettled pattern over the course of the 6th and 7th as several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms pushed through Kentucky. This led to numerous reports of damaging winds and especially flooding, as thunderstorms slowly tracked repeatedly over the same areas. For the week, a handful of locations in Western Kentucky recorded over 10 inches of rainfall. Since July 1st, the state has already averaged 4.72 inches of precipitation. Putting this data in perspective, Kentucky normally only sees around 4 to 4.5 inches for the entire month of July. Heavy rains and storms led to flooding and delayed field activities this week, hitting especially hard in western Kentucky. Some low lying fields still remain saturated, and significant losses have been reported for corn, soybeans, and tobacco. Tobacco in standing water has started to wilt and turn yellow, with heightened risk for black shank. High winds also caused damage to crops and farm structures, with several reports of corn being blown around and breaking off. Weather forecasts and crop conditions continue to be evaluated. The average height of emerged soybeans was 14 inches, compared to 10 inches last week and 14 inches last year at this time. In the eastern part of the state, vegetables are still producing well with some anthracnose developing on beans. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 5, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.15 inches, 0.16 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 17 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 15 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.4 out of a possible seven. After seeing five straight weeks of near to above normal temperatures, the Commonwealth caught a break this past period. Following a hot and muggy day on Monday, a couple cold fronts dropped through the Lower Ohio Valley. Winds shifting to the north/northwest led to much cooler and drier air filtering into the area. Temperatures ran below normal on both Wednesday and Thursday with highs in the upper 70s to middle 80s across much of Kentucky. Other than some isolated to scattered activity periodically through the week, most of the Bluegrass State remained dry through Saturday. Widespread activity returned Sunday with storms erupting across Western Kentucky and pushing east. Storms produced torrential rainfall and resulted in significant rainfall accumulations across Western and Central Kentucky. Several locations saw in upwards of an inch of rainfall, with some in excess of three. Overall, this event pushed the state to a second straight week of above normal rainfall. Heavy rains over the weekend in western and central Kentucky left standing water in some low lying areas, damage to crops has yet to be sufficiently evaluated as farmers continue to monitor. Washing and drowning of corn and soybeans, and scalding and black shank in tobacco are of concern. Fairly dry conditions persisted in eastern areas, with reports of stressed crops in need of rain. The average height of emerged soybeans was 10 inches, compared to 5 inches last week and 13 inches last year at this time. Pastures, vegetables, and forages were reported in overall good condition. Second cutting of hay has started. Some cattle producers are dealing with pink eye. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 27, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.23 inches, 0.22 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 79 degrees for the week, 5 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 22 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 16 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.7 out of a possible seven. Each period has gotten a step warmer over the past couple weeks. Statewide, temperatures were 5 degrees above normal this past period, which was the fifth straight week of near to above normal temperatures. The hot and humid pattern continued with multiple days getting into the upper 80s to middle 90s. Thursday was the warmest day with much of Western Kentucky under a Heat Advisory. Livestock heat stress remained in the danger to emergency category about each afternoon and evening. Looking at rainfall, an active pattern developed Tuesday through Thursday with several rounds of thunderstorms. Located within a very unstable and moist air mass, storms produced frequent cloud to ground lightning and heavy rainfall, in addition to some instances of damaging winds and large hail. Other than Western Kentucky, the rest of the state saw above normal rainfall for the week, averaging around 1.5 inches. According to data at the UK Ag Weather Center, Western Kentucky is now 1.64 inches below normal on average for the month of June. Portions of the state remained dry while other areas reported varied rainfall as scattered storms occurred over the week. Conditions allowed farmers to make considerable progress in harvesting wheat. Planting of doublecrop soybeans continued as well, nearing completion. The average height of emerged soybeans was 5 inches, compared to 6 inches last year. Tobacco planting is nearing completion as well, with some reports of severe black shank. The average height of tobacco in the field was 13 inches, compared to 9 inches last week and 16 inches last year at this time. Large amounts of hay continued to be harvested with mostly average quality. High temperatures and humidity are putting some stress on livestock. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 20, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.63 inches, 0.37 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 18 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.8 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth remained in a warm and muggy pattern this past period, accounting for a fourth straight week of near to above normal temperatures. Temperatures were even a bit warmer than the previous week with highs averaging in the middle 80s to around 90 from east to west. The warmest temperatures were seen on Thursday as the majority of Kentucky rose into the low to middle 90s. Paducah and Fort Campbell saw the first 100 degree readings of the season. The warm temperatures combined with very humid conditions pushed the livestock heat stress index into the emergency category across Western and West-Central Kentucky. For the week, the state averaged just over a half inch of rainfall, below normal for a second straight week. Most of the activity was seen Tuesday through Thursday with scattered to numerous coverage in place. As the state was placed in a very moist and unstable air mass, storms were capable of producing torrential rainfall and frequent lightning. Otherwise, high pressure at the surface and aloft kept the area dry Friday and through the weekend. Primary activities this week included planting soybeans and tobacco. Winter wheat harvest for grain made good progress last week. Planting of double crop beans is underway. Herbicides were being applied and fields continued to be side dressed. The average height of emerged corn was 37 inches, compared to 34 inches last year. The average height of tobacco in the field was 9 inches, compared to 11 inches last year. Some areas have become abnormally dry with soils drying rapidly and showers would be welcomed. Farmers once again took advantage of dry weather to cut and bale a significant amount of hay. Heat is putting stress on cattle, but overall condition is good. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 13, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and well below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.07 inches, 0.97 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 71 degrees for the week, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.3 out of a possible seven. Exceptionally hot and humid conditions returned to the Bluegrass State this past weekend, along with an overall very dry week. The period began with a cold front pushing through the area on Monday with a few passing showers and storms. High pressure then moved into Kentucky for the next few days bringing dry conditions, low humidity, and unseasonably cool days with highs only topping out in the 70s. Saying that, the cool spell was short lived as winds shifted to the south by the end of the week, opening the door for the warmest temperatures of the year. Highs rose into the low to mid 90s both Saturday and Sunday, along with increasing humidity. This led to the livestock heat stress index moving into the danger category each afternoon and evening. Another round of showers and storms moved through the northern half of Kentucky on Sunday, but just like Monday, coverage was minimal. For the week, the state only averaged 0.07 inches, with most of the state not seeing any rainfall at all. Based on data at the UK Ag Weather Center, this was the driest week of 2016. Conditions finally allowed producers to make strides in planting crops including corn, soybeans and tobacco. Winter wheat harvest for grain was underway. Planting of double crop beans will begin as soon as wheat is removed from fields. Farmers also took advantage of dry weather to cut and bale a significant amount of hay. Herbicides were being applied and fields were side dressed this week. The average height of emerged corn was 24 inches, compared to 23 inches last year. The average height of tobacco in the field was 6 inches, compared to 8 inches last year. Soils are drying rapidly and farmers are hoping for showers as soon as they get caught up on their field work. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 6, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and near normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.18 inches, 0.08 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 25 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.4 out of a possible seven. Similar to the previous period, conditions remained warm and muggy for much of this past week. Temperatures were 4 degrees above normal as highs jumped into the 80s each day, along with lows only dropping into the 60s. A handful of locations even hit the 90-degree mark. High dew points accompanied the warm temperatures, making for a very humid air mass. As showers and storms fired over the second half of the work week and into the weekend, the moist atmosphere allowed for torrential rainfall at times, leading to some short lived flooding for a few locations. Some sites reported seeing more than an inch of rainfall in less than an hour. Overall, the Bluegrass and Eastern Kentucky each saw above normal rainfall, while Western and Central Kentucky were slightly below normal for the week. Planting of crops is still running behind normal due to wet conditions. Primary activities this week included setting tobacco, harvesting hay, and planting corn and soybeans when conditions allowed. Some corn fields were side dressed this week. The average height of emerged corn was 16 inches, compared to 14 inches last year. Weather conditions have not been favorable for harvesting hay in many areas as quality continues to be a concern for some producers. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 31, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and near normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.09 inches, 0.02 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 70 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 63 percent adequate and 34 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 28 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.1 out of a possible seven. After three straight weeks of near to below normal temperatures, Kentucky became situated within a summer-like pattern this past week. High temperatures were in the 80s about each day, with the hottest coming Friday as temperatures peaked in the mid to upper 80s statewide. In addition, Gulf moisture started pushing into Kentucky by Wednesday with muggy conditions sticking around through the end of the period. From mid-week onward, isolated to scattered showers and storms were seen on a near daily basis. The one exception came Thursday as most of the area saw rainfall as a line of storms pushed through the Lower Ohio Valley. Situated within a moist and unstable air mass for much of the period, storms were capable of frequent lightning and torrential rainfall, leading to flash flooding at times. For the week, rainfall totals were drastically different from one side of the state to the other. While Western Kentucky averaged 1.79 inches for the week, Eastern Kentucky only saw an average of 0.61. Primary activities this week included setting tobacco, harvesting hay, and planting corn and soybeans when conditions allowed. Isolated and severe storms left many fields wet with some reports of damage to corn, soybeans, and wheat from hail, wind, and flooding. Sidewall compaction may be an issue later in the season, especially for crops planted in wet fields. Some emerged corn is yellowing and showing signs of stress. Several corn and soybean fields have been or will need to be replanted. The average height of emerged corn was 9 inches, compared to 11 inches last year. Producers cut and wrapped wheat for silage this week. Weather conditions finally allowed for some producers to cut hay and appears to be yielding well. However, quality of hay is declining due to over maturity. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 23, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.61 inches, 0.48 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 58 degrees for the week, 8 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 55 percent adequate and 43 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 31 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 1.8 out of a possible seven. Unseasonably cool and wet conditions remained in place across Kentucky this past week. The Bluegrass State saw a couple more rounds of widespread rainfall with the most significant coming on Friday. Kentucky was situated within a very moist air mass for this event and resulted in much of Central Kentucky seeing moderate to heavy rainfall. Much of this region saw 1 to 2 inches. Overall, the state averaged 1.61 inches for the week, which was nearly a half inch above normal. May is typically the wettest month of the year for Kentucky and May 2016 has been no different. Thus far, the state has averaged 4.87 inches for the month. While the wet pattern remained in place, Kentucky also saw some very cool temperatures for mid-May. A Frost Advisory was even issued for Monday morning as lows dropped into the 30s for many locations. Overall, Kentucky saw a third straight week of near to below normal temperatures. Wet weather persisted this week, causing additional delays for planting activities and hay cutting. Where weather permitted, primary activities this week included limited planting and spraying, with a small amount of hay being harvested. Some producers intending to plant corn are changing to soybeans due to favorable prices and continued wet fields. Corn is yellowing due to saturated soils, denitrification, and leaching. The average height of emerged corn was 6 inches. Excessive rainfall has resulted in the deterioration of hay conditions as many fields are well past their ideal cutting date. Tobacco planting delays have left many plants in need of being transplanted as soon as possible. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 16, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.86 inches, 0.74 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 63 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 35 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 28 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.1 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth saw several rounds of showers and storms throughout this past week, followed by well below normal temperatures over the weekend. While the active pattern started on Monday, the focus was on Tuesday through Thursday as Kentucky became situated within a very unstable air mass. Strong to severe storms were seen each day with most significant coming Tuesday as multiple tornadoes touched down in Western and Central Kentucky. Damaging winds, large hail, and excessive lightning provided additional hazards throughout the week, along with heavy rainfall from time to time. Overall, the state averaged 1.86 inches for the period. Over the past three weeks, the state has averaged 5.20 inches, which is nearly 2 inches above normal. By Thursday, much of the state had been placed under a flash flood watch with already- saturated grounds in place. Behind a passing cold front, attention then turned to a very cool weekend. Partly to mostly cloudy skies and breezy northwest winds led to highs in the upper 50s to middle 60s on Saturday. This was followed by lows Saturday night dropping into the middle 30s to low 40s, roughly 15 to 20 degrees below normal for mid-May. Primary activities this week included limited planting and spraying. Excessive rains and storms this week led to flooding, with standing water in many fields. Some fields will need to be replanted. There were also reports of crop damage due to large hail and strong winds; tornado touchdowns also occurred. Some hay fields lodged due to heavy rain and wind, with poor quality and harvest delays anticipated for first cutting. There were reports of lodging as well as stripe rust in winter wheat. Tobacco plant diseases are of concern due to damp weather conditions. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 2 percent short, 93 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Ten percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 42 percent between 2-4 inches, and 48 percent over 4 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 9, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.72 inches, 0.37 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 58 degrees for the week, 4 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.2 out of a possible seven. An active pattern carried over for a second straight week in Kentucky with multiple rounds of rainfall. Saying that, accumulations were not near as significant compared to the previous week. The state still averaged just under three quarters of an inch with the most falling across Eastern Kentucky. Over the past 14 days, Eastern Kentucky has averaged over 4 inches of rainfall, which is over 2 inches about normal. In response, the US Drought Monitor reduced the area of abnormally dry conditions to roughly 23% of the state, mainly in Southcentral and Southeastern Kentucky, who are still showing some long term deficits. Overall, temperatures for the week averaged below normal for the first time in a month. The coldest period was Wednesday night through Thursday night. Lows each night dropped into the low to middle 40s for much of the state, but a number of locations even dropped into the upper 30s. In between, highs on Thursday only rose into the middle 50s to low 60s, well below normal highs for this time of year in the low to middle 70s. Primary activities this week included planting soybeans and setting tobacco; corn planting has been progressing at a rapid pace. Some farmers are applying fungicides to prevent head scab in wheat as wet and cool weather conditions persist. Wet conditions are also delaying the cutting of alfalfa and wheat hay. There were reports of hail during isolated thunderstorms in the middle of the week, although corn plants are mostly projected to recover from any damage. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 2 percent short, 93 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Nineteen percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 41 percent between 2-4 inches, and 40 percent over 4 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 2, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.62 inches, 1.55 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 67 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.8 out of a possible seven. Exceptionally wet conditions soaked the Bluegrass State this past week as an average over 2.5 inches fell across the Commonwealth. This was over 1.5 inches above normal and broke a three week streak of below normal precipitation. High rainfall totals were the case for nearly the entirety of Kentucky as multiple rounds of showers and storms rolled through the Lower Ohio Valley. On numerous occasions, storms became strong to severe with damaging winds and hail as the main threats. Overall, this past week was the wettest period of 2016. While the wet pattern was the highlight of the period, unseasonably mild temperatures stuck around for yet another week. In fact, seven of the past eight weeks have seen above normal temperatures. Temperatures were highest on Monday and Tuesday as highs jumped into the low to middle 80s. Primary activities this week included planting corn and soybeans. Weather conditions did slow planting progress, with significant rainfall reported in several areas. Wheat is still rated in mostly good condition. The average height of winter wheat was 24 inches, compared to 21 inches last week. Much needed rain did help to improve pasture and hay growth. Alfalfa hay average height was 15 inches, compared to 12 inches last week. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 2 percent short, 93 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Twenty-eight percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 44 percent between 2-4 inches, and 28 percent over 4 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 25, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.58 inches, 0.43 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 64 degrees for the week, 7 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 17 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 15 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.6 out of a possible seven. The latest update to the US Drought Monitor was released this past Thursday with nearly 40% of the state now showing signs of 'Abnormally Dry Conditions'. Most of this area includes East-Central and Southeastern Kentucky, where precipitation has been lacking over the past 30 to 60 days. Looking at this previous week, an upper level disturbance slowly worked across the area over the second half of the work week. While Western Kentucky saw near normal rainfall, totals diminished farther east as Eastern Kentucky only saw an average of 0.42 inches, which was about a half inch below normal. The state has now seen below normal precipitation five of the past six weeks. Accompanying the dry conditions were seasonably mild temperatures. Other than the unsettled end to the work week, the state was under the influence of high pressure. This feature brought the state mostly clear skies with highs rising into the 70s and 80s. Primary activities this week included preparing farm equipment for planting, planting corn and seeding tobacco transplants. Corn planting was in full swing, while soybean planting was just getting underway in many areas. Weather conditions allowed for significant planting progress last week. Canola has bloomed and the crop continues to look good. Wheat is still rated in mostly good condition. The average height of winter wheat was 21 inches, compared to 17 inches last week. Harvest of small grains utilized for hay and silage began in some locations. Dry weather has put pressure on pasture and hay. Producers are need in more rainfall soon to promote growth. Alfalfa hay average height was 12 inches, compared to 8 inches last week. Forty-six percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 34 percent between 2- 4 inches, and 20 percent over 4 inches. Apple freeze damage was reported as 1 percent severe, 7 percent moderate, 26 percent light, with 66 percent experiencing none. Peach freeze damage was reported as 2 percent severe, 8 percent moderate, 22 percent light, with 68 percent experiencing none. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 18, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.47 inches, 0.53 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 58 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 8 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 8 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.6 out of a possible seven. The Bluegrass State saw yet another period with below normal precipitation over this past week. Other than a solid band of showers and a few thunderstorms on Monday, the remainder of the period was mostly dry. Looking back at the past five weeks, four of the five have seen below normal rainfall for the state of Kentucky. Over the past 30 days, the state is on average, 1.62 inches below normal. The dry conditions are even more magnified in Eastern Kentucky where the area is 2.17 inches below normal for the 30 day period. In relation, the US Drought Monitor introduced Abnormally Dry Conditions to portions of Eastern Kentucky and the Southern Bluegrass. While it was a dry week, conditions were favorable for outdoor activities. By the weekend, high pressure at the surface and aloft resulted in clear skies with highs rising into the upper 70s to middle 80s. Primary activities this week included preparing farm equipment for planting, applying fertilizer and burndown applications, planting corn and seeding tobacco transplants. Soils are drying fast due to the warmer temperatures. Portions of eastern Kentucky and southern Bluegrass are dry and in need of rain. Some producers are still feeding livestock hay as dry conditions continue to affect pasture and hay growth. Late freeze has impacted fruit crops, but full extent is unknown at this time. The average height of winter wheat was 17 inches. Wheat winter freeze damage was reported as 1 percent severe, 4 percent moderate, 12 percent light, with 83 percent experiencing none. Alfalfa hay average height was 8 inches. Alfalfa hay freeze damage was reported as 0 percent severe, 5 percent moderate, 20 percent light, with 75 percent experiencing none. Some weevil damage has been reported in Alfalfa due to early infestations. Fifty-four percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 33 percent between 2-4 inches, and 13 percent over 4 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 11, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.42 inches, 0.57 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 48 degrees for the week, 5 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 5 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.3 out of a possible seven. For much of Kentucky, normal high temperatures for first half of April are in the mid to upper 60s, while lows typically drop into the low to mid 40s. Looking at this past week, temperatures were well below normal. In fact, multiple Freeze Warnings were issued by the National Weather Service. The most significant cold spell occurred Friday night through Saturday night. Behind a frontal passage on Friday, an unseasonably cold air mass filtered into the area with lows dipping into the upper 20s to low 30s across much of the state. After only seeing highs on Saturday in the 40s, lows that night dipped back into the 20s across mainly the eastern half of the state. In addition to a rather cool period, conditions were also fairly dry and windy. The state averaged 0.42 inches, which is over half inch below normal for the seven day period. Multiple wind advisories were also issued throughout the period with gusts exceeding 40 mph from time to time. Primary activities this week included preparing farm equipment for planting, applying fertilizer and burndown applications, and seeding tobacco transplants. Cool temperatures last week resulted in planting delays. Limited corn planting took place where conditions allowed, but should progress more rapidly later this week. Pasture growth slowed last week as well due to colder weather. Livestock producers are still feeding hay where necessary and if available. The impact of the cold temperatures late in the week to fruit crops and wheat is unknown at this time. Some damage is expected to fruit crop in some locations. But, there is optimism that temperatures were not cold enough, for long enough to cause widespread damage to wheat. Eighty-two percent of wheat is rated as good to excellent. The average height of winter wheat was 8 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 5, 2016 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.23 inches, 0.22 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 54 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 23 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.1 out of a possible seven. As the calendar turned to April, a typical spring pattern set up across the Lower Ohio Valley. The Bluegrass State saw a warm start to the period with southerly flow bumping readings up into the 70s by midweek, ahead of an approaching low pressure system. This flow pattern helped Kentucky reach a 4th straight week of above normal temperatures. As the system passed through the area, the state saw a couple rounds of widespread showers and storms Wednesday night and Thursday. This ended up being the only significant rainfall event for the week, but the state still averaged 1.23 inches. This was slightly above normal, breaking a two week span of much below normal precipitation. Attention then turned to Saturday as another cold front moved through the area. During the day, winds became very breezy, so much so that a High Wind Warning was issued for portions of Northern Kentucky. While most of the state saw wind gust in excess of 40 mph, portions of Northern Kentucky exceeded 50. Winds slackened later that night, prompting a Freeze Warning across the area. Lows by early Sunday morning dipped into the upper 20s to low 30s. Primary activities this week included preparing farm equipment for planting, applying fertilizer, and seeding tobacco transplants. Some producers have applied burndown applications in preparation for corn and soybean planting. A few producers have begun planting corn. Producers are concerned about the potential for cold temperatures over the next couple of weeks. Wheat winter freeze damage was reported as 1 percent severe, 5 percent moderate, 14 percent light, with 80 percent experiencing none. Alfalfa hay freeze damage was reported as 3 percent moderate, 21 percent light, with 76 percent experiencing none. Cattle and calves obtained approximately 53 percent of feed from pastures, but some hay is being fed. --- Agricultural Situation Report: November 30, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.15 inches, 0.10 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 50 degrees for the week, 6 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.0 out of a possible seven. Many producers have completed their grain harvest. However, there were a few fields remaining to be harvested in some locations. Tobacco stripping continues to progress well. Pastures are holding steady at mostly good to fair condition. Livestock are reported to be in mostly good condition with fall breeding taking place. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. This past work week started off with very cold temperatures carrying over from the previous weekend. The majority of the state woke up to readings in the upper teens to low 20s on Monday morning, roughly 15 to 20 degrees below normal for this time of the year. The good news is that a warming trend then followed through the Thanksgiving holiday. By Thursday, temperatures were peaking in the mid 60s to around 70 behind breezy southerly flow. After a dry week, a cold front slowly worked through the area over the weekend. A plume of moisture led to periods of widespread rainfall. Overall, totals diminished farther east. Western Kentucky averaged over 2 inches of rainfall, while much of the eastern half of the state only saw a little over a half inch. --- Agricultural Situation Report: November 23, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.68 inches, 0.70 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 49 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 10 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 14 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.1 out of a possible seven. Grain harvest is winding down with unharvested corn and soybean fields in need of dry conditions or frozen ground to allow combines to get back in fields. Tobacco stripping is progressing well with some reports of fat stems. Pastures are holding steady at mostly good to fair condition. A couple cold fronts this past week led to above normal precipitation for much of the Bluegrass State, in addition to some of the coldest temperatures of the fall season. After some light rain to start the week, a plume of moisture ahead of a cold front on Wednesday led to widespread light to moderate rainfall across the area. This plume slowly shifted east through the day with totals ranging between 1 and 2 inches for much of Kentucky. After a brief period of dry conditions to end the work week, another cold front pushed through the area on Saturday. This boundary once again sparked scattered to numerous showers across the Bluegrass State. While totals were not as significant, this system sent temperatures plummeting and led to the first snow showers of the season for some areas. Lows on Saturday night dipped into the 20s, while highs on Sunday did not get out of the 30s. --- Agricultural Situation Report: November 16, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.32 inches, 0.53 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 49 degrees for the week, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 16 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.9 out of a possible seven. Grain harvest is winding down in many locations. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, sowing wheat and stripping tobacco when conditions allowed. Pastures are in mostly good to fair condition. Cattle producers continued weaning calves and many have begun feeding hay. As harvest began wrapping up, this past week followed an up and down weather pattern. The start of the period brought a period of light rain Monday and Monday night as an upper level low pressure system passed through the area. Dry conditions then pushed into the region temporarily, before eyes turned to a strong cold front late Wednesday and into Thursday morning. In addition to the Monday system, a couple lines of showers along and ahead of the boundary resulted in a statewide average just under a third of an inch for the week. Ahead of the cold front, temperatures peaked in the 60s on Wednesday. Winds then became gusty behind the front on Thursday and Friday with peak gusts between 25 and 40 mph. Temperatures Friday night dove into the mid 20s to low 30s under mostly clear skies. --- Agricultural Situation Report: November 9, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.59 inches, 0.18 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 60 degrees for the week, 9 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 13 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 19 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.5 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, sowing wheat and stripping tobacco when conditions allowed. Harvest has been slowed in some areas due to wet field conditions. Pasture conditions remained in mostly good condition. Cattle and calves obtained approximately 65 percent of feed from pastures, but some hay is being fed. Normal high temperatures for the start of November are typically in the low to mid 60s across much of Kentucky. Over this past work week, highs bumped into the 70s about each day behind a light southerly flow pattern and mostly sunny skies from time to time. A few locations even jumped into the 80s. The area stayed dry through Thursday, before a cold front worked through the region that night and into Friday. A weakening line of widespread showers and some embedded storms were sparked ahead of the boundary. Rainfall totals were highest along the Ohio River where many saw a half to one inch plus, before diminishing farther to the southeast. Behind the activity, dry and much cooler conditions moved into the area for the weekend. After a warm work week, highs only peaked in the middle 50s to around 60 each day, before falling into the 30s at night. --- Agricultural Situation Report: November 2, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.09 inches, 1.32 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 54 degrees for the week, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 15 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 23 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.5 out of a possible seven. Rain events throughout the week slowed or stopped harvest. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, sowing wheat and stripping tobacco when conditions allowed. Pasture conditions improved due to the rain received. Livestock were rated in mostly good condition. After a fairly dry month, October ended with a wet pattern in place. Through the first half of the work week, the Commonwealth saw multiple rounds of soaking showers ahead of a low pressure system to the south. Activity was widespread at times, with much of the state picking up between 1.5 to 2.5+ inches of rainfall. Dry conditions returned Thursday and Friday, but only temporarily. Numerous to widespread light showers returned by the evening of Halloween and pushed through the state overnight. Many picked up an additional tenth to quarter inch. With the exception of Eastern Kentucky, the majority of the Bluegrass State averaged over two inches for the week, which broke a three week streak of below normal rainfall. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 26, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.33 inches, 0.37 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 59 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 34 percent short, 55 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 34 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.2 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, sowing wheat and stripping tobacco. Most areas are in need of rain to improve pastures and bring tobacco into case for stripping. Moisture would also be beneficial for fall seeded crops. US Drought Monitor shows a little over 14 percent of the state, mainly in Western and West-Central Kentucky, in a Moderate Drought. Below normal rainfall continues to be the trend across the Lower Ohio Valley. The Bluegrass State has now gone three straight weeks of seeing below normal precipitation. Looking back further, seven of the past nine have been below normal. This past period, high pressure kept the area dry and fairly mild through the work week. A cold front then pushed through the area Saturday and into Saturday night with showers becoming widespread at times. When it was all said and done, the state averaged a third of an inch for the week, which is below normal by about the same. The dry conditions have been more noticeable in Western Kentucky where month to date rainfall is approaching two inches below normal. Looking longer term, this area is more than four inches below normal over the past 60 days. In relation, the US Drought Monitor has put a little over 14% of the state, mainly in Western and West-Central Kentucky, in a Moderate Drought. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 19, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.36 inches, 0.35 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 55 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 30 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 31 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.1 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, sowing wheat and stripping tobacco. First widespread frost was received this week. Some producers were feeding hay to their livestock. This past week brought the Commonwealth a couple rounds of rainfall, in addition to the first widespread frost of the young fall season. A cold front pushed through the region Monday evening and into the overnight, producing a solid band of showers and storms. This feature accounted for much of the rainfall this past week. Over the period, the state averaged a little over a third of an inch, which was below normal for a second straight week. A secondary cold front passed through the Ohio Valley on Thursday night with not much in the way of precipitation. The bigger story was the cold temperatures filtering into the area over the weekend. Areas of frost developed both Friday and Saturday nights across the state. The coolest temperatures were seen Saturday night and Sunday morning as the majority of Kentucky dropped below freezing. Many rural locations dropped into the mid to upper 20s, which is around 15 to 20 degrees below normal for this time of year. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 13, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.22 inches, 0.56 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 66 degrees for the week, 6 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 31 percent short, 59 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 31 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.7 out of a possible seven. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 1 percent heavy, 5 percent moderate, 17 percent light, with 77 percent experiencing none. The Commonwealth saw mostly dry and unseasonably warm conditions for much of this last period. High pressure at the surface and aloft kept the Commonwealth dry through at least Thursday. Highs rose into the upper 70s to middle 80s about each day, well above normal for this time of the year. A cold front pushed through the Ohio Valley on Friday, sparking numerous to widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms across much of the area. This was the only significant rainfall event for the week with the state averaging between a tenth and third of an inch. Cooler and drier conditions arrived for the weekend. Skies cleared Saturday night, opening the door for a cool night ahead. Lows dropped into the low to mid 40s for many locations, but some even moved into the upper 30s. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 5, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.82 inches, 1.02 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 62 degrees for the week, 1 degree below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 31 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 30 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.0 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth saw numerous rounds of beneficial rainfall this past week as the state was situated within a rather unsettled pattern. Abundant moisture pushed into the Lower Ohio Valley ahead of an upper level low pressure system by Tuesday, setting the stage for a wet week ahead. Several disturbances kept the chance for rainfall in the forecast through Saturday. The most significant and widespread activity was seen over the midsection of the work week, before showers became confined to mainly the eastern half of the state heading into the weekend. Showers and any accumulations were rather light in nature by Friday and Saturday, with cooler temperatures as the more noticeable impact. Northeast breezy flow combined with overcast skies to keep highs in the 50s both days. The state averaged 1.82 inches of rainfall for the week, which was over an inch above normal. This was the first time the state was an inch above normal for a week since mid-July. South-central Kentucky saw the highest accumulations over the 7 day period, with many locations coming in at 3 to 4+ inches. Much needed rain was received this past week. However, it may have been too late to improve yields for some double crop soybeans. Crops were harvested between rain events where conditions allowed. Pasture conditions improved slightly due to the moisture received. Livestock were rated in mostly good condition. Some producers had begun feeding hay because of dry weather and welcomed the rainfall. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 1 percent heavy, 5 percent moderate, 15 percent light, with 79 percent experiencing none. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 28, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.33 inches, 0.52 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 68 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 17 percent very short, 41 percent short, 40 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 12 percent very short, 38 percent short, 49 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.5 out of a possible seven. The US Drought Monitor upgraded a slight portion of Kentucky to 'Moderate Drought' this past week, while over half remains 'Abnormally dry'. Depending on location, it was either another dry period or beneficial rainfall was finally seen. While it was mostly dry through Thursday, an upper level low pressure system worked into the Lower Ohio Valley on Friday and into the weekend. Showers became widespread at times Friday evening, but it was not a statewide event. Much of the activity was located across mainly the eastern half of the state. This was followed by scattered coverage on Saturday across the same general area, before diminishing that night. According to data at the Ag Weather Center, light to moderate showers led to average totals of 0.39 and 0.71 inches in the Bluegrass and Eastern Kentucky, respectively. Western and central portions of the state missed out on much of the activity and were much below normal for a second straight week. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn, soybeans and tobacco. The Commonwealth remains dry but part of the state received much need rainfall late in the week. Pasture conditions continue to decline due to the dry conditions. Moisture is need to promote germination for fall seeding’s. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 1 percent heavy, 5 percent moderate, 14 percent light, with 80 percent experiencing none. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 21, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.04 inches, 0.79 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 67 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 11 percent very short, 37 percent short, 49 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 9 percent very short, 31 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.7 out of a possible seven. Dry conditions led to excellent harvesting conditions this past week. The Bluegrass State was under the influence of high pressure at the surface and aloft for much of the period. This led to mostly clear skies during the day and at night. Throughout the work week, temperatures saw a slight warming trend as surface high pressure shifted east. Highs increased from the mid 70s to around 80 on Monday, to solidly in the 80s across the state by Friday. A cold front then worked through the region on Saturday, leading to isolated to scattered showers. This was the only rainfall event for the period, leading to another week of below normal rainfall. While this is typically one of the drier times of the year, Kentucky has now seen much below normal rainfall three of the past four weeks. As of this past Thursday, around half of the state is now experiencing 'Abnormally Dry Conditions' according to the latest update of the US Drought Monitor. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, tobacco and harvesting corn for grain. Soybean harvest is underway in some locations. Early corn and soybean yields are reported to be very good. Harvest has also begun on some early soybean fields. Much of the state has experienced below normal rainfall over the past month and late crops are in need of rain, especially soybeans. Pasture conditions have declined due to the dry weather and some livestock producers are now feeding hay. Moisture is need for fall seeding. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 14, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.98 inches, 0.16 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 71 degrees for the week, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 33 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 26 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.8 out of a possible seven. The Bluegrass State underwent a major pattern change this past week. The period started off with above normal temperatures remaining in place. Through Tuesday, southerly flow sent highs into the upper 80s to middle 90s for much of Kentucky, continuing a warm and dry pattern for the beginning of September. That pattern broke on Wednesday as a weak cold front pushed through the region. After a couple weeks of mostly dry conditions, the Commonwealth saw some relief as scattered to numerous showers and storms pushed through the Ohio Valley. An unsettled pattern continued into the first half of the weekend. Overall, the state averaged just under an inch for the week, which is slightly above normal for this time of the year. The period ended with much drier and considerably cooler air in place. Clear skies on Saturday night led to lows ranging from the middle 40s to around 50 for most, which is more typical of mid to late October. Primary activities this week included cutting hay and tobacco and harvesting corn for grain in some locations. Scattered showers were beneficial to crops and pastures. However, some areas did not receive rain and are in need of additional moisture. Early corn yields are reported to be very good. Harvest has also begun on some early soybean fields. Pastures and livestock remain in mostly good condition. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 8, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.09 inches, 0.67 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 33 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 27 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.8 out of a possible seven. Summer made one last stand this past period with hot and humid conditions in place for much of the week. Highs each day were above normal and increasing throughout the period. By the holiday weekend, temperatures were consistently peaking in the low to mid 90s for most. Looking at the week as a whole, the state averaged 90 degrees for highs. Based on preliminary data at the Ag Weather Center, this threshold has not been met since early August of 2012. High pressure also kept the area mostly dry with only isolated to widely scattered coverage about each day. This led to a second straight week of much below normal rainfall. The US Drought Monitor introduced 'Abnormally Dry Conditions' to a little over 13% of the state this past week. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, topping and cutting tobacco. Corn for grain harvest has begun in some locations. Corn is drying down fast due to dry conditions. Most crops are in need of rain, especially soybeans. Soybean conditions declined with seventy-one percent rated as good to excellent compared to seventy-five percent last week. Pastures remain in mostly good condition, but are in decline due to dry weather. Livestock remain in mostly good condition and producers are optimistic about hay supplies. Producers continue to prepare equipment for the upcoming harvest. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 31, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.09 inches, 0.66 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 69 degrees for the week, 6 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 22 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 16 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.6 out of a possible seven. Normally, the month of August brings the Commonwealth warm temperatures and high humidity. August 2015 has been quite the opposite and that didn’t change over the last week of the month. Cool conditions pushed the state to a fourth straight week of below normal temperatures. Behind a strong cold front early on Monday, surface high pressure built into the region for the remainder of the work week. Up until Thursday, afternoon highs were only rising into the mid 70s to low 80s, before dropping into the low to mid 50s at night. In fact, some locations even saw the upper 40s. High pressure kept the area dry with any clouds developing in the afternoon quickly clearing after sunset. In addition, low dewpoints made it feel more like fall. The high shifted east by Friday and into the weekend, leading to both moisture and temperatures on the increase. Within a moderately unstable atmosphere, scattered showers and storms developed each day over the weekend. While that was the case, rainfall was still much below normal for the week with many stations not even recording a trace. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, topping and cutting tobacco. Disease and insect pressure remains a concern for field crops. There were reports of southern rust and gray leaf spot in corn. Most locations are in need of rain as crops are showing signs of stress due to lack of moisture. Soybeans are at a critical stage of development and yields could be hampered if dry conditions continue. Yields are expected to be light for grapes due to the harsh winter. Pastures remain in mostly good condition, but are starting to decline due to dry weather. Housed tobacco is reportedly curing well. Producers continue to prepare equipment for the upcoming harvest. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 24, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.02 inches, 0.17 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.5 out of a possible seven. Behind a rather active first half of the work week, much of the Bluegrass State saw near to above normal rainfall this past period. Most of the activity was seen on Wednesday, ahead of a cold front passing through the Ohio Valley. Multiple rounds were seen throughout the day with rainfall coverage increasing to widespread at times. Precipitation came to an end on Thursday with surface high pressure working into Kentucky. A noticeable change came to end the work week with unseasonably low humidity in place and temperatures only rising into the 70s. Dry conditions held on through Saturday, before the Bluegrass and Eastern Kentucky saw isolated to scattered coverage on Sunday. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, topping and cutting tobacco. Disease and insect pressure continues for field crops. Some locations are in need of rain as crops are showing signs of lack of moisture. Early planted corn is beginning to dry down in some areas. There is some concern over the possibility of weak corn stalks this fall due to growing conditions this year. Pasture conditions remain in mostly good to excellent condition. Producers are getting equipment ready for the upcoming harvest. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 17, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.43 inches, 0.44 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 74 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 7 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.1 out of a possible seven. This past period was mostly dry for much of the Bluegrass State. After a round of scattered showers and storms ahead of a cold front on Monday, high pressure of Canadian origin filtered into the Lower Ohio Valley by mid-week. This feature brought unseasonably cool temperatures and low humidity to the area with highs on Wednesday and Thursday only rising into the upper 70s to mid 80s. These readings would be more typical of mid-September and led the state to a second straight week of slightly below normal temperatures. Showers and storms returned over the weekend, but remained isolated to widely scattered in coverage. Overall, the state was nearly a half inch below normal for the period. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, topping and cutting tobacco and spraying late soybeans for disease and insect control. Some previously flooded fields were finally dry enough to allow for soybean replanting to occur. Crops are experiencing disease and insect pressure, especially in fields that were unable to be treated due to wet conditions. While some tobacco fields are recovering from the wet conditions earlier in the season, overall conditions still reflect signs of stress. Forty-nine percent of tobacco is rated as good to excellent compared to fifty-four percent last week and sixty-nine percent last year. Pasture conditions are holding up well due to the moisture that has been received this year, but growth is beginning to slow due to recent drier weather. Livestock are reportedly in good shape and have benefitted from good pasture conditions. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 10, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.21 inches, 0.27 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 75 degrees for the week, 1 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 5 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 4 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 16 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.6 out of a possible seven. Record July rainfall for the state of Kentucky was followed by an active start to the month of August. The Bluegrass State saw numerous rounds of rainfall through the work week with the most notable coming over the second half. Low pressure slowly made way across the Lower Ohio Valley, leading to repeated waves of precipitation and the threat of more flash flooding. This activity lasted through Thursday night, before dry conditions won out for the weekend. After starting the period with above normal temperatures in place, cloud cover and rainfall brought cooler conditions back to the area. Highs Thursday and Friday only averaged in the mid 70s to low 80s, much below normal for this time of the year. Looking back at July, Kentucky averaged 8.99 inches for the month, which ranks first on the 121 year record going back until 1895. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, topping tobacco and spraying late soybeans for disease and insect control. Tobacco harvest is underway across the state. Excess rainfall has reportedly drowned out some tobacco acreage in low lying areas. Diseases such as target spot and black shank have also taken a toll on some producers as well. Many fields of double crop soybeans are behind normal progress, but single crop beans appear to be at or ahead of normal. Timing of when crops were planted will have an impact on yields as earlier planted crops were impacted less by the abundance of rainfall in late June and July. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 3, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.77 inches, 0.20 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 5 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.4 out of a possible seven. In typical Ohio Valley fashion, Kentucky saw an abrupt change to the weather pattern halfway through this past period. The first half of the work week brought hot and humid conditions, in addition to multiple opportunities for rainfall. Disturbances passed through the state along the periphery of an upper level ridge of high pressure. Storms were capable of torrential rainfall at times as Kentucky was situated within a very moist air mass. The Bluegrass Region and Western Kentucky saw the brunt of the rainfall and actually saw above normal rainfall for the week. Eastern Kentucky missed out on much of the activity and was about three quarters of inch below normal. During this time, highs were peaking in the upper 80s to mid 90s with very muggy conditions in place. Luckily, a cold front passing through the area on Wednesday brought a much different air mass to the region for the second half of the week. Dewpoints dropped to much more comfortable levels, along with temperatures returning to near seasonable norms for the start of August. In addition, surface high pressure kept the area dry. Primary activities this week included cutting hay, topping tobacco and spraying herbicides on late soybeans. Rivers have receded with crop losses varied in low lying areas. Some bottom land acreage experienced total losses due to standing water. Some farmers still plan on replanting double crop soybeans if weather remains dry. There were reports of disease pressure due to wet weather and humid temperatures. Excessive moisture has reportedly impacted some of the tobacco crop. The affected acreage may recover if weather improves, but there is concern that yields and quality could be impacted. Hay supplies should be adequate this year for most farmers, but quality could be lacking due to the impact rains had on the timing of cutting hay as well as getting wet before it could be baled. Some producers were unable to finish first cutting until late July, therefore will not get a second cutting this year. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 2 percent very short, 16 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 27, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky finally experienced a break from heavy rainfalls over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.71 inches, 0.25 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, unchanged from normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 32 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.7 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth saw another couple rounds of rainfall this past week, but overall, much of the state finally got a break from weeks of much above normal precipitation. The state average for the period was 0.71 inches, which was a quarter inch below normal for the week. This broke a five week span of above normal precipitation that extended back into mid-June. Looking at temperatures, it was an up and down pattern through the week. After starting the period on the hot and humid side, a cold front brought a much welcomed break. High temperatures dipped slightly below seasonable norms by Wednesday, but the break was short lived. High pressure at the surface and aloft pushed into the region for the weekend, bumping temperatures back into the middle 80s to low 90s for most. During this time, evapotranspiration estimates across the state were around 0.2 inches of water loss each day. The end of July is normally the warmest time of the year for Kentucky with highs averaging in the middle 80s to around 90. Primary activities this week included cutting hay and topping tobacco where conditions allowed. In most areas of Kentucky farmers were finally able to get back in the field. Crops in areas near the Ohio River continue to remain under water, however. Soybean and tobacco crops have been completely destroyed in a few areas. Some farmers plan on replanting double cropped soybeans up into the beginning of August. Tobacco condition increased slightly with sixty percent rated as good to excellent compared to fifty-eight percent last week. However, target spot and black shank are moving into some tobacco fields. Hay conditions have decreased since last month with sixty- four percent rated as good to excellent compared to seventy-two percent at the end of June. Pasture conditions remain in mostly good to excellent condition. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 20, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.78 inches, 0.78 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 79 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 55 percent adequate and 41 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 30 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.9 out of a possible seven. Depending on location, this past week either brought another round of flooding or dangerously hot and humid conditions. Starting off, the early work week saw numerous rounds of storms pass through mainly the eastern half of the state, which gave way to even more flash flooding. Over the course of the period, the Bluegrass and Eastern Kentucky each saw an average of around two inches. Looking at data from the start of July, these two regions are now over 4 inches above normal for the month. In addition to the rainfall, storms merged into a couple of lines on Monday and Tuesday, leading to widespread damaging winds. While the eastern half of the state saw a very active pattern, Western Kentucky remained more under the influence of an upper level ridge of high pressure. This kept the area dry with little to no rainfall. The influence of this ridge was felt more-so on Friday and into the weekend. While the entire state saw a rise in heat and humidity, it was most noticeable across the western half of the state. Highs rose into the mid 90s and with high dewpoints, the heat index was near 110 at times. This pushed the livestock heat stress index into the emergency category for much of the weekend. Primary activities this week included spraying crops for weeds, cutting hay and topping tobacco where conditions allowed. Field activities continue to be interrupted by rain. Rivers continue to rise and many low lying areas remain under water, affecting corn, soybeans, and sorghum acreage. Corn rust and other diseases are starting to appear. Early planted crops are withstanding the rainfall better than the later crops. Weed pressure in crops remain a concern as many farmers have not been able to get into fields to spray or plow. Corn, soybeans, and tobacco fields with standing water are yellowing and showing signs of stress. Tobacco condition is declining due to excess water, wind damage and disease pressure, with fifty-eight percent rated as good to excellent, compared to sixty-seven percent last week. Pasture conditions remain in mostly good to excellent condition and have benefitted from the continued rainfall. High temperatures and humidity over the weekend pushed the livestock heat stress into the emergency category. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 13, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced near normal temperatures and well above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.45 inches, 1.63 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, which was near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 55 percent adequate and 43 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 30 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.0 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth cannot catch a break. Headlines did not change much this past week as showers and storms continued to push through the Lower Ohio Valley. A combination of frontal boundaries and disturbances aloft led to a very active period with precipitation on a near daily basis. Over the course of the week, the state averaged nearly two and a half inches of rainfall, which resulted in some flash flooding across the Commonwealth. Looking back, three of the past four weeks have averaged over two inches of rainfall. Field activities were once again hampered due to rains throughout the week. The ground is saturated in many areas and some planted crops have been destroyed as fields are under water. Early planted crops look good, but later crops are showing effects of too much water, especially in low lying areas. Some soybeans may not get planted due to wet conditions. Weed pressure in soybeans is a concern as farmers cannot get in fields to spray. Corn and tobacco fields with standing water are yellowing and some root rot has been reported in tobacco. Hay, both alfalfa and other types, are in need of harvesting, but wet conditions continue to prevent any progress. Hay quality continues to deteriorate due to over maturity and getting wet after being cut. Vegetable growers have also been negatively impacted by the heavy rains due to standing water and disease. Pasture conditions have benefitted from all the moisture and grasses have really greened up and showed good growth. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 6, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and much above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.82 inches, 1.83 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 4 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 31 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 5 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.8 out of a possible seven. A very active pattern this past week led to a third straight period of above normal rainfall for the Bluegrass State. For much of the week, Kentucky was situated within a northwest flow aloft, allowing for multiple disturbances to interact with a stalled frontal boundary at the surface. Showers and storms were sparked on a daily basis, becoming widespread at times. The Commonwealth remained rooted in a very moist air mass, which led to efficient rainfall producing storms. By the second half of the work week, grounds were saturated and combined with heavy downpours at times, flash flooding was a possibility. Overall, the state averaged nearly three inches for the week, which was over an inch and a half above normal. The US Drought Monitor has now entirely removed Moderate Drought across the state, with only a slight percentage of abnormally dry conditions remaining. Cloud cover and the active pattern kept temperatures down for the week, breaking a three week span of above normal temperatures. Field activities were hampered due to rains throughout the week. Continued rainfall is delaying second cutting of alfalfa in many areas, resulting in deteriorating quality. Heavy rains caused some flooding last week resulting in reports of damage to tobacco, corn and soybeans in low lying areas. The average height of emerged soybeans was 14 inches, compared to 9 inches last week and 16 inches last year at this time. Cooler temperatures were welcomed by livestock. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 29, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.25 inches, 0.25 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.7 out of a possible seven. Multiple disturbances and frontal boundaries passed through the Bluegrass State this past week, leading to a second straight period of above normal rainfall. In doing so, the US Drought Monitor diminished the coverage of Moderate Drought across the area, down to 11%. The most widespread rainfall came later in the day on Friday and lasting into Saturday as the Commonwealth remained within a moist and unstable air mass. Overall, the state averaged 1.25 inches. Looking at temperatures, it was quite the difference between start to end. Much of the work week saw highs peak in the middle 80s to low 90s across the Lower Ohio Valley. High humidity made it feel more like 100 at times. This helped push the livestock stock heat stress index into the emergency category for the first time this year. Behind the passage of a cold front on Saturday, temperatures took a downward turn. Highs stayed in the middle 70s to low 80s Saturday and Sunday, along with much less humidity. Primary activities this week included planting soybeans and tobacco, harvesting wheat, and baling hay. Some areas of the state are dry while others have received adequate rain from storms and spotty showers. Wheat harvest is in full swing and progressing well. Test weights, as well as yields, are reportedly very good. Later wheat has higher incidence of head scab in some areas. Double crop soybeans are being planted as wheat is harvested. Early soybeans are now starting to bloom. Soybean average height was 9 inches, same as last year. Palmer amaranth being reported in some fields. The average height of tobacco in the field was 17 inches, compared to 12 inches last week and 18 inches last year at this time. Very warm and humid conditions, especially early in the week, resulted in continued heat stress for livestock. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 22, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.36 inches, 1.35 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 79 degrees for the week, 6 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 13 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.7 out of a possible seven. Leading up to this period, dry conditions were becoming more and more evident across the state. In fact, the US Drought Monitor introduced Moderate Drought to just over 34% of the state with last week's update. With lack a rainfall a concern, activity increased dramatically this past period as the state saw a combination of frontal boundaries, disturbances aloft, and even a remnant tropical system pass through the area. Throughout the work week, the state was positioned within a very moist and unstable air mass. Scattered to numerous showers and storms fired on a near daily basis with heavy rainfall, cloud to ground lightning, and gusty winds as the main concerns. Coverage increased Friday and Saturday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Bill took an eastward track through the Lower Ohio Valley. Once again, a moist air mass allowed for torrential rainfall at times. Over the course of the period, the state averaged over two inches, breaking a four week streak of below normal rainfall. Looking at temperatures, it was yet another hot and humid week. Temperatures typically peaked in the mid 80s to low 90s about each day. Combined with lows only dropping down to around 70, the Commonwealth saw a second straight week of above normal temperatures. Some areas have received adequate rainfall, while many others remain dry. Primary activities this week included planting soybeans and tobacco, harvesting wheat, and baling hay. Activities were hampered late in the week due to rain. The average height of emerged corn was 34 inches, compared to 23 inches last week, with eighty percent rated as good to excellent. The early wheat harvest is going well. Test weights, as well as yields, are reportedly very good. The average height of tobacco in the field was 12 inches, compared to 9 inches last week. Very warm and humid conditions are causing stress for livestock. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 15, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.69 inches, 0.35 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, 5 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 18 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 16 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.8 out of a possible seven. The Bluegrass State got an early taste of summer this past week as heat and humidity were both on the rise. An upper level ridge of high pressure began to build into the region over the second half of the work week and remained through the weekend. Highs pushed into the mid 80s to low 90s on a daily basis. By the weekend, dewpoints were in the upper 60s to low 70s, making for a very humid air mass. The combination of high heat and humidity pushed the livestock heat stress index into the danger category each afternoon and early evening. In addition, other than a couple waves of rainfall on Monday, the ridge kept precipitation limited. Coverage remained isolated to scattered each day, leading to a fourth straight week of below normal rainfall. Going a step further, the state has seen below average precipitation seven of the past eight weeks. Primary activities this week included planting soybeans and tobacco. Producers continued side dressing corn and spraying post herbicide applications. Planting progress was hampered early in the week in some areas due to showers, but other locations remain dry and need rain. Soil compaction due to planting corn in wet field conditions is a concern for some producers. The average height of emerged corn was 23 inches, compared to 14 inches last week, with seventy-nine percent rated as good to excellent. Most full season soybeans are planted and double crop plantings will begin as soon as winter wheat is harvested. Winter wheat grain harvest is expected to begin in earnest within the next 1-2 weeks, depending on location. First cutting hay still being made, while some farmers were harvesting their second cutting of alfalfa. The average height of tobacco in the field was 9 inches, compared to 4 inches last week. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 8, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.44 inches, 0.65 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 68 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 13 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.8 out of a possible seven. June 1st signaled the first day of meteorological summer. The period got underway with unseasonably cool conditions in place, but summer heat and humidity made a return by the weekend. An upper level low slowly working across the area kept a consistent cloud deck over much of the area for the first half of the work week. This had quite the impact on high temperatures, especially on Monday and Tuesday, when much of the Bluegrass State stayed in the upper 50s to middle 60s. High pressure worked back into the region by Thursday, clearing skies and bringing back temperatures closer to normal, in the low to mid 80s. Conditions remained dry over the weekend with heat and humidity on the rise. Southwesterly flow bumped temperatures into the upper 80s to low 90s on Sunday, bringing the feel that summer had arrived. Other than some widespread showers on Monday, the remainder of the week remained mostly dry. On average, the state was over a half inch below normal for the period. Primary activities this week included planting corn, soybeans and tobacco. Some re- planting occurred in locations that have received excess rainfall the past few weeks that resulted in drowning out or poor stands. The average height of emerged corn was 14 inches, compared to 11 inches last week, with eighty percent rated as good to excellent. Wheat producers were gearing up for the grain harvest which will begin in the near future. Hay continued to be harvested on farms that had not been able to complete their first cutting. The average height of tobacco in the field was 4 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 1, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.06 inches, 0.05 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 72 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 11 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 10 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.6 out of a possible seven. The last week of May brought the chance of showers and storms on a daily basis. Throughout much of the period, the Commonwealth laid within a moist and unstable air mass. While coverage was often scattered each day, most saw rainfall at some point. The majority of the week saw storms remain below severe limits, but with dewpoints in the 60s, any storms that did develop were efficient rainfall producers. Even though it was a rather active week, the state saw slightly below normal rainfall overall. Five of the past six weeks have now seen below normal rainfall. Temperatures remained elevated through most of the week with highs typically in the low to mid 80s and lows only dropping into the 60s. Primary activities this week included planting corn, soybeans and tobacco, side dressing crops with fertilizer, along with cutting and baling hay as weather allowed. Planting progress was hampered in some areas due to wet conditions, but other locations remain dry and in need of rain. Recent rain and wind caused wheat to lodge in certain areas, especially where growth regulators were not used. The average height of emerged corn was 11 inches, compared to 6 inches last week, with eighty-one percent rated as good to excellent. There are reports of corn yellowing, uneven stands and replanting due to weather issues. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 2 percent very short, 13 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 26, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.34 inches, 0.78 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 64 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 18 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.7 out of a possible seven. Dry conditions continued in many locations. However, planting was on hold in some areas due to rains. The dry month of May continued this past week with below normal rainfall in place. Following the second wettest April on record, month to date rainfall for May is now almost 2 inches below normal. Over the course of this past period, the state averaged 0.34 inches with most of it coming on Monday as a couple disturbances pushed through the Lower Ohio Valley. A cold front passed through the area later that night. This set the stage for a rather cool work week. Behind another weak disturbance, many locations did not see highs get out of the 50s on Thursday. This was around 20 degrees below normal for this time of the year. Later that night, some saw the mercury dip into the 30s. Overall, temperatures were on average 2 degrees below normal for the period, breaking a two week streak of above normal temperatures. Primary activities this week included planting corn, soybeans and tobacco, spraying herbicides as well as cutting and baling hay. Recent winds and rain has caused wheat to lodge in certain areas. There were some reports of germination issues where corn was planted in dry areas a couple of weeks ago. The average height of emerged corn was 6 inches, with eighty-five percent rated as good to excellent. Producers are scouting for army worms. Some locations are very dry and in need of rainfall. Dry pasture conditions in these areas are resulting in hay being fed to cattle. Recent heavy rains in some areas were detrimental to strawberries that were mature. Overall, strawberries were rated in mostly good condition. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 18, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.25 inches, 0.12 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 68 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 18 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.0 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included planting corn, soybeans and tobacco along with cutting and baling hay. The Commonwealth got some much needed rainfall this past period after the first couple weeks of May brought extremely dry conditions. Throughout the period, Kentucky saw several rounds of showers and storms. The first came on Monday as storms fired that afternoon and evening within a moist and unstable air mass. The National Weather Service did report some isolated events of damaging winds. Following a cold front that night, noticeably drier and cooler air filtered into the Ohio Valley for the next few days. Activity then once again picked up over the weekend. The most widespread coverage was seen on Saturday. Just between Friday and Sunday, Western Kentucky averaged 1.79 inches of rainfall. Totals diminished farther east with Eastern Kentucky only averaging a little over a half inch through the three day period. Over the entirety of the week, the state was slightly above normal, breaking a streak of three straight weeks with below normal rainfall. Planting progressed at a rapid pace, at least until the later part of the week. Rains over the weekend caused some lodging in wheat, but eighty percent is still rated as good to excellent. Producers continued harvesting wheat intended for hay or silage. Some locations are very dry and in need of additional moisture. Dry pasture conditions in these areas are resulting in hay being fed to cattle. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Fifteen percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 38 percent between 2-4 inches, and 47 percent over 4 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 11, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced well above normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.14 inches, 0.95 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 71 degrees for the week, 9 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 16 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.5 out of a possible seven. Dry conditions continued to lay claim across the Lower Ohio Valley this past period. Throughout the work week, the state remained under the influence of high pressure at the surface and aloft. Other than a stray shower or storm in the afternoon or evening hours, most remained dry. Coverage slightly increased Friday and into the weekend across Western Kentucky, but did not make much progress eastward. For a second straight week, the Commonwealth was nearly an inch below normal. The month of May is climatologically speaking, the wettest month of the year for Kentucky. In addition, temperatures were more typical of summer throughout the period. Each day saw highs jump into the 80s. A handful of locations even hit the 90 degree mark for the first time this year. On average, high temperatures came in at an average of 84 degrees for the Bluegrass State, which is 10 degrees above normal for this time of the year. Weather conditions allowed farmers to make excellent progress this past week in planting crops. Primary activities this week included planting corn, soybeans and tobacco. Producers were also busy harvesting wheat intended for hay or silage. Grain producers were spraying wheat with fungicides. Farmers were also active cutting and baling hay as conditions were excellent for drying. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Twenty-three percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 41 percent between 2-4 inches, and 36 percent over 4 inches. Many locations could use some rain now as topsoil has dried out rapidly. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 4, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.10 inches, 0.97 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 56 degrees for the week, 4 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 29 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 29 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.2 out of a possible seven. After a very wet April, the Commonwealth finally got a chance to dry out this past period with well below normal rainfall in place. In fact, the state averaged just a tenth of an inch. According to data at the Ag Weather Center, this was the third driest week of 2015 for the Bluegrass State. The only significant chance of rainfall came on Thursday when scattered to numerous showers and a few thunderstorms broke out across the eastern half of the state. Otherwise, the majority of the week was mostly dry with high pressure in the vicinity. Accompanying the dry pattern was cool conditions over the course of the work week. A warming trend setup over the weekend, but it was not enough to keep the state from a second straight week of below normal temperatures. Primary activities this week included spraying and preparing land for planting, planting corn, and cutting alfalfa hay. Corn planting was in full swing in many areas last week. With drier conditions forecasted, excellent progress is expected this week as more land dries out. Soybean planting is just getting underway. The average height of winter wheat was 22 inches, compared to 17 inches last week. Seventy-eight percent of wheat is rated as good to excellent. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Forty-two percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 38 percent between 2-4 inches, and 20 percent over 4 inches. Alfalfa Hay average height was 14 inches, compared to 9 inches last week. Some producers cut hay this past week with good drying weather forecasted. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 27, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.88 inches, 0.14 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 54 degrees for the week, 4 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 47 percent adequate and 53 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 44 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.0 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth cannot catch much of a break this spring season. For the first time since the last week of March, Kentucky saw below normal rainfall. With that in mind, the state did see subfreezing temperatures later in the work week and a round of severe weather on Saturday. The work week started out with a couple cold fronts passing through the area on Monday and Wednesday. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms developed with each round, but didn’t amount to much in the way of accumulations. The bigger story was the very cool temperatures that filtered into the area Wednesday and Thursday nights, bringing with it the threat of frost and subfreezing temperatures. Temperatures fell into the low to mid 30s Wednesday night for some locations, but was outdone Thursday night as high pressure shifted overhead. Clearing skies and a calm wind led to many locations across the eastern half of the state dropping into the upper 20s to low 30s. This was roughly 20 degrees below normal for late April. Attention then turned to severe weather as a warm front hung up across the Commonwealth on Saturday. Storms fired later in the evening within a warm and unstable air mass. Some storms produced very large hail (multiple reports at 2 inches +), damaging winds, and a few tornadoes were also surveyed: EF2 in Edmonson County, EF1 in Adair, and EF0 in Henderson. Through the event, the state averaged just under a half inch. Wet conditions continued to prevent most field activities last week. Corn planting was reported in some areas where conditions allowed. The state is in need of sunshine and dry conditions, which this week’s forecast should deliver, bringing optimism that corn planting will show significant progress. Seventy-nine percent of wheat is rated as good to excellent. Winter wheat began heading in some locations last week. The average height of winter wheat was 17 inches, compared to 13 inches last week. Tobacco transplants in the greenhouse are in need of warm, sunny weather. Fifty-four percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 34 percent between 2-4 inches, and 12 percent over 4 inches. Alfalfa Hay average height was 9 inches, compared to 7 inches last week. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 5 percent very short, 23 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. The peach crop is expected to be minimal this year due to the poor bloom caused by cold conditions earlier this year. While apples were affected by weather conditions as well, the impact is reportedly less severe. Apple freeze damage was reported as 2 percent severe, 14 percent moderate, 37 percent light, with 47 percent experiencing none. Peach freeze damage was reported as 30 percent severe, 21 percent moderate, 18 percent light, with 31 percent experiencing none. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 20, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced much above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.69 inches, 1.70 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 64 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 36 percent adequate and 64 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 50 percent adequate, and 49 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 1.3 out of a possible seven. The rain kept on coming for the Bluegrass State this past period as many continued to inch toward a record breaking April. For the past week, the state averaged over two and a half inches, which made for the third straight week of above normal rainfall. Looking at data from the National Weather Service in Louisville, the cities of Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, and Frankfort are already in the top five for wettest April’s on record. Rainfall was consistent throughout the week with a near daily chance for showers and storms. The only downtime was Friday and Saturday as weak high pressure pushed into the area. Temperature-wise, it was once again another mild week for the Commonwealth, mainly due to cloud cover keeping temperatures elevated at night. Lows typically only dropped into the 50s each day. Normal low temperatures for this time of the year are in the mid to upper 40s. Wet conditions continued as most ground is saturated and many low lying areas are under water. The state is in need of sunshine and dry conditions as field work was limited this week. Primary activities this week included preparing farm equipment for planting, seeding pastures, and seeding tobacco transplants. Farmers are anxious to plant corn as soon as field conditions permit. Many locations are now 2-3 weeks behind schedule and considering switching some acres to soybeans or sorghum. Canola has bloomed and the crop continues to look good. Wheat is still rated in mostly good condition. However, some wheat is showing signs of too much water, especially in low lying areas. Wheat will soon begin to head. Producers will be on the lookout for Fusarium Head Blight which thrives in wet and warm weather. The average height of winter wheat was 13 inches, compared to 7 inches last week. Cloudy days have slowed the development of tobacco transplants in the greenhouse. Sixty-one percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 32 percent between 2-4 inches, and 7 percent over 4 inches. Lush pastures have reduced the need for hay, but livestock producers are supplementing high magnesium mineral to reduce risk of grass tetany. Rainy conditions have promoted good alfalfa hay growth with the average height at 7 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 13, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.61 inches, 0.60 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 63 degrees for the week, 9 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 43 percent adequate and 56 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 38 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 1.8 out of a possible seven. The wet pattern continued for a second straight period as rainfall was seen on a daily basis over this past work week. Multiple disturbances pushed through the Lower Ohio Valley and with plenty of moisture available, any storms that did develop were efficient rainfall producers. Flash flooding was once again a concern for some locations. Some rounds did produce a fair share of severe weather as the state was placed within an unstable air mass. A couple weak tornadoes were seen in Madison County on the 7th, while hail 2 inches in diameter fell on the 8th. The final round pushed through the area on Thursday night and into Friday morning with the passage of a cold front. Over the course of the period, the state average was a bit over an inch and a half. Drier air worked into the area on Friday with the Commonwealth getting a chance to dry out over the weekend with high pressure in place. Looking at temperatures, it was one of the warmest weeks of 2015 thus far. The average state temperature was 9 degrees above normal, mainly due to multiple days with highs in the 70s/80s and lows only dropping into the 50s/60s. Wet conditions continue to prevent most field work as corn planting is 2 weeks behind normal in many locations. Farmers are conducting soil tests to determine fertilizer applications, and applying when conditions allow. Producers are providing livestock access to high magnesium mineral to reduce risk of grass tetany. The peach crop is expected to be minimal this year due to the poor bloom caused by cold conditions. Most canola has bloomed and the crop looks good. Eighty-one percent of wheat is rated as good to excellent. The average height of winter wheat was 7 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 7, 2015 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced excessive rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.80 inches, 1.80 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 54 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 51 percent adequate and 48 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 30 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.6 out of a possible seven. A very active pattern set up across the Lower Ohio Valley for the beginning of April, leading to excessive rainfall for much of the state. In addition, after going much of the winter without any thunderstorms, an unstable atmosphere led to the first of the year for many locations. The main activity occurred over the second half of the work week as a frontal boundary stalled across the area. The state as a whole, averaged just under three inches for the week, but portions of the Bluegrass region received much more. Along the I-64 corridor, many locations received five to more than seven inches of rain over the two day period. Significant flooding was an issue across much of the state as multiple thunderstorms trained over the same region. Over the course of the week, rainfall was above normal by 1.8 inches, breaking a two week run of below normal precipitation. The weekend brought dry conditions, but with cooler temperatures in place. For the first time this year, frost advisories were issued for Saturday night. Primary activities this week included preparing farm equipment for planting, applying fertilizer, and seeding tobacco transplants. Excessive rainfall kept farmers out of the fields and caused some flooding which resulted in crop and livestock losses. Wheat winter freeze damage was reported as 1 percent severe, 4 percent moderate, 15 percent light, with 80 percent experiencing none. Alfalfa hay freeze damage was reported as 2 percent severe, 12 percent moderate, 43 percent light, with 43 percent experiencing none. Cattle and calves obtained approximately 39 percent of feed from pastures, but some hay is being fed. --- Agricultural Situation Report: November 24, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) ***Last Issue of the Year. Publication of the 2015 series will begin about the first week of April.*** Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.05 inches, 0.06 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 35 degrees for the week, 11 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 7 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.2 out of a possible seven. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. A winter-like weather pattern was the highlight of this past period. The work week started off with an early season winter storm as low pressure meandered along the Appalachian Mountains. Record cold air filtered into Kentucky on the backside of the system, transitioning any rain to snow as Monday morning progressed. Snowfall totals were most significant along the Ohio River, where most locations saw 3 to 5 inches. Accumulations then gradually decreased to the southeast. Attention then turned toward the northwest as the Commonwealth got another shot of Arctic air. Lows fell into the teens Monday and Tuesday night. Some locations even dipped into the single digits. Highs on Tuesday were only in the 20s, which was roughly 30 degrees below normal. Wind chills dipped into the single digits for an extended period of time, prompting the livestock cold stress index to fall into the emergency category. Temperatures were finally on the upward swing on Friday and eventually went above normal over the weekend. Widespread rain showers developed on Sunday and helped to end a 4 week span of below normal precipitation as the state averaged slightly more than an inch. Primary activities this week included harvesting crops and stripping tobacco. Recent cold temperatures may impact young wheat depending on the timing of emergence. --- Agricultural Situation Report: November 17, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and below normal precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.29 inches, 0.58 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 38 degrees for the week, 11 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 11 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.1 out of a possible seven. Believe it or not, Arctic air this past week led to the highest below normal deviation in temperatures that the Commonwealth had seen all year. Over the course of the period, the average statewide temperature stood at 38 degrees, which is 11 degrees below normal. The frigid period started after a cold front moved through the area on Tuesday. Behind the boundary, Arctic high pressure proceeded to build into the area over the next few days. Highs only peaked in the 30s for most through Friday. Lows were coolest Friday night as high pressure moved overhead. Clear skies and a calm wind allowed for the mercury to plummet into the upper teens to low 20s. This is around 20 degrees below normal for this time of the year. Attention then turned toward a couple disturbances pushing through the Ohio Valley over the weekend. The first of the two on Saturday night only amounted to a dusting of snow for most. The second was just starting as the period ended with light snow being reported in Western Kentucky. Primary activities this week included stripping tobacco and harvesting crops. Some farmers experienced delays in these activities due to cold and wet conditions. --- Agricultural Situation Report: November 10, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.72 inches, 0.05 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 48 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 8 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 11 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.4 out of a possible seven. Fall transition was in full swing this past period with the Bluegrass State seeing the thermometer rise and dive on numerous occasions. The work week started off fairly mild for early November as surface high pressure was positioned east of the area. Southwesterly flow, breezy at times, pushed highs into the 60s on both Monday and Tuesday. Conditions then went on the decline for the next couple days as a cold front made slow progress across the area. Light to moderate rainfall was widespread in coverage with most locations picking up a half to one inch with the highest amounts across Eastern Kentucky. Surface high pressure moved back into the area for the end of the work week. Highs only topped out in the mid 40s to low 50s on Friday with lows dipping into the upper 20s to mid 30s. The Commonwealth did see the mercury climb once again over the weekend, but it was not enough to deny a third straight week of below normal temperatures. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans. Producers were also sowing wheat and stripping tobacco as conditions allowed. While some producers have finished harvest, wet conditions have delayed harvest and many are behind schedule. Tobacco in high case has prevented some growers from making more progress on stripping. Cattle and calves obtained approximately 73 percent of feed from pastures, but some hay is being fed. --- Agricultural Situation Report: November 3, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced colder weather this past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.65 inches, 0.12 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 50 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 10 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.2 out of a possible seven. It seemed that the Commonwealth saw a glimpse of each season this past period, with the last resulting in the end of the growing season. A warm front pushed north of Kentucky on Monday, pushing temperatures well above normal for the end of October. Breezy southwesterly flow sent highs soaring into the low to middle 80s. Louisville rose to 85 degrees, breaking a record that had stood since 1940. Conditions then took a downhill turn as a cold front pushed through the area on Tuesday, spreading showers across the area. Rainfall totals were below a half inch for much of the state. The one exception came across Eastern Kentucky, where a narrow corridor saw between 1 to 2 inches. After a couple days of typical fall conditions, Kentuckians got a glimpse of winter on Friday and Saturday as another cold front pushed through the Ohio Valley. Behind the boundary, winds became gusty from the northwest, dropping temperatures to around freezing by Saturday morning. Some locations across the eastern half of the state saw some snow, but other than some of the higher elevations, accumulations were minor due to warm ground temperatures. High pressure of Canadian origin then built overhead Saturday night. Clear skies and a calm wind allowed for a killing freeze as the mercury dipped into the low to mid 20s area wide, effectively bringing an end to the growing season. Primary activities this week included planting wheat, harvesting corn and soybeans, and tending to livestock. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 27, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced drier conditions over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.03 inches, 0.67 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 54 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 11 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.8 out of a possible seven. After two straight weeks of much above normal rainfall, the Commonwealth finally got a chance to dry out this past period. The only mentionable precipitation came Monday and Tuesday as a couple weak disturbances passed through the region. Showers were light in nature with the majority of rainfall totals under a tenth of an inch. Starting Wednesday, the Bluegrass State was under the influence of high pressure for most of the remainder of the week. This kept conditions dry with focus turning to temperatures. The coolest readings came Wednesday night and into Thursday morning. Much of Western and Central Kentucky saw lows dip into the low to mid 30s. Cloud cover kept the mercury elevated in Eastern Kentucky. After a cool work week, temperatures became mild for the weekend. Highs rose into the 70s for most. A handful of locations in Western Kentucky reached the lower 80s, well above normal for this time of the year. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans and planting winter wheat as fields finally got a chance to dry out. Seventeen percent of tobacco has been stripped, with 29 percent ready to be stripped and 54 percent not ready for stripping. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 20, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced very rainy conditions over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.05 inches, 1.34 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 59 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 11 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 29 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 15 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 1.9 out of a possible seven. The showers kept on coming this past period as the state averaged over 2 inches for the second straight week. The wet pattern continued as a cold front made slow progression across the Commonwealth Monday and Tuesday. A squall line pushed through the area Monday evening, before diminishing in strength going into the overnight period and Tuesday. Showers were widespread across the area with most picking up between 1 to 3 inches. Scattered to numerous light showers then continued to fall Wednesday and Thursday as an upper level area of low pressure meandered across the region. This just added to an extremely wet first half of October. Over the past 2 weeks, the Commonwealth has averaged over 4 inches of rainfall. This is more than what the state normally sees over the entire month of October. Preliminary data at the Ag Weather Center suggest that the Commonwealth has already cracked the top 20 for the wettest October periods on record. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans and planting winter wheat when conditions allowed. Rainfall has continued to slow harvest and some hail damage was reported on tobacco and corn in the Bluegrass area. Twelve percent of tobacco has been stripped, with 22 percent ready to be stripped and 66 percent not ready for stripping. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 14, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced scattered severe weather over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.23 inches, 1.46 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 61 degrees for the week, 1 degree above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 20 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 23 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.8 out of a possible seven. The second week of October brought one of the more active severe weather periods the Commonwealth has seen in quite some time. An unsettled pattern was setup to begin the work week with multiple upper level disturbances passing through the region. Each wave sparked scattered to numerous showers and storms across the Commonwealth. Supercell thunderstorms developed in some cases, leading to the development of multiple tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds. The most prominent system came Tuesday afternoon and evening with multiple reports of hail at the size of a golf ball and 9 confirmed tornadoes. Conditions temporarily dried out for Wednesday, before the wet pattern continued for much of the remainder of the week. Multiple disturbances overrode a frontal boundary hovering across the area, leading to several rounds of showers and storms. For the week as a whole, the eastern portion of the state came out the winners with over three inches on average. Nonetheless, the state as a whole averaged over 2 inches, which was nearly 1.5 inches above normal. This brought an end to a three week span of below average rainfall across the state. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans and planting winter wheat. Continued rainfall has slowed harvests and some areas of the state reported damage from large hail. A tornado touched down in the northern part of the state which resulted in damage and loss of stored hay and housed tobacco. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 1 percent heavy, 6 percent moderate, 16 percent light, with 77 percent experiencing none. Seven percent of tobacco has been stripped, with 18 percent ready to be stripped and 75 percent not ready for stripping. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 6, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.46 inches, 0.34 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 64 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 10 percent very short, 37 percent short, 49 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 36 percent short, 54 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.1 out of a possible seven. This past period started out on the warm and dry side as surface high pressure was in control. Daytime temperatures were slightly above normal for much of the period with highs in the low to mid 80s Monday through Wednesday. Winds shifted to the south on Thursday, ahead of an approaching cold front. This led to the warmest day of the week with highs typically in the mid to upper 80s. Western Kentucky saw some scattered showers and storms through the day, before coverage became widespread later Thursday night and into Friday. Rainfall totals were around a quarter to half inch for the majority of the state. This was the only significant rainfall event for the week across Kentucky and led to the third week in a row of below normal precipitation. Much cooler air rushed into the area behind the boundary with winds from the west gusting to around 30 mph at times. Highs on Saturday only rose into the 50s for most, before the coolest temperatures of the fall season were felt that night. Much of the Commonwealth fell into the low to mid 30s as skies became mostly clear, prompting a frost advisory across the state. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and some growers were beginning to seed winter wheat. Early planted soybeans are also starting to be harvested. Pasture conditions slightly decreased due to below normal rainfall and late planted soybeans continued to show signs of drought stress. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 1 percent heavy, 5 percent moderate, 16 percent light, with 78 percent experiencing none. Four percent of tobacco has been stripped, with 13 percent ready to be stripped and 83 percent not ready for stripping. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 29, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.00 inches, 0.85 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 64 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 34 percent short, 54 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 32 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.7 out of a possible seven. The start of the autumn season opened with dry and cool conditions in place. Surface high pressure of Canadian origin built into the Ohio Valley to start the work week. Highs on Monday only rose into the upper 60s to low 70s, but the more noticeable difference came later that night. Under clear skies, temperatures plummeted into the low to mid 40s for most of the state. Some low lying and sheltered locations were able to drop into the upper 30s, which was around 15 degrees below normal for this time of the year. A warming trend then ensued for much of the remainder of the week, eventually returning to near normal by the end. The Commonwealth remained under the influence of high pressure with mostly clear skies and a light northeast wind about each day. Other than a few isolated showers across the eastern half of Kentucky on Sunday, most of the region was left completely dry for the week. This was the second straight period of much below normal rainfall, but this is fairly common as the state heads into what is normally the driest time of the year. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn, baling hay, and housing tobacco. Farmers continue to report difficulty finding labor to complete tobacco harvest. Corn and soybeans continue to remain in good condition. Dry weather has allowed farmers to make good progress on their crop harvest. Late planted soybeans are in need of rain and are showing signs of stress. Tobacco houseburn was reported as 1 percent heavy, 5 percent moderate, 16 percent light, with 78 percent experiencing none. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 22, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced mostly dry and cool conditions over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.12 inches, 0.71 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 66 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 21 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 25 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.3 out of a possible seven. Mostly dry and cool conditions took grasp of the Bluegrass State this past period. Surface high pressure was in control for much of the week with the exception of couple days on Monday and Sunday. Saying this, each day only featured light showers. The first event was primarily focused to the eastern half of the state with most locations picking up less than a quarter inch. The frontal passage on Sunday was a bit weaker as Western and Southeastern Kentucky each picked up less than a tenth of an inch on average. Looking at temperatures, much of the period featured highs only rising into the 60s and 70s. The only day when temperatures were near to above normal was on Saturday as southwesterly flow guided the mercury into the low to mid 80s. Dry conditions have returned to the Bluegrass state. Dry weather is negatively impacting pastures and double crop soybeans in some areas. Diseases such as sudden death syndrome, frogeye leaf spot and root rot have been reported in soybeans. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and hay as well as cutting and housing tobacco. Labor shortage remains a concern for many tobacco growers. Harvest of early soybeans is just getting underway. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 15, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.99 inches, 0.15 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 68 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 16 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 24 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.5 out of a possible seven. Fall-like conditions returned to the Ohio Valley this past period, but not before a mild, first half of the work week. Highs typically rose into the low to mid 80s each day with humid conditions remaining in place. The welcoming change came Wednesday night and into Thursday as a cold front pushed through Ohio Valley. This boundary sparked widespread showers across the region and while severe weather was absent, a moist air mass allowed for moderate to heavy rainfall at times. The most significant totals came across North-Central Kentucky and into the Bluegrass with many locations picking up between 1.5 to around 3 inches. Lexington, Louisville, and Frankfort all saw record daily rainfall with more than 2.5 inches at each location. Behind the front, overcast skies kept temperatures on the cool side Friday and Saturday as highs only rose into the mid to upper 60s for much of the state. Cloud cover then began to taper later Saturday as surface high pressure moved into the region. Clear skies Saturday night allowed for a very cool overnight period as the mercury dipped into the 40s across the Commonwealth. Primary activities this week included cutting and housing tobacco and harvesting corn. However, recent rainfall has caused corn moisture to be high and harvesting to proceed slowly. Pastures remain in good condition. Some farmers have reported difficulty in harvesting tobacco due to labor shortages. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 8, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and slightly below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.72 inches, 0.05 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 76 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 20 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 26 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.4 out of a possible seven. Depending on location, the first week of September kept portions of the Commonwealth wet or dry. Attention surrounded two cold fronts that pushed through the region, one on Tuesday and the other on Saturday. Each boundary sparked scattered to numerous, showers and storms across mainly the eastern half of the state. In doing so, while Eastern Kentucky saw above normal rainfall by nearly a half inch, the western half of the state was just the opposite, only averaging a third of an inch for the week. The dry conditions across Western Kentucky were compounded by above normal temperatures for a third straight week. The highest temperatures were recorded on Thursday and Friday as the mercury lifted into the upper 80s to low 90s for most. Saying this, the Bluegrass State finally got some relief on Sunday as cool and dry conditions moved in behind the cold front. This gave the Commonwealth a first look at fall with highs only rising into the mid 70s to low 80s and much less humid conditions. Primary activities this week included harvesting hay and tobacco, chopping silage and harvesting corn for grain. There were reports of army worms in pastures and hay fields in western Kentucky. Hay harvesting has been slowed due to above normal rainfall in eastern Kentucky. Pasture conditions continue to improve. Livestock are in mostly good to excellent condition and are benefitting from recent rains. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 2, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.25 inches, 0.50 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 22 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 28 percent short, 61 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.5 out of a possible seven. Hot, humid, and wet conditions persisted across the Commonwealth for a second straight week. An upper level ridge of high pressure was situated over the area for the first half of the work week. This extended an already drawn-out heat wave from the previous period. Highs repeatedly pushed into the upper 80s to middle 90s each day. Accompanied by dewpoints in the 70s, the livestock heat stress index hovered in the danger to emergency category each afternoon and evening. Focus then turned toward a very active second half of the week. Isolated to scattered storms fired on a daily basis between Wednesday and Friday as a frontal boundary meandered across the state and combined with a moist and unstable air mass. The unsettled pattern then continued into the holiday weekend as the Ohio Valley was placed in a southwesterly flow pattern. Scattered to numerous showers and storms developed within this regime as deep gulf moisture pushed into the region. Over the course of the week, the state averaged 1.25 inches, which pushed Kentucky to a fourth straight week of above normal rainfall. Primary activities this week included harvesting and baling hay and topping and cutting tobacco. Pasture conditions continued to improve with wide coverage of rainfall throughout the state. However, rainfall has been causing delays to late hay harvest and cutting tobacco. Corn harvest has begun, mostly for silage to date. However, some early corn for grain in western Kentucky has also been harvested. With continued warm weather, farmers are expecting the corn harvest to become widespread in the coming weeks. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 25, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.85 inches, 1.01 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 3 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 9 percent very short, 25 percent short, 58 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 9 percent very short, 32 percent short, 54 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.1 out of a possible seven. Intense heat and humid conditions made way back into the Commonwealth this past period. A upper level ridge of high pressure built into the region on Thursday and remained through the weekend, making way for the hottest and most humid conditions of the year. Each day saw highs get into the upper 80s to middle 90s, along with dewpoints rising into the 70s. The hot and humid conditions prompted a Heat Advisory to be issued for much of the western half of the state as the heat index topped 100 degrees over multiple days. Conditions pushed the livestock heat stress index into the danger to emergency category. Accompanying the heat wave was exceptionally high rainfall totals across much of the state. Scattered showers and storms fired on a near daily basis. The very moist and unstable air mass allowed for very efficient rainfall producers and excessive lightning at times. The state averaged nearly 2 inches across the period, which was over an inch above normal. Saying this, the Purchase was spared and dry conditions continue to deepen. Primary activities this week included harvesting hay and topping and cutting tobacco. Scattered rainfall received last week was beneficial to most all crops. Some locations continued to report dry conditions. Producers remain concerned that late planted double crop soybeans may be in danger if there is an early frost. High temperatures and humidity created heat stress conditions for livestock. Recent precipitation has slightly improved hay and pasture conditions. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 18, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.29 inches, 0.43 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 72 degrees for the week, 4 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 13 percent very short, 30 percent short, 51 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 12 percent very short, 35 percent short, 49 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.3 out of a possible seven. The wet and cool pattern continued for the Lower Ohio Valley this past period. Kentucky saw above normal precipitation for the fourth time over the past five weeks with a state average over an inch. Most of the rainfall came over the course of two days. The first event occurred on Monday as a cluster of showers and storms pushed east across the Commonwealth, followed by a trailing cold front. South-central portions of Kentucky came out the winners with much of the region picking up over an inch. The second came over the latter half of the weekend as low pressure slowly meandered across the Ohio Valley. As was the case with both events, Kentucky was situated within a very moist air mass, leading to torrential rainfall at times. Looking at areas suffering from drought stress, most regions saw beneficial rainfall, with the exception of the Purchase. Following the cold front earlier in the week, temperatures remained cool for much of the period. High temperatures typically only rose into the upper 70s to mid 80s, which pushed the state to a seventh straight week of below normal temperatures. Primary activities this week included harvesting hay and topping and cutting tobacco. Rainfall received last week was beneficial to most all crops. However, depending on the stage of corn development, rains may be to late to improve conditions. Some producers are concerned that late planted double crop soybeans may be in danger if there is an early frost. There were reports of stink bugs active in soybeans. Recent precipitation has improved hay and pasture conditions. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 11, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced dry conditions early in the week, but parts of the state received some much needed relief toward the end of the week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.33 inches, 0.41 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 75 degrees for the week, 1 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 18 percent very short, 38 percent short, 41 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 14 percent very short, 40 percent short, 43 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.9 out of a possible seven. Showers and storms pushed into the Bluegrass State this past period and could not have come at a better time. Leading up to this past Thursday, Kentucky started the week on a dry note with surface high pressure situated across the region. Combined with a very dry previous period, the Commonwealth saw moderate drought expand to consume 19% of the state, mainly across the western half of Kentucky. By Thursday, the pattern shifted dramatically. A frontal boundary stalled in the vicinity of the Lower Ohio Valley and remained through the weekend. Most activity remained across Western Kentucky through the remainder of the work week, before shifting east over the weekend. Each day featured scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Storms remained under severe limits, but some were efficient rainfall producers with torrential rainfall at times. One of the most significant cases was over Lexington Sunday morning, when over 2 inches was reported in 1 hour. Over the course of the period, the state was nearly a half inch above normal and temperatures were below normal for the 6th straight week. Primary activities this week included the beginning of tobacco harvest and a continuation of tobacco topping. Rains beginning on Friday were welcomed where received and should prove beneficial to most crops. However, recent precipitation may be a little too late for some corn fields depending on the stage of development. Many cattle herds are on hay, but the rain provided some much needed relief to pastures. Lack of overall rainfall continues to be a concern for many farmers. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 4, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced unusually cool temperatures and dry conditions over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.23 inches, 0.74 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 70 degrees for the week, 6 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 19 percent very short, 38 percent short, 40 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 14 percent very short, 36 percent short, 47 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.3 out of a possible seven. The unusual pattern of cool temperatures and dry conditions continued through the end of July and early August. Normally one of the warmest times of the year, each day this week saw below normal temperatures, both during the day and at night. The coolest temperatures were felt early in the work week as Kentucky was under the influence of a Canadian air mass and northwesterly flow. Most locations only rose into the 70s Monday through Wednesday. Some locations even broke record lows on Monday night. A handful of stations dropped into the upper 40s, which is around 20 degrees below normal for this time of the year. The cool pattern led to the fifth straight week of near to below normal temperatures. Looking at rainfall, it was another dry week across the Commonwealth. The only significant activity was Saturday when showers and storms were isolated to scattered in coverage. The state as a whole averaged under a quarter inch for the week, but the majority came across the eastern half of the state. Western Kentucky was once again spared and resulted in Moderate Drought being introduced to a large section of West-Central Kentucky by the US Drought Monitor. This was the seventh straight week Western Kentucky has seen below normal precipitation. Primary activities this week included harvesting hay, topping tobacco and general farm maintenance. Lack of rainfall continues to be a concern for many farmers as moderate drought conditions expanded to more areas of the state. As a result of the dry weather, crop conditions continue to deteriorate, especially in corn and soybeans. Early planted crops appear to be fairing better than later planted crops. Grain crops are reportedly maturing early and lack of adequate rainfall is causing concern regarding corn kernel fill and soybean pod fill. Some fields of double crop soybeans are showing severe stand problems and in some instances have yet to germinate due to a lack of moisture. There were reports of fall armyworms in corn and stink bugs in soybeans, but not causing major problems at this point. Some livestock producers are feeding hay, which will cut into their winter supplies. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 4 percent very short, 26 percent short, 63 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. The cool temperatures have benefitted livestock. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 28, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced a mix of heat, severe weather, and cool conditions over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.17 inches, 0.21 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 75 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 15 percent very short, 36 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 12 percent very short, 32 percent short, 51 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.9 out of a possible seven. It was a very active week across the Commonwealth this past period with a mix of summer heat, severe weather, and cool conditions. Temperatures were warm to start the week with highs in the upper 80s to middle 90s on Monday and Tuesday. Dewpoints in the upper 60s to low 70s pushed the heat index toward the triple digits. Attention then turned toward a welcoming cold front on Wednesday. After an initial round of scattered showers and storms, cooler and much drier air moved into the Bluegrass State for the second half of the work week. Many locations saw temperatures well below normal, staying in the mid 70s to low 80s. After a warm day Saturday, the rest of the weekend was dominated by an unsettled pattern. A line of storms worked through much of the state late Saturday night, before scattered to numerous storms fired on Sunday. Both were accompanied by isolated reports of damaging winds and large hail. Portions of Lexington saw straight line winds around 95 mph, while one report from Leslie County measured hail at over 4 inches in diameter, nearly the size of a softball. Over the course of the period, much of the state saw significant rainfall in excess of an inch, but the same cannot be said for Western Kentucky where the dry trend continues with a quarter inch on average. This was the second straight week of above normal rainfall after an extended period of dry conditions. Average temperatures were also near to below normal for the fourth straight week. Primary activities this week included spraying soybeans, baling hay, topping tobacco, and general farm maintenance. Rains continue to be scattered, providing improvement in pasture and crop conditions in some areas. However, dry conditions have continued throughout other areas of the state and pasture and crop conditions continue to deteriorate. There were some reports of corn twisting due to lack of adequate rainfall. High winds resulted in corn and tobacco being blown over in a few locations. Some farmers reported soybeans are wilting in the afternoons and a few are replanting double crop soybeans. Pastures continue to deteriorate in areas and more farmers are beginning to feed hay. There were a few reports of disease issues in vegetables. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 21, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced scattered rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.48 inches, 0.49 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 70 degrees for the week, 7 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 13 percent very short, 35 percent short, 47 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 10 percent very short, 33 percent short, 52 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.8 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth finally saw some significant rainfall this past week, along with a glimpse of early fall. A couple frontal boundaries started the work week off on a wet note. Scattered to numerous showers and storms formed along a weakening frontal boundary early Monday, before a stronger cold front moved through the area later that night. Surface high pressure of Canadian origin then pushed into the region for much of the remaining work week. Unseasonable temperatures with low dewpoints invaded the Ohio Valley with highs temperatures only in the 70s about each day. Highs in the upper 70s are normally not seen until late-September. Record lows were broken at many locations on Thursday morning, as temperatures plummeted into the low to mid 50s. Some locations even recorded the mercury dropping into the upper 40s. Showers then redeveloped on Friday, marking the start of extended period of unsettled conditions heading into the weekend. Rainfall was light in nature, but was present for an extended period of time, mostly across the eastern half of the state. Overall, the state was nearly a half inch above normal for the week, which broke a streak of 5 consecutive periods of below normal rainfall. Primary activities this week included spraying soybeans, baling hay, and general farm maintenance. Parts of the state received much needed rainfall this week, providing improvement in pasture and crop conditions. However, some areas still remain dry and pasture and crop conditions continue to deteriorate. Some cattle producers are beginning to feed hay. There were a few reports of black shank problems starting to appear in tobacco. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 14, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced dry conditions over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.38 inches, 0.61 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 11 percent very short, 39 percent short, 45 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 9 percent very short, 34 percent short, 52 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.2 out of a possible seven. Dry conditions continued to control the weather pattern this past week across the Commonwealth. The state averaged under a half inch for the week, which made for the fifth straight period of below normal rainfall. This led to an intensification of drought conditions with the US Drought Monitor now reporting 48% of the state as abnormally dry and a slight portion of Southeastern Kentucky in a Moderate Drought. As high pressure pushed east over the weekend, southerly flow brought scorching heat and humidity back to the region. Highs by Sunday were in the low to mid 90s for much of the Commonwealth along with the heat index around 100 degrees. Louisville even hit a high of 97. Scattered storms developed across the region during the afternoon and evening hours as instability was on the rise and a weak front pushed through the area. Significant rainfall totals of greater than a half inch were limited to locations across East-central Kentucky and north into the Bluegrass. Primary activities this week include spraying soybeans, harvesting wheat, and baling hay. Crop conditions are deteriorating in some areas as dry conditions continue. There were a few reports of corn curling and looking drought stressed. Pastures are drying up and some cattle producers are starting to feed hay. A few producers reported vomitoxin in wheat. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 7, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced dry and cool conditions over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.38 inches, 0.61 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 30 percent short, 58 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 28 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.8 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included planting soybeans and harvesting wheat and hay. The first week of July continued the drier and cooler than normal pattern of past weeks as another dry and cooler week occurred for the Bluegrass state. The week started mild and became below normal on temperatures for the latter half of the week. Those locations in the state with the driest conditions also suffered the least rainfall last week, especially east and south. This was the 4th week with mostly below normal rainfall. Producers are finishing up with the wheat harvest and double crop soybean planting. The average height of emerged soybeans was 17 inches. Most early planted corn looks good, but in some locations the later fields are curling due to lack of moisture. There were reports this week of blank shank and fusarium wilt in a few tobacco fields. Pasture and crop conditions are starting to decline in some areas due to lack of moisture. Farmers were bush hogging fields and performing general maintenance as they finished up planting row crops. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 30, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and near normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.95 inches, 0.05 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 77 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 24 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 23 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.2 out of a possible seven. The closing week of June kept warm temperatures in place across the Commonwealth, along with some beneficial rainfall. Storm coverage was isolated to scattered just about each day of the period within a moist and unstable air mass. Overall, the state averaged just under an inch, which was slightly below normal. This ended up being the third straight period with below normal rainfall and in turn, dry conditions were becoming evident across the Lower Ohio Valley. The latest US Drought Monitor now has nearly 53% of the state as showing signs of being abnormally dry, along with a slight portion of Southeastern Kentucky in a moderate drought. Primary activities this week included harvesting wheat and planting soybeans. Some areas of the state are dry while others have received rain from spotty showers. These conditions have had strong effects on hay and the second cutting. Reports of low quantity and low quality in hay have surfaced. Wheat harvest is in full swing. Yields appear to be good, but vomitoxin is being reported, especially in fields that were not treated. Double crop soybeans are being planted as wheat is harvested. Early soybeans are now starting to bloom. Soybean average height was 10 inches. Tobacco average height was 19 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 23, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.47 inches, 0.54 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 78 degrees for the week, 5 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 20 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 18 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.9 out of a possible seven. The summer season started in full force this past period with warm and humid conditions in place. The majority of the week was controlled by above normal temperatures with highs getting into the upper 80s to low 90s each day. A moist atmosphere with dewpoints in the upper 60s to low 70s helped push the heat index into the mid 90s to around 100 at times. This sent the livestock heat stress index into the danger category about each day during the afternoon and early evening hours. High pressure aloft kept the Commonwealth dry for the first half of the week. This feature then broke down Thursday and allowed for daily, isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms for the remainder of the period. The overall dry nature of the week sent the Bluegrass State to a second straight period of below normal rainfall and the fourth out of the past five weeks. Primary activities this week planting soybeans, harvesting wheat, and cutting hay. Crops are in need of rain in some conditions, as dry conditions persist. Other areas have received adequate moisture. With hay cutting currently under way, reports of reduced and low yields have surfaced. Also, counts of vomitoxin in wheat have been reported. Corn average height was 39 inches. Tobacco average height was 14 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 16, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.80 inches, 0.23 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 70 degrees for the week, 2 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.9 out of a possible seven. The second week of June was met with a return to cooler temperatures and dry conditions deepening across the state. The only significant rainfall event for the period came Tuesday and Wednesday as low pressure pushed from the Southern Plains to the Lower Great Lakes. Strong to severe storms fired along a line late Tuesday and into the overnight with wind damage as the primary threat. Precipitation varied across the state during this event with many seeing less than a half inch. The exception came along East-Central Kentucky and up into the Bluegrass with totals around an inch. The state was mostly dry for much of the remainder of the work week. The latest US Drought Monitor now has a quarter of the state as abnormally dry with even a slight portion of Southeastern Kentucky in the moderate drought category. Low pressure kept clouds in place, which limited daytime highs to the mid 70s to low 80s for much of the week. High pressure of Canadian origin moved into the area to start the weekend. Skies became clear and winds went calm Friday night, allowing for temperatures to drop into the upper 40s for quite a few locations. Primary activities this week included planting soybeans and tobacco. Producers continued side dressing corn and spraying post herbicide applications. There were reports of wind damage and Fusarium head blight in wheat which could impact yields in affected areas. Winter wheat grain harvest is expected to begin in earnest within the next 1-2 weeks, depending on location. Pastures are growing well due to the recent rains and livestock are benefiiting from good conditions. Hay harvest is behind schedule in many areas, resulting in an over mature first cutting. Corn emerged average height was 26 inches. The average height of set tobacco in the field was 10 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 9, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.23 inches, 0.14 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 72 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.1 out of a possible seven. A much more active pattern set up this past week across the Lower Ohio Valley. While data shows the state receiving above normal rainfall, this can be somewhat misleading. Most activity occurred across Western Kentucky, before diminishing farther east. The west averaged over 2.5 inches over the course of the period, while Central Kentucky saw less than a half inch. Much of the action came over the course of a couple storm systems. The first pushed through the area on Wednesday. Scattered, strong to severe storms fired across the entire state. These storms exhibited about every type of severe weather from damaging winds, hail, to tornados. Straight line winds with peak gusts of 95 mph were reported in Western Kentucky, along with a couple weak tornados. Some activity lingered into Thursday, before the Commonwealth became under the influence of high pressure to end the work week. Low pressure then passed north of the state late Saturday and into Sunday. Once again, the main activity was centered across Western Kentucky, before diminishing farther east. Rainfall has been below normal across Eastern Kentucky over each of the past 5 weeks. Portions of this area are now showing abnormally dry conditions. Primary activities this week included planting soybeans and tobacco, hay cutting, fungicide applications, and side dressing corn. A lot of first cutting hay is still standing, resulting in over maturity and decreased quality. Pastures are growing well due to the recent rains. Some areas are getting dry while others have had plenty of moisture. Corn average height was 17 inches. The average height of set tobacco in the field was 7 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 2, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.36 inches, 0.76 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 73 degrees for the week, 5 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.4 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included planting corn, soybeans and tobacco. While the spring season will last another few weeks, weather conditions this past period gave the impression of an early summer. High temperatures over nearly the entire week stayed in the 80s with lows only dropping into the 60s. Some locations even stayed in the 70s at night. The mild temperatures guided the way to a state average of 5 degrees above normal. Looking at rainfall, Kentucky was dominated this past week by a very moist and unstable air mass, more typical of summer. Scattered showers and storms fired about every day during the afternoon and evening hours, before tapering overnight. Localized heavy rainfall was the main threat with the slow moving nature of any storms. The sporadic coverage of the storms amounted to a very dry week across the Commonwealth. The state averaged just over a third of an inch, which was the 4th driest week of 2014 thus far. Farmers were also busy cutting and baling hay as weather permitted. There were some reports of cut worms in corn. Producers continued spraying herbicides on corn and soybean fields and applied nitrogen on corn fields. Corn average height was 9 inches. Hay harvest was delayed in some areas due to rains, resulting in over maturity. Many growers had hay cut on the ground when rains occurred. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 27, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal precipitation and above average temperatures over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.56 inches, 0.55 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 68 degrees for the week, 2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.2 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included planting corn, soybeans and tobacco, as well as harvesting hay. Mostly dry conditions moved back into the Commonwealth this past period. An upper level ridge built into the Ohio Valley to start out the work week with surface high pressure pushing east of the area. This kept skies mostly clear with a breezy southerly wind at times. Summer-like temperatures returned to the area with highs getting into the low to mid 80s Tuesday and Wednesday. Conditions then turned unsettled as a broken line of strong to severe storms pushed through the region later Wednesday and on into Thursday. There were numerous wind and hail reports, with one in particular estimating hail in excess of 1.5 inches in Campbellsville. This was really the only major rainfall event for the week as the state was on average 0.55 inches below normal for the period. High pressure then moved into the Ohio Valley for the holiday weekend. This kept conditions dry with temperatures remaining around normal. Crop planting progress benefitted from warmer and drier conditions. Strong storms hit the state mid-week in some locations resulting in reports of wind and hail damage. Bottom ground has dried out in some areas which allowed for those fields to be planted. Producers continued spraying herbicides on corn and soybean fields and applied nitrogen applications on early planted corn fields. A lot of hay was cut and baled as conditions allowed, with many reports of yields from first cuttings being down from last year. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 19, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.41 inches, 0.28 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 61 degrees for the week, 3 degrees below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.0 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included planting corn, soybeans and tobacco, along with cutting of hay. Crop planting progress was hampered by rain and cool temperatures throughout the week. Bottom land remains too wet to plant in most areas. Wet, cool conditions have impacted emerged grains and hay crops. Crops could benefit from warmer and drier conditions. Some corn ground has been replanted due to flooding. Producers were spraying fungicides on wheat and herbicides on corn and soybean fields. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 4 percent short, 90 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Fourteen percent of tobacco transplants were less than 2 inches in height, with 47 percent between 2-4 inches, and 39 percent over 4 inches. Strawberries bloomed late due to prolonged winter and the freeze in mid- April. Strawberry fruit size was reported as 9 percent below average, 72 percent average, with 19 percent above average. All eyes this past period were focused on a return to cool temperatures and the threat of a late season spring frost. An upper level low then made headway into the Ohio Valley Wednesday and through the remainder of the week with several disturbances rotating around the system. The most prominent event came Wednesday with widespread showers accompanied by some severe weather. Flash flooding and hail around 1 inch were reported on several occasions. An EF2 tornado was even confirmed in Christian County with estimated peak winds of 125 mph. The bigger story was the unseasonably cool temperatures as highs Thursday through Saturday only peaked in the upper 50s to mid 60s. Lows were also well below normal with temperatures dipping into the upper 30s to mid 40s for much of the state Friday and Saturday night. Saying this, some low lying and sheltered locations across the Eastern half of Kentucky got into the mid 30s, bringing patchy frost back into the picture. This frost event occurred at a time when much of Kentucky had less than a 10% chance of seeing another 36 degree reading based on the past 30 years of data. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 12, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced warmer conditions over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.07 inches, 0.02 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 70 degrees for the week, 8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 22 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.0 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included planting corn, soybeans and tobacco, along with cutting of alfalfa and wheat hay. The Commonwealth got an early glimpse of summer this past period. The work week was dominated by dry conditions and temperatures in the low to mid 80s. The warm conditions helped push the Bluegrass State to a week where temperatures were on average 8 degrees above normal. This made it feel more like mid-June at times. Monday even saw the mercury jump into the upper 80s with the city of Louisville recording a temperature of 89 degrees at the airport. The good news was the moisture supply was limited and kept humid conditions out of the picture. It was not until Friday and into the weekend that the weather pattern became more active. Showers and storms fired on multiple occasions with the passage of a couple frontal boundaries and upper level disturbances. Some small hail was reported, with the state averaging just over an inch through the three day period. Crop planting made good progress early in the week, but raining conditions later in the week put a hold on further advancement. The harsh conditions this past winter are expected to impact both the quantity and quality of hay in many locations, especially the first cutting of hay. Thinner stands and shorter height of hay are both contributing factors to expectations of decreased hay yields from last year. Tobacco transplant supplies were reported as 3 percent short, 91 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Eighteen percent of tobacco transplants were under 2 inches, with 53 percent between 2-4 inches, and 29 percent over than 4 inches. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 5, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: The Commonwealth experienced cool, wet weather conditions this past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.62 inches, 1.55 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 60 degrees for the week, 2 degrees cooler than the previous period. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 34 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 25 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.5 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included the cutting of some hay and the spraying and cutting of wheat for forage. Weather conditions hampered planting progress this week. Rain, rain, and more rain. An extremely wet pattern took control of the Commonwealth this past period and resulted in the wettest week of 2014. Looking farther back, this could even be seen as an understatement. The 2.62 inches that the state averaged was the most in nearly two and a half years, going all the way back to early December of 2011. Most of the rain fell over the mid-section of the work week as an upper level low slowly meandered to the northeast. Multiple upper level disturbances sparked numerous rounds of rainfall with some strong to severe activity mixed within. A weak tornado touched down in Fulton County, in addition to multiple reports of funnels clouds in south central Kentucky. After a very unsettled work week, the Commonwealth finally got a chance to dry out over the weekend with milder temperatures in place. Behind mostly sunny skies, highs got into the upper 70s to mid-80s for most of the area on Sunday. One exception was in Western Kentucky where Paducah recorded a high of 88. Grains and Oilseed: As of Sunday, May 4, 39 percent of the corn crop had been planted, compared with 32 percent last year and the five year average of 52. Fifteen percent of the corn crop has emerged, compared with 11 percent last year and the five year average of 34 percent. Soybean planting is in the beginning stages with 2 percent planted, compared to 1 percent last year and the five year average of 8 percent. Six percent of winter wheat has headed compared to 22 percent last year and the five year average of 47 percent. Winter wheat is in mostly good to fair condition with 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 50 percent good and 15 percent excellent. Average height of wheat was 16 inches. Tobacco: Seeded tobacco transplants were reported in mostly good to excellent condition with 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 22 percent excellent. Pasture and Hay: Pasture condition was rated as 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Average height of alfalfa was 15 inches at the end of the week. The projected average date for the first cutting of alfalfa is May 14th. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 28, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: The Commonwealth experienced drier conditions over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.65 inches, 0.39 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 62 degrees for the week, 4 degrees warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.2 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included planting corn and applying fertilizer. Fruit trees along with early set vegetables were adversely impacted by the freeze on April 15. The Commonwealth has now gone 3 straight weeks with seeing below normal precipitation. The state only saw a couple significant rounds of rainfall this previous period with the first coming Thursday night and into Friday. A cold front was dragged through the region with soaking rainfall in place. An upper level disturbance then pushed into Western Kentucky late Sunday, sparking scattered showers and storms across the region. The two events combined for a statewide average of 0.65 inches, which was nearly a half inch below normal. Temperature-wise, after a rather cool previous period, temperatures rebounded to above normal readings for much of the week. This kept a late-season frost out of the picture. Over the course of the period, high temperatures got into the mid 70s to low 80s on multiple occasions. Grains and Oilseed: As of Sunday, April 27, 32 percent of the corn crop had been planted, compared with 23 percent last year and the five year average of 44. Seven percent of the corn crop has emerged, compared with 4 percent last year and the five year average of 22 percent. Soybean planting is in the beginning stages with 1 percent planted, compared to the five year average of 4 percent. One percent of winter wheat has headed compared to 7 percent last year and the five year average of 28 percent. Winter wheat is in mostly good to fair condition with 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 15 percent excellent. Average height of wheat was 13 inches. Tobacco: Seeded tobacco transplants were reported in mostly good to excellent condition with 2 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 66 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. Pasture and Hay: Pasture condition was rated as 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Average height of alfalfa was 9 inches at the end of the week. The projected first cutting of alfalfa is May 14th . Other: Freeze damage to apples was reported on 58 percent of crop with 31 percent rated light, 20 percent moderate, and 7 percent severe. Freeze damage to peaches was reported on 61 percent of crop with 17 percent rated light, 15 percent moderate, and 29 percent severe. Strawberry condition was rated as 2 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Condition of livestock was rated as 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 21, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Snow and below freezing temperatures interrupted work in the Commonwealth at the beginning of the week. However, temperatures increased over the weekend. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.71 inches, 0.28 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 54 degrees, across the state, for the week, 2 degrees cooler than normal and 6 degrees cooler then last period. The highest temperature this week was 81 degrees at the MADISONVILLE 4S weather station, and the lowest temperature was 21 degrees at the PIKEVILLE 13S weather station. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4 out of a possible seven. Soils remain too wet for most fieldwork. Primary activities this week included preparing fields for planting, and applying fertilizer. Winter and spring both made an appearance this past period with even a late season snow event in the mix. A frontal boundary passed across the Commonwealth to start off the work week, making for the only precipitation event for the period. Central portions of the state saw the most with a half to one inch falling in most areas. Breezy northwest flow picked up behind the front with some portions of the Bluegrass and Eastern Kentucky even seeing some snowfall on Tuesday. One inch was recorded at the National Weather Service in Jackson. According to the office, this resulted in the longest snow season on record with a total of 174 days. High pressure then moved overhead that night. Skies cleared and winds slackened, allowing for a widespread freeze across the state. Most got down into the mid to upper 20s, but some sheltered and low lying locations even dove into the low 20s. Kentucky then became under the influence of high pressure for the majority of the time through Sunday. Temperatures rebounded and surpassed seasonal norms over the weekend with most locations getting into the upper 70s to low 80s by Sunday. Crops: Ten percent of the corn crop had been planted, behind last year’s 14 percent and the five-year average of 30 percent. Winter wheat continues to be concentrated in the good to fair condition with 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 15 percent excellent. Winter damage was reported on 40 percent of wheat with 29 percent rated as light, 9 percent moderate, and 2 percent severe. Tobacco: Ninety-two percent of the tobacco transplants had been seeded in comparison to 90 percent last year and the five-year average of 90. Tobacco transplant conditions were rated as 2 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 67 percent good and 18 percent excellent. Pasture and Hay: Pasture condition was reported as 3 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Though, many livestock producers are still feeding their herds hay, the pasture growth in the state is beginning to thrive. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 14, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: The Commonwealth experienced drier conditions over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.45 inches, 0.57 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 60 degrees for the week, 6 degrees warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 59 percent adequate and 40 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.3 out of a possible seven. Soils remain too wet for most fieldwork. Primary activities this week included preparing farm equipment for planting, seeding pastures, applying fertilizer, and seeding tobacco transplants. Twenty-seven percent of apples and 37 percent of peaches were in full bloom. Some producers reported significant winter damage to peaches. The Commonwealth got the chance to dry out this past period as the state saw an average of just under a half inch of rainfall over the course of the week. This activity was spread out over three systems with the brunt coming Monday as surface low pressure pushed through the area. Much more focus was given to the return of warm temperatures. Surface high pressure transitioned to the southeast on Thursday with temperatures rising back into the 70s. After a weak front passed through the state on Friday, skies became mostly sunny for the weekend with some of the warmest temperatures of the year in place. Highs rose well into the 80s on Sunday behind a breezy southwesterly flow pattern. Some locations even got into the upper 80s. This had a great impact on soil temperatures across the Commonwealth with most locations reporting the upper 50s to mid-60s at a 4 inch depth by the end of the day. Crops: As of Sunday, April 13, 4 percent of the corn crop had been planted, behind last year’s 6 percent and the five year average of 17. Farmers expect to plant corn as soon as field conditions permit, and planting could make considerable progress this week. Winter wheat is in mostly good to fair condition with 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Tobacco: As of Sunday, April 13, 76 percent of the tobacco transplants had been seeded compared with 84 percent last year and the five year average of 84. Pasture and Hay: Pasture condition was reported as 4 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. Many operators were still feeding hay and are hoping for rapid forage growth this week as hay supplies are running low in some areas. --- Agricultural Situation Report: April 7, 2014 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: The Commonwealth experienced extremely wet conditions over the past week. Precipitation for the week totaled 2.19 inches, 1.2 inches above normal. Temperatures averaged 56 degrees for the week, 4 degrees warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 50 percent adequate and 49 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 32 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.9 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included securing supplies and preparing farm equipment for planting, applying fertilizer and herbicide to wheat, and plowing for tobacco when the weather permitted. An extremely wet pattern setup across the Lower Ohio Valley this past week, bringing impressive rainfall totals across the area. Most of the activity was concentrated over the second half of the work week as a series of disturbances passed through the Commonwealth. The state averaged 2.19 inches over the course of week, which was over an inch above normal. This was although small in comparison to some areas of North Central and Western Kentucky that saw in excess of 4 to 6 inches. This would actually be more than the normal amount of precipitation seen over the entire month of April. Accompanying the wet conditions were mild temperatures for the work week. Highs got into the 70s numerous times, with some locations even getting into the low 80s. Canadian high pressure then pushed into the area for the weekend with cooler conditions in place. Tobacco: As of Sunday, April 6, 65 percent of the greenhouse and plant bed seedings had been completed compared with 72 percent last year and the five year average of 72. Small Grains and Legumes: Fall seeded wheat was in mostly fair to good condition. Winter damage for wheat was estimated at 39 percent light, 16 percent moderate, and 5 percent severe. Condition of the wheat crop was rated 3 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 46 percent good and 12 percent excellent. Alfalfa freeze damage was reported at 37 percent light, 19 percent moderate, and 3 percent severe. Pasture and Hay: Pasture condition was reported as 5 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Hay and roughage supplies were rated 5 percent very short, 16 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. A number of farms have lost cattle due to the harsh winter. --- Agricultural Situation Report: November 25, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced dry conditions last week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.53 inches, 0.47 in below normal. Temperature for the week averaged 42 degrees, 3 degrees cooler than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.1 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco and seeding winter wheat. Dry conditions returned to the Bluegrass State this past period. Surface high pressure was dominant through the early stages of the work week with clear skies evident on a daily basis. Highs generally stayed in the upper 40s to mid 50s with lows dropping into the upper 20s to low 30s. Clouds then began to increase Wednesday night ahead of an approaching cold front. While rainfall was mostly confined to northern portions of the state later in the day on Thursday, coverage became more widespread on Friday. Rainfall totals ranged mostly between a quarter and half inch across the state. Strong, Arctic high pressure then moved in for the weekend. High temperatures on Saturday only made it into the upper 30s to mid 40s behind breezy northwesterly flow. Many awoke to temperatures in the upper teens to low 20s Sunday morning before only rising into the 30s during the day. This helped push the Bluegrass State to a third straight week of below normal temperatures. Crops: As of Sunday, November 24, 96 percent of the corn crop had been harvested, compared to 100 percent for last year and the five-year average. Eighty-seven percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, compared to 99 percent for last year and the five-year average. Tobacco: Fifty percent of burley tobacco has been stripped, compared to 43 percent last year and 61 percent for the five-year average. Condition of stripped tobacco was rated at 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Other Crops: Winter wheat seeded was reported at 91 percent, compared to 95 percent last year and 94 percent for the five-year average. Fifty-nine percent of the winter wheat crop was reported to be emerged. Condition of winter wheat was rated at 18 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: November 18, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced varied conditions last week including snow, severe weather, and cold and warm temperatures. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.08 inches, 0.19 in above normal. Temperature for the week averaged 46 degrees, 2 degrees cooler than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.7 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco and seeding winter wheat. This past period provided a little bit of everything when it came to weather conditions with snow, severe weather, and both cold and warm temperatures seen throughout the week. An arctic cold front dove through the Commonwealth Monday night and into Tuesday. Precipitation started out as rain, but slowly transitioned to snow through the overnight as temperatures became sub-freezing. Surface high pressure then moved into the area for the midsection of the work week. Most locations struggled to hit 40 on Tuesday before dropping into the upper teens to low 20s that night. After another very cool day on Wednesday, breezy southerly flow started ushering in much warmer air for the remainder of the week. Temperatures by Sunday were hovering in the mid 60s to around 70. An upper level disturbance brought a light rainfall event to the Bluegrass State on Friday, but Sunday had a much more significant impact. A very strong storm system dragged a cold front through the area with damaging winds and even some isolated tornadoes as the primary hazards. Combined with another batch of rainfall earlier in the morning, the Commonwealth averaged just under an inch. Crops: As of Sunday, November 17, 94 percent of the corn crop had been harvested, compared to 100 percent last year and the five-year average of 99 percent. Seventy-eight percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, compared to 95 percent last year and 93 percent for the five-year average. Tobacco: Forty-two percent of burley tobacco has been stripped, compared to 38 percent last year and 47 percent for the five-year average. Condition of stripped tobacco was rated at 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 15 percent excellent. Other Crops: Winter wheat seeded was reported at 78 percent, compared to 90 percent last year and 88 percent for the five-year average. Forty-four percent of the winter wheat crop was reported to be emerged. Condition of winter wheat was reported 25 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: November 12, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced very dry conditions last week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.47 inches, 0.31 in below normal. Temperature for the week averaged 50 degrees, 1 degree cooler than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 8 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.7 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco and seeding winter wheat. Dry conditions were in control across the state for much of this past period. High pressure sitting over southeastern portions of the US kept the Commonwealth warm and dry for the first half of the work week behind breezy southerly flow. Temperatures warmed to around normal by Tuesday with highs in the low to mid 60s. A cold front then swept through the region on Wednesday with winds ahead of the boundary becoming quite breezy. Wind speeds of 20 mph with gusts around 30 were common. The front passed through the region during the afternoon and evening hours with rainfall totals between a quarter and half inch. This ended up being the only rainfall event for the week. Out of the past 10 weeks, this period marked the 7th time the state has seen below normal rainfall. High pressure then moved in for the remainder of the period with clear skies and highs hovering in the 50s. Crops: As of Sunday, November 10, 90 percent of the corn crop had been harvested, compared to 100 percent last year and the five-year average of 97 percent. Sixty-six percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, compared to 90 percent last year and 86 percent for the five-year average. Tobacco: Thirty-five percent of burley tobacco has been stripped, compared to 32 percent last year and 34 percent for the five-year average. Condition of stripped tobacco was rated at 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. Other Crops: Winter wheat seeded was reported at 64 percent, compared to 84 percent last year and 79 percent for the five-year average. Thirty-three percent of the winter wheat crop was reported to be emerged. Condition of winter wheat was reported as 30 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 23 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: November 4, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced very wet and windy conditions last week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.20 inches, 0.43 in above normal. Temperature for the week averaged 56 degrees, 3 degrees warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.1 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and soybeans, stripping tobacco and seeding winter wheat. A strong cold front making its way through the region made for a very wet and windy work week across the Ohio Valley. As low pressure approached the region earlier in the period, a warm front lifting north sparked widespread showers across the area. Temperatures then warmed significantly on Wednesday behind the frontal passage. Breezy southerly flow put highs back into the upper 60s to mid 70s. The front then swept through the region on Halloween and through the overnight. Winds increased drastically ahead of the boundary with wind gusts over 40 mph common across the state. Some severe wind gusts were recorded with even some isolated, weak tornados. Dry conditions then moved briefly into the Bluegrass State for the day Friday before scattered showers once again formed Saturday as an upper level disturbance passed through the eastern half of Kentucky. Overall, the Commonwealth averaged over an inch of rainfall over the course of the week, which is nearly a half inch above normal. This helped push Louisville to the wettest October on record. Crops: As of Sunday, November 3, 83 percent of the corn crop had been harvested, compared to 98 percent last year and the five-year average of 93 percent. Ninety percent of soybeans were considered mature, compared to 99 percent for last year and the five-year average. Fifty-one percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, compared to 81 percent last year and 76 percent for the five-year average. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 34 percent excellent. Tobacco: Twenty-seven percent of burley tobacco has been stripped, compared to 25 percent last year and 26 percent for the five-year average. Condition of housed tobacco was rated at 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 58 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. Condition of stripped tobacco was rated at 3 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 65 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. While tobacco is in mostly good condition, some producers are reporting its weight is lighter than normal. Other Crops: Winter wheat seeded was reported at 50 percent, compared to 73 percent last year and 68 percent for the five-year average. Twenty percent of the winter wheat crop was reported to be emerged. Condition of winter wheat was reported as 1 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 28, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced very cool conditions last week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.14 inches, 0.58 in below normal. Temperature for the week averaged 45 degrees, 10 degrees cooler than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.0 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting corn and harvesting soybeans. Extremely cool conditions gradually settled across the Commonwealth this past week as multiple cold fronts passed through the state. Each front was accompanied by only light showers and resulted in minimal accumulations across the area. Kentucky as a whole only averaged 0.14 inches over the period, which was over a half inch below normal. This made for the third straight week the Bluegrass State has been below average. High temperatures dropped into the mid 40s to low 50s by Wednesday and stayed that way through the end of the work week. The coldest temperatures were felt Friday and Saturday morning as surface high pressure of Arctic origin moved into the Ohio Valley. A combination of skies clearing and winds going calm allowed for the coldest temperatures of the season with lows plummeting into the mid to upper 20s each night. Some locations even dropped into the lower 20s. This was around 20 degrees below normal as lows are normally in the mid 40s at this point in the year. This essentially brought the growing season to an end across the area. For the week, the Bluegrass State was on average 10 degrees below normal, which was the largest below normal deviation since the end of 2010. Breezy southwesterly flow then commenced on Saturday allowing for temperatures to rebound back into the 50s for the remainder of the weekend. Crops: As of Sunday, October 27, all of Kentucky’s corn crop had reached the mature stage. Seventy-six percent of corn has been harvested, compared to 96 percent last year and the five-year average of 89 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 5 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 54 percent excellent. Ninety-one percent of soybeans were reported to be shedding leaves, compared to 99 percent last year and the five-year average of 100 percent. Seventy- six percent of soybeans were considered mature, compared to 92 percent last year and the five-year average of 95 percent. Thirty-eight percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, compared to 68 percent last year and 65 percent for the five-year average. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 8 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 38 percent excellent. Tobacco: Eighteen percent of burley tobacco has been stripped, compared to 18 percent last year and 19 percent for the five-year average. Condition of housed tobacco was rated at 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. Other Crops and Pasture: Winter wheat seeded was reported at 34 percent, compared to 58 percent last year and 54 percent for the five-year average. Eleven percent of the winter wheat crop has emerged. Condition of winter wheat was reported as 1 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 21 percent excellent. Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: October 21, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced rainy conditions last week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.47 inches, 0.24 in below normal. Temperature for the week averaged 56 degrees, 2 degrees cooler than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 16 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.6 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting tobacco, harvesting corn, and harvesting soybeans. Unsettled conditions kept chances of rain in the forecast for much of this past week. The first significant system came over the midsection of the work week with the passage of a slow moving cold front. Light to moderate showers overspread the Commonwealth as the boundary pushed east through the state with most receiving less than a quarter inch. After a brief period of dry weather on Friday, conditions once again became unsettled on Saturday with the passage of yet another cold front and upper level trough across the area. Moisture was limited and resulted in low rainfall totals, but coverage was quite high. Areas across the state averaged just over a tenth of an inch with higher totals across the Bluegrass. Cool high pressure then settled into the lower Ohio Valley Saturday night and into Sunday morning. This brought about the first frost of the season as clear skies and calm winds allowed temperatures to drop into the mid 30s for many locations. Some low lying and sheltered areas even dropped to around freezing. Crops: As of Sunday, October 20, 97 percent of corn reached the mature stage, compared with 100 percent last year and the five-year average of 99 percent. Sixty- five percent of corn has been harvested, compared to 94 percent last year and the five-year average of 84 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 5 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 54 percent excellent. Eighty percent of soybeans were reported to be shedding leaves, compared to 93 percent last year and the five-year average of 97 percent. Sixty-one percent of soybeans were considered mature, compared to 81 percent last year and the five-year average of 84 percent. Twenty-five percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, compared to 52 percent for last year and the five-year average. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 9 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 37 percent excellent. Tobacco: Ninety-seven percent of burley tobacco has been cut, compared to 100 percent for last year and the five-year average. Thirteen percent of burley tobacco has been stripped, compared to 15 percent last year and 13 percent for the five-year average. Ninety-one percent of dark tobacco was cut, compared to 99 percent last year and the five-year average of 100 percent. Condition of housed tobacco was rated at 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 58 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. Other Crops and Pasture: Winter wheat seeded was reported at 22 percent, compared to 37 percent last year and 35 percent for the five-year average. Condition of winter wheat was reported as 2 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Pasture condition was reported as 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. Ninety-three percent of farmers were reported as having adequate hay supply for this winter’s feeding. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 30, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced drier conditions last week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.29 inches, 0.56 in below normal. Temperature for the week averaged 66 degrees, 1 degree warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 25 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 22 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.8 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting tobacco and harvesting corn. Rainfall was below normal by over a half inch for the third week this past month. Surface high pressure kept the Commonwealth dry through Tuesday before low pressure began sweeping through the state that night and into Wednesday. This system brought a round of light scattered showers to mainly the southern half of the state with most getting less than a quarter inch. Skies then cleared Wednesday night with winds becoming calm. This allowed for a rather significant fog event Thursday morning. Some areas in south central Kentucky witnessed some dense fog with visibility limited to under a half mile at times. Focus then turned toward a cold front set to move through the Ohio Valley over the course of Sunday. This system slowly weakened as it moved east with a shield of light rainfall over western portions of the state tapering to only isolated showers to the east. Western portions of the state averaged 0.67 inches over the course of day with all other sections of the state under a tenth of an inch. Crops: As of Sunday, September 29, 97 percent of corn reached the dent stage, compared to 100 percent for last year and the five-year average. Eighty-seven percent of corn reached the mature stage, compared with 98 percent last year and the five- year average of 92 percent. Thirty-six percent of corn has been harvested, compared to 79 percent last year and the five-year average of 56 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 7 percent fair, 43 percent good, and 47 percent excellent. Forty-nine percent of soybeans were reported to be shedding leaves, compared to 70 percent last year and the five-year average of 71 percent. Nineteen percent of soybeans were considered mature, compared to 48 percent last year and the five-year average of 43 percent. Four percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, compared to 24 percent last year and the five-year average of 14 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 31 percent excellent. Tobacco: Eighty-three percent of burley tobacco has been cut, compared to 79 percent last year and 85 percent for the five-year average. Eighty-five percent of dark tobacco was cut, compared to 87 percent last year and the five-year average of 85 percent. Condition of housed tobacco was rated at 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 15 percent excellent. The amount of tobacco ready for stripping was 10 percent while the amount of tobacco already stripped was 2 percent. Other Crops and Pasture: Winter wheat seeded was reported at 3 percent, compared to 6 percent last year and 4 percent for the five-year average. Pasture condition was reported as 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 23, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced cool and wet conditions last week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.57 inches, 0.74 in above normal. Temperature for the week averaged 68 degrees, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 23 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 20 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.4 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting tobacco, preparing equipment for grain harvest, and harvesting corn. Autumn-like temperatures continued across the Bluegrass State this past period, but the passage of a strong cold front made for a particularly wet weekend. The state averaged 1.57 inches over the course of the week, which was the wettest period since early August. Surface high pressure to the north kept the Bluegrass State locked in a dry pattern to start out the work week. Then conditions began to turn unsettled as a mid-level disturbance passed through the state early on Wednesday bringing the first round of rainfall for the week. Rainfall was then scattered in nature through the remainder of the work week, before a cold front passed through the Commonwealth over the first half of the weekend. Extremely moist conditions for this time of the year made for an exceptional rainfall event. Soaking rains led to average rainfall totals over an inch. A narrow corridor extending through central and bluegrass portions of the state received more than 2 inches. Cool temperatures and dry air then descended into the Bluegrass State for the remainder of the weekend. Lows in the mid 40s to around 50 were common Saturday night. Crops: As of Sunday, September 22, 94 percent of corn reached the dent stage, compared to 100 percent last year and the five-year average of 98 percent. Seventy- four percent of corn reached the mature stage, compared with 96 percent last year and the five-year average of 85 percent. Twenty-five percent of corn has been harvested, compared to 69 percent last year and the five-year average of 44 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 7 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 45 percent excellent. The average moisture content of corn being harvested was at 21 percent. Twenty-eight percent of soybeans were reported to be shedding leaves, compared to 58 percent last year and the five-year average of 55 percent. Eight percent of soybeans were considered mature, compared to 33 percent last year and the five-year average of 26 percent. One percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, compared to 13 percent last year and the five-year average of 6 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 30 percent excellent. Farmers reported 59 percent of the soybean crop was safe from frost damage. There were some reports of damage to the soybean crop due to lodging. Tobacco: Seventy-four percent of burley tobacco has been cut, compared to 69 percent last year and 76 percent for the five-year average. Seventy-six percent of dark tobacco was cut, compared to 79 percent last year and the five-year average of 77 percent. Condition of housed tobacco was rated at 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Other: Pasture condition was reported as 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. There were some reports that while hay production has been abundant, the quality is low due to delayed harvest and rain. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 16, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced exceptionally dry conditions again last week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.22 inches, 0.62 in below normal. Temperature for the week averaged 70 degrees, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 28 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 23 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.1 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting tobacco and beginning to harvest corn. The dry trend continued across the lower Ohio Valley as Kentucky remained below normal for the second straight week by a half inch. The period started off with isolated to widely scattered showers and storms in place as weak disturbances passed through the Commonwealth. This activity was accompanied by an unusually warm and humid air mass for this time of the year. Highs in the upper 80s to low 90s with dewpoints in the upper 60s to low 70s put the livestock heat stress index back into the danger category. A cold front then pushed through the area on Thursday. This brought the first autumn-like air mass of the season with much drier conditions present through the remainder of the week, in addition to very cool temperatures. Breezy northerly flow only allowed for highs in the upper 60s to low 70s Friday and Saturday. Some even awoke to temperatures in the low 40s Saturday morning. Crops: As of Sunday, September 15, 97 percent of corn had reached the dough stage, compared to 100 percent last year and the five-year average of 99 percent. Eighty- nine percent of corn reached the dent stage, compared to 99 percent last year and the five-year average of 94 percent. Sixty-three percent of corn reached the mature stage, compared with 92 percent last year and the five-year average of 75 percent. Fourteen percent of corn has been harvested, compared to 58 percent last year and the five-year average of 33 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 7 percent fair, 43 percent good, and 48 percent excellent. Producers who have started harvesting corn reported very good crop conditions and yields. Soybean setting pods reached 95 percent, compared with 100 percent last year and the five-year average of 100 percent. Fifteen percent of soybeans were reported to be dropping leaves, compared to 47 percent last year and the five-year average of 36 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 33 percent excellent. While soybean conditions have been improving, there were a few reports of soybean sudden death syndrome in some areas. Tobacco: Sixty-two percent of burley tobacco has been cut, compared to 59 percent last year and 68 percent for the five-year average. Sixty-six percent of dark tobacco was cut, compared to 67 percent last year and the five-year average of 67 percent. Condition of housed tobacco was rated at 5 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 66 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Nine percent of housed tobacco showed signs of houseburn. Other: Pasture condition was reported as 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. Pasture conditions are continuing to deteriorate due to the lack of rain. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 9, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced exceptionally dry conditions last week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.17 inches, 0.6 in below normal. Temperature for the week averaged 72 degrees, 1 degree cooler than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 20 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 15 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.1 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting tobacco, cutting and baling hay, and preparing for grain harvest. Exceptionally dry conditions overtook Kentucky this past week as the state ended over a half inch below normal. While it was dry, it has to be taken into account that September and October are the state’s driest months of the year. A cold front on Monday brought the only significant rainfall for the period. Most locations only received less than a quarter inch. Much drier and cooler air then filtered into the Ohio Valley by Tuesday with high pressure of Canadian origin sticking around for the remainder of the work week. Highs hovered in the 80s with lows dropping into mainly the mid 50s to low 60s. Patchy fog was evident just about each morning as skies cleared and winds became calm through the overnight. As high pressure moved off to the mid-Atlantic coast by Saturday, winds shifted to the southwest and ushered in a bit warmer air for the weekend. The week then closed with a weak front dropping south from the Great Lakes on Sunday with only light, isolated showers and storms. Crops: As of Sunday, September 8, 92 percent of corn had reached the dough stage, compared to 100 percent last year and the five-year average of 97 percent. Seventy- nine percent of corn reached the dent stage, compared to 96 percent last year and the five-year average of 88 percent. Forty-two percent of corn reached the mature stage, compared with 85 percent last year and the five-year average of 62 percent. Five percent of corn has been harvested, compared to 46 percent last year and the five- year average of 22 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 46 percent excellent. Some producers reported the corn crop is looking very good and that they expect high yields. Soybean setting pods reached 90 percent, compared with 99 percent last year and the five-year average of 97 percent. Six percent of soybeans were reported to be dropping leaves, compared to 34 percent last year and the five-year average of 22 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 33 percent excellent. Tobacco: Ninety percent of Burley tobacco was topped, compared to 96 percent last year and the five-year average of 99 percent. Fifty-four percent of burley tobacco has been cut, compared to 48 percent last year and 56 percent for the five-year average. Fifty-three percent of dark tobacco was cut, compared to 49 percent last year and the five-year average of 55 percent. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. Condition of housed tobacco was rated at 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 65 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Other: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 21 percent excellent. Many farmers were busy cutting and baling hay. Wet conditions this year have been challenging for hay growers. --- Agricultural Situation Report: September 2, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced very hot and humid conditions last week. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.30 inches, 0.56 in above normal. Temperature for the week averaged 78 degrees, 4 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 16 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 15 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.9 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included cutting and housing tobacco and preparing for grain harvest. Very hot and humid conditions took control of the Bluegrass State this past week. Statewide average temperatures were 4 degrees above normal as high temperatures stayed in the upper 80s to low 90s for much of the week. This was the first week since mid-July that the state had an above normal period of temperatures. The livestock heat stress index stayed in the danger to emergency category on nearly a daily basis. While it was hot, the combination of surface high pressure at the surface and aloft, kept the state locked into a mostly dry pattern through the first half of the work week. This ridge then began to break down going into the latter half, allowing for some upper level disturbances to rotate around the periphery into Kentucky. This allowed for isolated to scattered coverage before more pronounced activity Saturday and into the overnight. This led the way in the Commonwealth averaging 1.3 inches over the course of the week, which was over a half inch above normal. Crops: As of Sunday, September 1, 85 percent of corn had reached the dough stage, compared to 99 percent last year and the five-year average of 92 percent. Sixty-six percent of corn reached the dent stage, compared to 92 percent last year and the fiveyear average of 80 percent. Twenty-two percent of corn reached the mature stage, compared with 77 percent last year and the five-year average of 46 percent. One percent of corn has been harvested, compared to 35 percent last year and the five- year average of 12 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 10 percent fair, 43 percent good, and 44 percent excellent. Soybean blooming reached 93 percent complete, compared to 100 percent last year and the five-year average of 100 percent. Soybean setting pods reached 80 percent, compared with 91 percent last year and the five-year average of 91 percent. Two percent of soybeans were reported to be dropping leaves, compared to 21 percent last year and the five-year average of 12 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 31 percent excellent. There were some reports of soybean sudden death syndrome observed last week. Tobacco: Eighty-two percent of Burley tobacco was topped, compared to 81 percent last year and the five-year average of 90 percent. Forty-one percent of burley tobacco has been cut, compared to 32 percent last year and 43 percent for the five-year average. Ninety-five percent of dark tobacco was topped, compared to 100 percent last year and 100 percent for the five-year average. Thirty-five percent of dark tobacco was cut, compared to 37 percent last year and the five-year average of 44 percent. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 4 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Condition of housed tobacco was rated at 4 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 66 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Twentyone percent of respondents reported evidence of houseburn. Other: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 21 percent excellent. Pastures still remain in mostly good to excellent condition, however, field and hay conditions are continuing to decline in locations that have not received as much rain. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 26, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky experienced below average rainfall and warmer temperatures last week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.34 inches, 0.49 in below normal. Temperature for the week averaged 75 degrees, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.4 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included harvesting tobacco and starting to harvest early corn for grain. After a rather cool first half of August, temperatures returned to near normal this week, while rainfall was below normal by nearly a half inch. The work week started off rather quiet, but with skies clearing, winds going calm, and a moist atmosphere, fog formed on each morning. An upper level low pressure system then moved in across the Bluegrass State through the middle section of the work week. This sparked scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon, before coverage increased later in the day on Wednesday. Most activity was limited to the eastern half of the state and was the only significant event of the week. Some of the stronger storms produced localized flooding and small hail. An upper level ridge then began to build into the Ohio Valley for the weekend with high pressure at the surface. This kept conditions dry with temperatures warming slightly into the mid to upper 80s by Sunday. Crops: As of Sunday, August 25, corn milking was rated at 90 percent, compared to 100 percent last year and the five-year average of 97 percent. Seventy-two percent of corn reached the dough stage, compared to 93 percent last year and the fiveyear average of 84 percent. Forty-eight percent of corn reached the dent stage, compared to 86 percent last year and the five-year average of 66 percent. Eight percent of corn reached the mature stage, compared with 66 percent last year and the five-year average of 29 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 9 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 48 percent excellent. Soybean blooming reached 86 percent complete, compared to 99 percent last year and the five- year average of 96 percent. Soybean setting pods reached 66 percent, compared with 86 percent last year and the five-year average of 82 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 36 percent excellent. There were some reports of soybean sudden death syndrome observed last week. Tobacco: Eighty-seven percent of Burley tobacco was blooming, compared to 94 percent last year and 95 percent for the five-year average. Seventy-one percent of Burley tobacco was topped, compared to 69 percent last year and the five-year average of 79 percent. Twenty-seven percent of burley tobacco has been cut, compared to 21 percent last year and 27 percent for the five-year average. Eighty-nine percent of dark tobacco was topped, compared to 99 percent last year and 96 percent for the five-year average. Twenty-one percent of dark tobacco was cut, compared to 21 percent last year and the fiveyear average of 28 percent. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 4 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Other: Pasture condition was reported as 5 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 24 percent excellent. While pastures remain mostly in good to excellent condition, fields were beginning to show signs of stress in a few locations that have not received as much rain. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 19, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: This week consisted of unseasonably cool conditions. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.14 inches, 0.28 in above normal. Temperature for the week averaged 70 degrees, 6 degrees cooler than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 10 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.5 out of a possible seven. Primary activities this week included topping and cutting tobacco and preparing equipment for grain harvest. The middle of August is usually known to be one of the warmest periods of the year, but just like this past month, cool temperatures made this previous week feel more like September. Over the course of the period, the Commonwealth averaged 6 degrees below normal. Highs were typically in the upper 70s with lows dropping into the low 60s. This helped in accounting for the 4th straight week of near to below normal temperatures. The work week started off on the unsettled side as a couple frontal boundaries passed through the state. The eventual departure of a cold front on Tuesday allowed skies to clear as surface high pressure of Canadian origin pushed in from the north. This air mass stayed over the region through Thursday with very dry and cool conditions in place. While highs only rose into the low to mid 70s, the most noticeable difference was during the overnight hours. Clear skies allowed temperatures to plummet into the low to mid 50s. Some locations even dropped into the mid 40s. This was the case in Bath County, when the mercury dropped to 46 early Thursday morning. This reading is nearly 20 degrees below normal for this time of the year. Conditions then become unsettled for the weekend as isolated to scattered showers were the trend as moisture pooled into the area ahead of an area of low pressure. Over the course of the week, most portions of Kentucky with the exception of the Bluegrass saw over an inch of rainfall. Crops: As of Sunday, August 18, corn silking was rated at 96 percent compared to 100 percent last year and the five-year average of 99 percent. Seventy-eight percent of corn reached the milk stage, compared to 99 percent last year and the five-year average of 91 percent. Fifty-four percent of corn reached the dough stage, compared to 86 percent last year and the fiveyear average of 72 percent. Twenty-seven percent of corn reached the dent stage, compared to 76 percent last year and the five-year average of 52 percent. Two percent of corn reached the mature stage, compared with 51 percent last year and the five-year average of 14 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 9 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 47 percent excellent. Soybean blooming reached 79 percent complete, compared to 90 percent last year and the five-year average of 89 percent. Soybean setting pods reached 54 percent, compared with 77 percent last year and the five-year average of 71 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 2 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 34 percent excellent. Tobacco: Eighty-three percent of Burley tobacco was blooming compared to 83 percent last year and 86 percent for the five-year average. Burley was 60 percent topped, compared to 62 percent last year and the five-year average of 67 percent. Fifteen percent of burley tobacco has been cut, compared to 15 percent last year and for the five-year average. Dark tobacco reached 95 percent blooming, behind last year at 99 percent and the five-year average of 98 percent. Eighty percent of dark tobacco was topped compared to 90 percent last year and 86 percent for the five-year average. Five percent of dark tobacco was cut, compared to 13 percent last year and the five- year average of 14 percent. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 4 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Other: Pasture condition was reported as 2 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 24 percent excellent. Livestock were reportedly in good shape and have benefitted from good pasture conditions. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 12, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: This week consisted of extremely humid conditions. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.78 inches, 0.86 in above normal. Temperature for the week averaged 76 degrees, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 8 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.0 out of a possible seven. Unsettled conditions kept the Commonwealth wet for much of this past period as the state remained in a rather unstable and very moist air mass. Over the course of the week, the state averaged over 1.5 inches, which was nearly an inch above normal. The rain started falling on Tuesday in mainly western portions of the state as a complex of showers and storms moved east into Kentucky over the course of the day. This was then followed by a front slowly sagging south into the region for the latter half of the work week and into the weekend. This feature allowed for higher coverage at the statewide level as multiple upper level disturbances rode across this boundary. This resulted in a number of rainfall opportunities across the state during this period. The week then ended with the focus for showers primarily in southern portions of the Commonwealth as the front sagged south and drier air moved in from the north. Crops: As of Sunday, August 11, corn silking was rated at 92 percent compared to 99 percent last year and the five-year average of 96 percent. Sixty-nine percent of corn reached the milk stage, compared to 89 percent last year and the five- year average of 79 percent. Forty percent of corn reached the dough stage, compared to 75 percent last year and the fiveyear average of 56 percent. Fourteen percent of corn reached the dent stage, compared to 61 percent last year and the five-year average of 36 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 9 percent fair, 43 percent good, and 45 percent excellent. Soybean blooming reached 69 percent complete, compared to 84 percent last year and the five-year average of 82 percent. Soybean setting pods reached 42 percent, compared with 66 percent last year and the five-year average of 57 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 2 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 31 percent excellent. Tobacco: Seventy-four percent of Burley tobacco was blooming compared to 73 percent last year and 72 percent for the five-year average. Burley was 47 percent topped, compared to 47 last year and the five-year average of 51 percent. Six percent of burley tobacco has been cut, compared to 5 percent last year and the five-year average. Dark tobacco reached 89 percent blooming, behind last year at 94 percent and the five-year average of 93 percent. Seventy-two percent of dark tobacco was topped compared to 81 percent last year and 76 percent for the five-year average. Two percent of dark tobacco was cut, compared to 4 percent last year and the five-year average. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 5 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Pasture: Pasture condition was reported as 3 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 26 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: August 5, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: This week consisted of unseasonably cool conditions. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.56 inches, 0.41 in below normal. Temperature for the week averaged 71 degrees, 6 degrees cooler than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.3 out of a possible seven. Dry, cool, and comfortable conditions were the dominant factors over much of this past period. Surface high pressure was in control to begin the work week with dry conditions and temperatures hovering in the upper 70s to low 80s. This feature then moved on to the east through the day Tuesday allowing for a minor rainfall event to unfold later that night and into Wednesday. Scattered to widespread, light to moderate showers only allowed for most locations to pick up less than a tenth of an inch. Dense cloud cover kept temperatures in the upper 70s through Wednesday. Another area of weak high pressure moved into the Ohio Valley to close the week before a cold front dropped across the region on Saturday. This brought another round of scattered showers and isolated storms to the region, but once again, rainfall totals were meager with most recording less than a tenth of an inch. Overall, rainfall for the week was below normal by nearly a half inch. This made for the 3rd week out of the past month that has been below normal. In addition, high temperatures in the upper 70s to around 80 and lows dropping into the low 60s paved the way for temperatures to average 6 degrees below normal for the week. This was the highest below normal deviation since the end of March. Crops: As of Sunday, July 28, corn silking was rated at 69 percent compared to 91 percent last year and the five year average of 81 percent. Twenty-six percent of corn reached the milk stage, compared to 71 percent last year and the five year average of 51 percent. Eight percent of corn reached the dough stage, compared to 49 percent last year and the five year average of 28 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 8 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 36 percent excellent. Soybean blooming reached 41 percent complete, compared to 69 percent last year and the five year average of 61 percent. Soybean setting pods reached 16 percent, compared with 41 percent last year and the five year average of 26 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 2 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 24 percent excellent. Tobacco: Forty-seven percent of Burley tobacco was blooming compared to 50 percent last year and 44 percent for the five year average. Burley was 21 percent topped compared to 22 percent last year and the five year average of 21 percent. Dark tobacco had 66 percent blooming, behind last year at 75 percent and the five year average of 71 percent. Forty percent of dark tobacco was topped compared to 48 percent last year and 46 percent for the five year average. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 5 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Pasture: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 24 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 29, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: This week consisted of unseasonably cool conditions. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.09 inches, 0.12 inches above normal for this point in the season. Temperature for the week averaged 72 degrees, 4 degrees cooler than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 2 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.0 out of a possible seven. An unseasonably cool pattern was the highlight of this past week as temperatures across the Bluegrass State were on average 4 degrees below normal. A cold front approached the state Tuesday night and sparked isolated to scattered thunderstorms across the state. As this feature passed through the Commonwealth on Wednesday, high pressure of Canadian origin settled across the state. Cool and dry conditions overspread the Ohio Valley for the remainder of the work week with temperatures mainly in the upper 70s to low 80s and dew points dropping into the 50s. The weekend started off with another cold front passing through the Commonwealth. Moisture was meager with this system and only light accumulations were observed. More than anything, this front acted to reinforce dry and cooler air across the state. Highs over the weekend stayed mainly in the mid 70s to around 80 with lows dropping into the 50s Saturday night. Some locations in west-central portions of Kentucky even dropped into the upper 40s. Overall, this is normally the state’s warmest period of the year, but cool conditions made it feel more like September. Crops: As of Sunday, July 28, corn silking was rated at 69 percent compared to 91 percent last year and the five year average of 81 percent. Twenty-sex percent of corn reached the milk stage, compared to 71 percent last year and the five year average of 51 percent. Eight percent of corn reached the dough stage, compared to 49 percent last year and the five year average of 28 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 8 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 36 percent excellent. Soybean blooming reached 41 percent complete, compared to 69 percent last year and the five year average of 61 percent. Soybean setting pods reached 16 percent, compared with 41 percent last year and the five year average of 26 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 2 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 24 percent excellent. Tobacco: Forty-seven percent of Burley tobacco was blooming compared to 50 percent last year and 44 percent for the five year average. Burley was 21 percent topped compared to 22 percent last year and the five year average of 21 percent. Dark tobacco had 66 percent blooming, behind last year at 75 percent and the five year average of 71 percent. Forty percent of dark tobacco was topped compared to 48 percent last year and 46 percent for the five year average. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 5 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Pasture: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 24 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 22, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: This week consisted of exceptionally hot and humid conditions. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.62 inches, 0.36 inches below normal for this point in the season. Temperature for the week averaged 80 degrees, 3 degrees warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 24 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.0 out of a possible seven. Exceptionally hot and humid conditions dominated the Bluegrass State this past week as an upper level ridge of high pressure built into the region. This pattern brought the first heat wave of the summer, whereas on many days throughout the week temperatures peaked in the upper 80s to low 90s with dew points in the low 70s. Many locations even had highs in the mid 90s. These warm and moist conditions led to the heat index rising into the upper 90s to around 100 and the livestock heat stress index in the danger category for much of the week. Conditions remained rather dry throughout the period with Kentucky only seeing an average of just over a half inch. This made for the state’s second straight week with below normal rainfall. Most activity was focused toward the afternoon and evening periods when the atmosphere was most unstable with storms remaining isolated to scattered in coverage. This held true even into the weekend as the ridge broke down and a slow moving cold front worked into northern portions of the state. Crops: As of Sunday, July 21, the corn crop was 70 percent tasseled, trailing both last year at 99 percent and the five year average of 75 percent. Corn silking was rated at 50 percent compared to 86 percent last year and the five year average of 71 percent. Eight percent of corn reached the milk stage, compared to 59 percent last year and the five year average of 36 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 10 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 33 percent excellent. Soybean blooming reached 25 percent complete, compared to 61 percent last year and the five year average of 48 percent. Soybean setting pods reach 5 percent, compared with 29 percent last year and the five year average of 16 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 22 percent excellent. Tobacco: Thirty-two percent of Burley tobacco was blooming compared to 36 percent last year and 29 percent for the five year average. Burley was 12 percent topped compared to 13 percent last year and the five year average of 12 percent. Dark tobacco had 53 percent blooming, behind last year at 66 percent and the five year average of 55 percent. Twenty-seven percent of dark tobacco was topped compared to 31 percent last year and 29 percent for the five year average. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 5 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Pasture: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 26 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 15, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: This week consisted of drier conditions with rainfall totals at nearly half an inch below normal. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.54 inches, 0.45 inches below normal for this point in the season. Temperature for the week averaged 76 degrees, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 55 percent adequate and 41 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 2 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 37 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.3 out of a possible seven. The Commonwealth finally got the opportunity to dry out this past period as rainfall totals were nearly a half inch below normal. This marked the first time since the early stages of June that the state had a week of below average precipitation. The period started off with high pressure off the east coast pumping warm, humid air from the Gulf. Temperatures reached around 90 in many locations with dew points in the low 70s through the early portions of the work week. This pushed the livestock heat stress index into the danger category each day. Wednesday brought the only significant rainfall event for the week as strong to severe storms fired ahead of a cold front passing through the area. South central Kentucky saw the highest totals with amounts over a half inch common. Drier and cooler air filtered into the lower Ohio Valley by Thursday night. Lows were well below normal with readings dropping into the upper 50s to low 60s statewide. The weekend brought another period of unsettled weather as an unusual upper level low moved west across the area. This acted to spark another round of isolated to scattered thunderstorms. Crops: As of Sunday, July 14, the corn crop was 56 percent tasseled, trailing both last year at 89 percent and the five year average of 62 percent. Corn silking was rated at 37 percent compared to 75 percent last year and the five year average of 55 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 2 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 35 percent excellent. The soybean crop was 93 percent emerged compared to 100 percent last year and the five year average of 99 percent. Soybean blooming was 11 percent complete, compared to 50 percent last year and the five year average of 34 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 2 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 25 percent excellent. Tobacco: Nineteen percent of Burley tobacco was blooming compared to 26 percent last year and 17 percent for the five year average. Burley was 5 percent topped compared to 5 percent last year and the five year average of 3 percent. Dark tobacco had 32 percent blooming, behind last year at 56 percent and the five year average of 37 percent. Five percent of dark tobacco was topped compared to 13 percent last year and 8 percent for the five year average. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 4 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Reports of damage due to excess moisture in fields continue throughout the state. Small Grains: As of July 14, 93 percent of the winter wheat crop had been harvested compared to 100 percent last year and the five year average of 99 percent. Pasture: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 24 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 8, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Exceptionally wet conditions throughout the state hampered field activity for most of the week. Precipitation for the week totaled 3.55 inches, 2.56 inches above normal for this point in the season. Temperature for the week averaged 72 degrees, 4 degrees cooler than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 44 percent adequate and 56 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 56 percent adequate, and 44 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2.0 out of a possible seven. Exceptionally wet conditions were in place across the Bluegrass State for the second straight week. Kentucky was wedged between an upper level low pressure system to the west and a Bermuda high to the east for much of the period. This placed the state in a southerly flow pattern with an abundant amount of moisture pushing north from the Gulf of Mexico. Showers were scattered in coverage to start the work week before becoming more widespread by the 4th of July. This put a damper on most activities across mainly central and Bluegrass portions of the state as areas received anywhere from 1 to around 3 inches of steady light to moderate rainfall. Widespread showers continued into the early part of the weekend before becoming mostly dry on Sunday. Over the course of the week, the Bluegrass State averaged over 3.5 inches of rainfall, which is over 2.5 inches above normal. Putting this into perspective, Kentucky normally only sees 4.5 inches for the entire month of July. This was the wettest week since mid-April of 2011. Dense cloud cover accompanied the rainfall for much of the week and in turn, temperatures were well below normal. High temperatures hovered in the upper 70s to low 80s, which were on average, 8 degrees below normal. The state has not seen a deviation of this magnitude since the end of March. Crops: As of Sunday, July 7, the corn crop was 34 percent tasseled, trailing both last year at 81 percent and the five year average of 49 percent. Corn silking was rated at 16 percent compared to 63 percent last year and the five year average of 38 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 32 percent excellent. Soybean planting reached 95 percent complete which trails last year at 100 percent and the five year average of 100 percent. The soybean crop was 83 percent emerged compared to 100 percent last year and the five year average of 95 percent. Soybean blooming was 4 percent complete, compared to 35 percent last year and the five year average of 21 percent. Average soybean height for the state was 11 inches. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 23 percent excellent. Tobacco: Nine percent of Burley tobacco was blooming compared to 17 percent last year and 7 percent for the five year average. Dark tobacco had 12 percent blooming, behind last year at 45 percent and the five year average of 15 percent. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. Damage to the tobacco crop due to heavy rainfall was reported throughout the state. Small Grains: As of July 7, 84 percent of the winter wheat crop had been harvested compared to 100 percent last year and the five year average of 95 percent. Pasture: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 23 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: July 1, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Issued 4:00 P.M., July 1, 2013 14-13 Agricultural News: Weather for the past week consisted of higher than normal rainfall. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.91 inches, 0.92 inches above normal for this point in the season. Temperature for the week averaged 76 degrees, 1 degree warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 short, 75 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated, 4 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.2 out of a possible seven. The wheat harvest and soybean planting continued but was delayed in some areas due to the torrential rains that we experienced this week. Also, there were also some reports of decreased quality of hay because of late cutting due to the rains. Extremely wet conditions soaked the Bluegrass State this past week as an average of nearly 2 inches fell across the Commonwealth. The Bluegrass Region was the overall winner with almost 3 inches coming down, which was around 2 inches above normal. Numerous rounds of showers and thunderstorms soaked Kentucky, with the most prominent system coming Wednesday and into the overnight. An upper level disturbance diving into the state made way for a very warm, humid, and unstable environment. Temperatures on Wednesday rose into the mid to upper 80s with dew points peaking in the low 70s. A line of storms formed later that evening with strong winds and heavy rainfall the primary threats. An EF2 tornado did touch down in LaRue County with winds estimated between 100 and 135 mph. As a side note, the state averaged 6.01 inches of rainfall this past month. This is in comparison to the drought of 2012, where only 0.88 inches fell across the Commonwealth. Crops: The corn crop was 13 percent tasseled compared to 65 percent last year and the five year average of 33 percent. Corn siliking was rated at 5 percent in comparison to 45 percent last year and the five year average of 21 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 25 percent excellent. Soybean planting reached 88 percent complete which trails last years progress at 100 percent and the five year average of 95 percent. The soybean crop is 71 percent emerged compared to 100 percent last year and the five year average of 89 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 65 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Tobacco: Ninety–five percent of Burley tobacco has been set compared to 99 percent last year and 100 percent for the five year average. Dark tobacco is 98 percent set, behind last year at 99 percent and the five year average of 100 percent. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 22 percent excellent. Tobacco height is at 54 percent under 12 inches, 37 percent at 12-24 inches and 9 percent over 24 inches. Small Grains: Winter wheat crop harvested reached 66 percent compared to 99 percent last year and the five year average of 84 percent. Pasture: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 24, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Issued 4:00 P.M., June 24, 2013 13-13 Agricultural News: Weather for the past week consisted of lower than normal rainfall. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.98 inches, 0.04 inches below normal for this point in the season. Temperature for the week averaged 75 degrees, 1 degree warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 short, 79 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.9 out of a possible seven. Producers were busy harvesting winter wheat; planting soybeans and tobacco. Summertime warm temperatures and high humidities started moving into the Bluegrass state last week. Much of the state received rain during the first half of the work week with mostly dry conditions for the remainder of the work week. The west and parts of central Kentucky received the greater rainfall totals with much of the remainder of the state receiving below normal rainfall and only about half of what the west received. Many locations west and central reported 90 degrees at least once during the work week. Crops: As of Sunday, June 23, the corn crop was 99 percent emerged compared to 100 percent last year and the five year average of 100 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 58 percent good, and 24 percent excellent. Soybean planting reached 77 percent complete. Planting progress trails last year at 99 percent and the five year average of 87 percent. The soybean crop is 60 percent emerged compared to 98 percent last year and the five year average of 80 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 68 percent good, and 15 percent excellent. Tobacco: Ninety percent of Burley tobacco has been set compared to 95 percent last year and 96 percent for the five year average. Dark tobacco is 89 percent set, behind last year at 95 percent and the five year average of 97 percent. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. Tobacco height is at 68 percent under 12 inches, 27 percent at 12-24 inches and 5 percent over 24 inches. Small Grains: Twenty-nine percent of the winter wheat crop had been harvested compared to 94 percent last year and the five year average of 57 percent. Condition of the winter wheat crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 28 percent excellent. Pasture: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 21 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 17, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Weather for the past week consisted of higher than normal amounts of rainfall. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.25 inches, 0.23 inches above normal for this point in the season. Temperature for the week averaged 74 degrees, 2 degrees warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 short, 80 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.6 out of a possible seven. The Bluegrass State saw above normal rainfall this past period with 1.25 inches falling on average across Kentucky. The week started off with an upper level disturbance sparking scattered showers and thunderstorms across the area. Strong to severe storms were evident across the southern reaches of the state, with an EF2 tornado touching down in Logan and Simpson Counties. High pressure moved over the region through Wednesday with mostly sunny conditions. Winds veered to the southwest Wednesday and became gusty. This resulted in the warmest day of the season thus far. A combination of temperatures in the low to mid 90s and very muggy conditions put heat indices approaching the century mark. Conditions remained quiet until Thursday morning when a cold front moved through the area. Severe thunderstorms erupted along a line with damaging winds as the primary impacts. Drier and cooler conditions moved in just after as surface high pressure hovered across Kentucky through Saturday, before turning wet again on Sunday as another upper level disturbance moved through the state. CROPS: As of Sunday, June 16, the corn crop was 95 percent emerged compared to 100 percent last year and the five year average of 98 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. The overall average height of corn is 21 inches, while the average height of the most advanced corn is 35 inches. Soybean planting reached 63 percent complete. Planting progress trails last year at 94 percent and the five year average of 78 percent. The soybean crop is 46 percent emerged compared to 85 percent last year and the five year average of 65 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 69 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. TOBACCO: At this point of the season, setting of burley and dark tobacco is behind normal. Eighty percent of Burley tobacco has been set compared to 88 percent last year and 86 percent for the five year average. Dark tobacco is 79 percent set, behind last year at 87 percent and the five year average of 86 percent. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 2 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. Tobacco height is at 83 percent under 12 inches, 16 percent at 12-24 inches and 1 percent over 24 inches. SMALL GRAINS: As of June 16, 6 percent of the winter wheat crop had been harvested compared to 81 percent last year and the five year average of 30 percent. Condition of the winter wheat crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 23 percent excellent. PASTURE: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 10, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Weather for the past week consisted mostly of cool and dry condition with limited rainfall mid week when temperatures increased to seasonal levels. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.99 inches, 0.09 inches above normal for this point in the season. Temperature for the week averaged 70 degrees, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.5 out of a possible seven. Cool, dry conditions dominated the work week with little rainfall through mid-week when temperatures increase to seasonal levels. By the weekend, showers and thunderstorms threatened most of the Bluegrass state with widespread coverage Sunday. Crops: As of Sunday, June 9, corn planting was 96 percent complete, trailing both last year at 100 percent and the five year average of 98 percent. The corn crop was 84 percent emerged compared to 100 percent last year and the five year average of 93 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 21 percent excellent. The overall average height of corn is 13 inches, while the average height of the most advanced corn is 24 inches. Soybean planting reached 48 percent complete. Planting progress trails last year at 89 percent and the five year average of 67 percent. The soybean crop is 30 percent emerged compared to 77 percent last year and the five year average of 50 percent. Tobacco: At this point of the season, setting of burley and dark tobacco is behind normal. Sixty-six percent of Burley tobacco has been set compared to 82 percent last year and 75 percent for the five year average. Dark tobacco is 67 percent set, behind last year at 78 percent and the five year average of 72 percent. Condition of set tobacco was rated as 2 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. PASTURE: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 21 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: June 3, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Weather for the past week consisted mostly of mild and dry conditions with increasing humidity. A cold front moved in on Friday, however, which brought on large amounts of rainfall in the west and central sections of the state. Precipitation for the week totaled 1.25 inches, 0.13 inches above normal for this point in the season. Temperature for the week averaged 74 degrees, 5 degrees warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 10 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.5 out of a possible seven. Mild and dry conditions with increasing humidity were the rule for most of the work week as a frontal system stalled over northern sections of the Ohio Valley. But as the slowly meandering cold front approached Kentucky on Friday, copious rainfall amounts fall in west and central sections of the state. Bluegrass and eastern locations received much less rainfall than west and central. Extensive flooding occurred in western sections of the state with Paducah reporting over 6 inches. Crops: As of Sunday, June 2, corn planting was 91 percent complete, trailing both last year at 100 percent and the five year average of 94 percent. The corn crop was 70 percent emerged compared to 99 percent last year and the five year average of 85 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. The overall average height of corn is 8 inches, while the average height of the most advanced corn is 16 inches. Soybean planting reached 30 percent complete. Planting progress trails last year at 79 percent and the five year average of 51 percent. The soybean crop is 13 percent emerged compared to 66 percent last year and the five year average of 34 percent. Condition of the Winter wheat crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 26 percent excellent. Lodging of winter wheat was reported throughout the state due to damage from heavy winds and rainfall. Tobacco: At this point of the season, setting of burley and dark tobacco is behind normal. Forty-five percent of Burley tobacco has been set compared to 71 percent last year and 57 percent for the five year average. Dark tobacco is 50 percent set, behind last year at 64 percent and the five year average of 54 percent. PASTURE: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 19 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 28, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Planting progress was slowed due to heavy rainfall in the second half of the week. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.60 inches, 0.51 inches below normal for this point in the season. Precipitation amounts were higher in the western and southern regions of the state. Temperature for the week averaged 66 degrees, near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 29 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 28 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.1 out of a possible seven. Very warm and dry conditions started the workweek but on Tuesday cooler, wetter conditions took over for the remainder of the week. And by Friday morning, temperatures had dropped into the low 40s with some central and eastern locations reporting upper 30s. Many stations reported multiple days with small rainfall events. The west and south received the greater rainfall totals. Crops: As of Sunday, May 26, corn planting was 74 percent complete, trailing both last year at 100 percent and the five year average of 86 percent. The corn crop was 49 percent emerged compared to 95 percent last year and the five year average of 72 percent. Condition of the corn crop was rated as 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 63 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Soybean planting reached 14 percent complete. Planting progress trails last year at 68 percent and the five year average of 36 percent. The soybean crop is 3 percent emerged compared to 50 percent last year and the five year average of 21 percent. Condition of the Winter wheat crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 10 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 27 percent excellent. The expected date for the winter wheat harvest to begin is June 14. Tobacco: At this point of the season, setting of burley and dark tobacco is behind normal. Twenty-five percent of Burley tobacco has been set compared to 53 percent last year and 37 percent for the five year average. Dark tobacco is 28 percent set, behind last year at 52 percent and the five year average of 38 percent. PASTURE: Pasture condition was reported as 3 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 19 percent excellent. --- Agricultural Situation Report: May 20, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Kentucky farmers finally were granted some warm, dry weather in the first half of the week to aid in planting progress. Precipitation for the week totaled 0.44 inches, 0.7 inches below normal for this point in the season. Precipitation amounts were slightly higher in the central portion of the state. Temperature for the week averaged 67 degrees, 2 degrees higher than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 32 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 2 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.1 out of a possible seven. This week presented much more accommodating conditions for field activities. Conditions dried out this past period with less than a half inch on average falling across the state. This was the first time since the start of April that the Commonwealth saw a week of below normal rainfall. The period started off with high pressure centered over the southeastern portion of the United States. This put Kentucky in line to see breezy southwesterly flow and a gradual warming in temperatures through the first half of the work week. Highs rose into the low to mid 80s for Tuesday and Wednesday. Some areas even saw the upper 80s, such as Louisville with high of 88 on Wednesday. Unsettled weather did not make a return until mid-work week when a frontal boundary slowly pushed south on Thursday. This was then followed by an upper level low spinning across the region through the weekend. Scattered showers and thunderstorms were common each afternoon as the state was placed in an unstable and moist air mass. Crops: Farmers were finally able to make some decent headway getting their corn crop in the ground. Planting is 56 percent complete, trailing both last year at 98 percent and the five year average of 75 percent. The corn crop is 35 percent emerged compared to 88 percent last year and the five year average of 60 percent. Soybean planting reached 6 percent complete. Planting progress trails last year at 57 percent and the five year average of 24 percent. Condition of the Winter wheat crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 58 percent good, and 25 percent excellent. Eighty-two percent of the state’s Winter wheat crop is in the headed stage. Tobacco: The Commonwealth’s tobacco crop is behind schedule due to a very moist Spring. Twelve percent of Burley tobacco has been set compared to 35 percent last year and 20 percent for the five year average. Dark tobacco is 15 percent set, behind last year at 36 percent and the five year average of 22 percent. PASTURE AND OTHER CROPS: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Pasture growth has flourished with the wet conditions this Spring. The hay crop condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: May 13, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: The Commonwealth’s farmers continue to battle persistent precipitation and saturated soil as they attempt to get their field crops in the ground. Rainfall for the week totaled 1.38 inches, 0.28 inches above normal for this point in the season. Precipitation amounts were distributed fairly evenly throughout the state. Temperature for the week averaged 61 degrees, 1 degree cooler than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 47 percent adequate and 53 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 41 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 1.8 out of a possible seven. Intermittent rain has kept farmers out of their fields and unable to make much planting progress. Wet and unsettled weather continued this past week across the Commonwealth. Kentucky was above normal in rainfall for the 5th straight week, as on average, 1.38 inches fell across the state. The last time that the Bluegrass State has seen a wet period to this extent was back at about this same time in 2011. Throughout the week, there was isolated to scattered rainfall on nearly a daily basis. The first half of the work week was dominated by cloud cover and rainfall rotating around a pesky upper level low traveling up the mid-Atlantic Seaboard. This was then followed by cold front pushing through the area over the course of Friday. This system brought the most widespread coverage for the week with over an inch falling across much of central Kentucky and into the Bluegrass. The cold front eventually swept through the area later Friday night, but was then followed by a weaker, reinforcing cold front Saturday evening. Scattered showers were once again evident, but the bigger headline was cooler temperatures. After hovering in the 70s and at times, 80s throughout the week, Canadian high pressure bumped highs back into the upper 50s to low 60s for Sunday. Crops: Farmers are steadily making corn planting progress as the weather conditions will allow. Planting is 39 percent complete, trailing both last year at 95 percent and the five year average of 66 percent. The corn crop is 23 percent emerged compared to 81 percent last year and the five year average of 50 percent. Soybean planting continues to move slowly with 2 percent in the ground. Planting progress trails last year at 45 percent and the five year average of 15 percent. Condition of the Winter wheat crop was rated 2 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 25 percent excellent. Sixty-seven percent of Winter wheat has headed at this juncture. Tobacco: Like other field crops, tobacco planting is behind schedule due to a wet Spring. Three percent of Burley tobacco has been set compared to 22 percent last year and 10 percent for the five year average. Dark tobacco is 3 percent set, behind last year at 19 percent and the five year average of 10 percent. Pasture And Other Crops: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Pastures have benefitted from the continuous moisture. The hay crop condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. The size of Kentucky’s strawberries are reported as 50 percent small, 38 percent medium, and 12 percent large at this point in the season. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: May 5, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Derby week began with promising weather conditions that gave way to falling temperatures and heavy precipitation as the weekend approached. Rainfall amount matched last week’s total of 1.77 inches, 0.69 inches above normal. The heaviest precipitation occurred in the central portion of the state. Temperature for the week averaged 62 degrees, 2 degrees higher than normal. Weather was very warm initially with highs in the upper 70s and 80s, however the weekend was much cooler bringing the weekly average down. Topsoil moisture was rated 1 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 44 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 30 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.8 out of a possible seven. Farmers continue to wait for accommodating weather to make significant planting progress. Soaking rains led the Commonwealth to its 4th straight week of above normal rainfall. Over these past 4 weeks, Kentucky has been over 2 inches above normal. Most of the rainfall this past period could be attributed to an upper level low over the weekend. This very slow moving system pulled large amounts of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean as it progressed eastward. Throughout the weekend, the low provided over 1.5 inches of rainfall on average across the state with the most coming across central portions of the Commonwealth. While the period was wet, the start of the work week was dry as surface high pressure nosed into the Bluegrass State. Mostly clear skies were common with highs back into the upper 70s to low 80s. It was not until Saturday and on into Sunday that cloud cover kept temperatures below normal and thus, the Bluegrass Stated ended the week 2 degrees above normal. Crops: Corn planting continues to be impeded by wet conditions. Planting progress is at 32 percent, compared to 91 percent at this time last year and 57 percent for the five year average. Twelve percent of the corn crop has emerged, well behind last year at 73 percent and the five year average of 37 percent. Soybean planting is in the beginning stages with only 1 percent in the ground, trailing both the five year average of 9 percent and 31 percent for this juncture last year. The Commonwealth’s farmers will attempt to make up for lost time as better weather permits. Condition of the Winter wheat crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 58 percent good and 27 percent excellent. Tobacco: Producers indicate there are adequate plants for tobacco setting. Tobacco transplants continue to progress as 24 percent are under 2 inches, compared to 45 percent last week. Forty-three percent of transplants are in the 2-4 inch range, while 33 percent are above 4 inches. PASTURE AND HAY: Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Pastures benefitted from warm temperatures early in the week and rain at week’s end. The hay crop condition was reported as 4 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: April 29, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Weather for the past week consisted of cooling temperatures and scattered precipitation. Temperature statewide averaged 54 degrees which was 6 degrees cooler than the previous week. The last part of the week brought frost to some locations as nighttime temperatures dropped as low as the upper 20s. The rainfall average for the week was 1.77 inches, which was 0.73 inches above normal. The central part of the state received the heaviest precipitation with 2.52 inches. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 36 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 22 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.5 out of a possible seven. Planting remains the primary farming activity as wet weather continues to hold progress back. Unsettled weather was the focus of this past period as the Bluegrass State saw multiple opportunities for rainfall. Saying this, the week started off with high pressure to the east and an approaching cold front to the west. Southerly flow kept temperatures in the upper 60s to lower 70s. It was not until Tuesday evening and into the overnight that the boundary passed through the region. Rainfall amounts averaged over a half inch across the state during this event. Conditions dried out for the remainder of the work week as surface high pressure nosed into the region, but with much cooler temperatures. Clear skies and nearly calm winds created ideal conditions for frost Thursday and Friday morning. The most extensive coverage was seen Thursday as some locations even saw low temperatures drop into the upper 20s. The second round of rainfall came Friday and lasted through the weekend as a slow moving upper level disturbance passed over the Bluegrass State. This brought on and off periods of showers across Kentucky with an average of just over an inch. Highs stayed mainly in the 60s and assisted in leading to the first week of below normal temperatures since the start of the month. Crops: Condition of the Winter wheat crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 8 percent fair, 62 percent good and 28 percent excellent. Eight percent of the wheat crop was heading by the end of the week compared to 86 percent last year and 30 percent for the five year average. As of Sunday, April 28, 24 percent of corn was in the ground. Corn planting is well behind last year at 84 percent and the five year average of 48 percent. Only 5 percent of the corn crop has emerged at this juncture of the season. Planting pace should pick up as more accommodating weather arrives. Tobacco: At 45 percent, the majority of seeded tobacco transplants are under 2 inches at this time. Thirty-eight percent were 2-4 inches, while 17 percent were larger than 4 inches. PASTURE: The precipitation this past week slightly improved pasture conditions despite cool temperatures. Pasture condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: April 22, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Heavy rainfall at mid week hampered field work. There were many farmers still waiting for soils to dry out before resuming corn planting and final field preparation. Temperatures averaged 60 degrees, 4 degrees warmer than normal and 2 degrees cooler than the previous week. Patchy frost reported in some areas of northern and eastern counties. Precipitation averaged 1.64 inches statewide, .66 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 3.9 out of a possible seven. The Bluegrass State was established in a rather unsettled weather pattern for much of this past work week. A surface frontal boundary crept south on Tuesday bringing a round of thunderstorms across primarily the northern half of the state. Some even reached severe limits with damaging winds and large hail the primary threats. Later in the day Wednesday, a developing low pressure system then pushed this boundary north as a warm front. Thursday became the warmest day of the period behind breezy southerly flow. Highs rose into the low 80s across the Commonwealth with numerous wind gusts over 40 mph. As the day wore on, a strong cold front approached from the west and eventually pushed through western portions of the state Thursday evening and exiting Kentucky later in the day Friday. Through its passage, it slowly weakened across the state. Western portions saw the most rainfall with areas averaging more than 1.5 inches, before tapering to less than an inch farther east. Noticeably cooler air filtered into the Ohio Valley following its passage. Highs in the 50s were common on Saturday with patchy frost across the state that morning as winds became calm, skies cleared, and lows got into the low to mid 30s. CROPS: As of April 22, 15 percent of the corn had been planted which is well behind last year’s 73 percent and the five year average of 32 percent. Winter wheat is reported in mostly good to excellent condition with 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 60 percent good and 25 percent excellent. Three percent of the crop was heading at the end of the week. Last year 77 percent had headed and the five year average is 19. TOBACCO: Seeded tobacco transplants were reported mostly good condition with 1 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. About 9 percent of transplants were over 4 inches in height as of April 22, with 33 percent at 2 to 4 inches and 58 percent under 2 inches high. PASTURE AND HAY: Pastures in most areas showed good growth during the week which allowed cattle producers to reduce feeding of hay. Current pasture condition was reported as mostly good to fair with 2 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. The projected first cutting of alfalfa is May 8th. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: April 15, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Much needed rain and warmer weather improved crop prospects. Corn seeding was underway and farmers were preparing ground, applying fertilizer, and spraying for weed control. Temperatures averaged 61 degrees which was 6 degrees warmer than normal and the first week with above normal temperatures since mid February. Rainfall amounts for the week were above normal with precipitation averaging 1.25 inches statewide which is .23 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.8 out of a possible seven. Rebound may be the correct word to describe this past week’s weather conditions. First, after going 9 straight weeks with below normal temperatures, the Commonwealth finally broke the cool spell and was above normal for the first time since mid February. Breezy southerly flow for much of the week pushed temperatures into the 70s and at times, low to mid 80s. This came as the state was sandwiched between high pressure along the east coast and an approaching area of low pressure from the west. Lexington even broke a record high on Wednesday when it got to a high of 84. Secondly, the state rebounded from a 2 week dry period, where the state averaged over an inch of rainfall through the week. Over the period, the west did see the most rainfall with an average of 1.78 inches. Most of this came over the course of Wednesday and into Thursday as a line of showers with embedded thunderstorms brought widespread soaking rainfall across the Ohio Valley. Behind the line, a cold front swept through the state sending temperatures plummeting. Westerly flow put temperatures only in the mid 50s to low 60s for Friday and Saturday with patchy frost each night for mainly sheltered and low lying areas. CROPS: As of April 15, 7 percent of the corn had been seeded well behind last year’s 55 percent and the average of 18. Most seeding activity occurred in the southwest areas of the state. Farmers expect to seed corn as soon as field conditions permit, and planting could make considerable progress this week. Winter wheat is in mostly good to excellent condition with 1 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 63 percent good and 24 percent excellent. A mild winter has minimized winter kill. Reported wheat stand loss to winter kill was about 2 percent. TOBACCO: Condition of seeded tobacco transplants was reported as mostly good to fair with 1 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. As of April 15, 86 percent of the greenhouse and plant bed seedings had been completed compared with 88 percent last year and the five year average of 85. Fifty-eight percent of transplants had emerged compared with 68 percent last year and the five year average of 58. PASTURE AND HAY: Current pasture condition was reported as mostly good to fair with 3 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 43 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Pastures were starting to make good growth. Average height of alfalfa was 6 inches at the end of the week. Many farmers were fertilizing hay and pastures and spraying for weed and insect control. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: April 8, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Warmer weather finally arrived at the end of the week with temperatures in the 70's. Soil temperatures are still cool which limited field activities to fertilizing and plowing. Temperatures averaged 48 degrees which was 4 degrees below normal. This was the 7th consecutive week with below normal temperatures. Little precipitation was received this week with amounts ranging from none to .52 inches. Average rainfall was .10 inches statewide, which was .89 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 7 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.3 out of a possible seven. Major farm activities this week included reseeding pastures, preparing equipment for planting and some field preparation. Most fruit trees were just beginning to set buds and little frost damage had been reported at this time. A few producers began planting corn over the weekend. The Bluegrass State finally saw some warmer temperatures this past week as highs crept into the 70s for the weekend. Saying this, it was still not enough to overcome cooler temperatures earlier in the period and Kentucky witnessed its 7th straight week of below normal temperatures. The week started off with a weak cold front moving through the area with breezy northwest winds and cloud cover limiting temperatures to mainly the mid 40s to mid 50s. High pressure then eventually followed with an extremely dry air mass in place. Relative humidity values dropping into the 20s on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons were common. Thursday was the only real shot at precipitation as an upper level trough passed through the region. The main focus was across the southern portion of the state, where widespread light rainfall was evident. As high pressure returned over the Commonwealth on Friday, temperatures returned to near normal levels. On Saturday, the combination of this high to the east and a low to the west situated Kentucky in strong southerly flow. Highs over the weekend peaked in the low to mid 70s each day. TOBACCO: As of Sunday, April 7, 74 percent of the greenhouse and plant bed seedings had been completed compared with 83 percent last year and the five year average of 74. About 37 percent of the transplants had emerged, well behind the 53 percent a year ago and the average of 39. WHEAT: Fall seeded wheat was in mostly good to excellent condition but lack of moisture and cool temperatures is slowing growth and causing some stress to the crop. Condition of the wheat crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 57 percent good and 21 percent excellent. Average height of the crop was 9 inches. PASTURE & LIVESTOCK: Pasture condition was reported as 6 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Many operators were still feeding hay and are hoping for rapid forage growth this week as hay supplies are running low in many areas. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: April 1, 2013 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) Agricultural News: Unseasonably cool temperatures have limited pasture and small grain growth as Kentucky recorded its sixth straight week of below normal temperatures. Below freezing temperatures were experienced over most of the state early in the week. Temperatures averaged 41 degrees for the week, 9 degrees below normal. Soils remain too cool and too wet for most fieldwork. Moisture totals for the week ranged from .10 to 1.45 inches with an average of .50 inches statewide. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent short, 54 percent adequate and 44 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 26 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 2 out of a possible seven. Farm activities this week were limited to securing supplies and preparing farm equipment for planting, and in some cases, finding hay to feed livestock. The Commonwealth ended the month of March with its 6th straight week of below normal temperatures. While the state did see highs back into the lower 60s by the weekend, it was not enough to offset highs earlier in the week in the mid 30s to low 40s. Overall, the Bluegrass State ended the week on average, 9 degrees below normal. Normal highs for this time of the year are supposed to be in the low to mid 60s. While it was cool, Kentucky finally saw some dry conditions. Only a few notable systems passed through the state over the course of the week. The period started off with a surge of snow showers along the backside of a low pressure system moving through the area on Monday. Although there were some heavier snow bands, surface temperatures kept any accumulations to a minimum. An upper level disturbance then passed through on Friday across mainly western and central portions of the Commonwealth, just before a more statewide event Saturday night. Over the course of the weekend, the state averaged 0.33 inches with higher totals out west. The rest of the week was dry with surface high pressure in place and resulted with the state below normal by a half inch. Tobacco: As of Sunday, March 31, 57 percent of the greenhouse and plant bed seedings had been completed compared with 71 percent last year and the five year average of 60. A few growers have begun transplanting tobacco. Small Grains and Legumes: Fall seeded wheat was in mostly good to excellent condition. Winter kill for wheat was estimated at 2 percent. Condition of the wheat crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 60 percent good and 18 percent excellent. Little growth has taken place so far this spring with some yellowing reported. Alfalfa stand loss was reported at 5 percent, while red clover stand loss was reported at 4 percent. Pasture and Hay: Pasture condition was reported as 6 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Pastures were meeting about 23 percent of livestock roughage requirements. Farmers statewide had approximately 30 percent of their winter hay supply still on hand, but many operators were looking for additional hay supplies. Most livestock came through the winter in good shape, with only minor loss reported. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: November 26, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall this week. There were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled .02 inches, 1 inch below normal and the 7th straight week of below normal rainfall. Temperatures for the period averaged 46 degrees across the state, which was 1 degree warmer than normal, and 4 degrees warmer than last week. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent very short, 30 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 13 percent very short, 34 percent short, 51 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Dry conditions continue to be the trend heading into the end of November as the state was an inch below normal this past week. This was the largest below normal weekly deviation Kentucky has seen all year. A few upper level disturbances passed over the state earlier in the week, but were moisture starved and only brought a combination of cloud cover and some sprinkles. Surface high pressure then descended over the region through mid-week and as this shifted east, temperatures rose back into the 60s for Thanksgiving Day. The mild conditions were short-lived as a strong cold front swept through the Bluegrass State Thursday night and into Friday. This sent temperatures plunging with highs on Saturday mainly in the mid to upper 30s. Just like earlier in the week, precipitation was scarce through this event. Many areas of the Commonwealth did not see any rainfall for the week and led the state to its 7th straight week of below normal rainfall. TOBACCO: Stripped tobacco condition was rated at 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. The amount of burley tobacco already stripped was 44 percent, compared with 61 percent last year and five- year average of 67 percent. Stripping progress has been delayed because some producers are waiting for moisture to bring tobacco into case. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Winter Wheat seeded was reported at 96 percent, slightly above the five-year average of 95 percent. The winter wheat condition was rated 1 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 70 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Pasture conditions have declined slightly this past week. Pastures were rated as 5 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: November 19, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and below normal rainfall this week. There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled 0.79 inches, 0.15 inches below normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 42 degrees across the state, which was 5 degrees cooler than normal, and was 6 degrees cooler than last week. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 19 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 30 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Cool temperatures were the chilly reminder of last weeks weather patterns. The work week started off with a very strong cold front moving through the Commonwealth. Rainfall was abundant through its passage as most areas across Kentucky saw over a half inch. It was the only opportunity we saw for rainfall over the course of the period, which accounted for the Bluegrass state slipping into its 6th straight week of below normal rainfall. Following the frontal passage, surface high pressure sunk in for the remainder of the week. This made for an extended period of clear, dry, and cool conditions. Highs remained in the 40s following the front before warming into the 50s and low 60s for the weekend. Some of the lowest temperatures of the season were also seen through the overnights with some temperatures dropping into the upper teens. Kentucky ended the week 5 degrees below average, which makes for 9 of the past 10 weeks being near or below normal. SOYBEANS: As of Sunday, November 18, Ninety-six percent of the soybeans had been harvested, compared with 97 percent last year and five-year average of 95 percent. TOBACCO: Stripped tobacco condition was rated at 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 58 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. The amount of burley tobacco already stripped was 39 percent, compared with 47 percent last year and five- year average of 52 percent. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Winter Wheat seeded was reported at 91 percent, slightly below of last year’s 97 percent, but the same as the five-year average of 91 percent. The winter wheat condition was rated 1 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 63 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. Pasture conditions have declined slightly this past week. Pastures were rated as 4 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 42 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: November 12, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: This past week was rather quiet with dry conditions dominating across the Commonwealth, but ended with a rumble on Saturday with a 4.3 magnitude earthquake centered in southeastern Kentucky. Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and below normal rainfall. There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled 0.08 inches, 0.71 inches below normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 48 degrees across the state, which was 2 degrees cooler than normal, and was 4 degrees warmer than last week. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 22 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 33 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. This past week was rather quiet weather-wise with dry conditions dominant, but ended with a rumble on Saturday as a 4.3 earthquake centered in southeastern Kentucky shook parts of the Commonwealth. The work week started off with a couple shortwaves carrying only minimal amounts of rainfall. The state as a whole only averaged just under a tenth of an inch for the week, which was nearly three quarters of an inch below normal. Kentucky’s dry streak therefore continued with the 5th straight week of below normal rainfall. The skies opened up for the latter half of the period as upper level ridging and surface high pressure worked together to provide the Bluegrass state with dry conditions and very warm temperatures. As the high moved east of Kentucky for the weekend, this put the state in position for strong southerly winds, bringing an Indian summer back to the lower Ohio Valley. Highs rose into the upper 60s and even lower 70s each day, which were about 10 degrees above normal. SOYBEANS: As of Sunday, November 11, 91 percent of the soybeans had been harvested, compared with 87 percent last year and five-year average of 88 percent. TOBACCO: Stripped tobacco condition was rated at 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 67 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. The amount of burley tobacco already stripped was 33 percent. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Winter Wheat seeded was reported at 85 percent, slightly below of last year’s 86 percent, and the five-year average of 82 percent. The winter wheat condition was rated 1 percent poor, 9 percent fair, 70 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. Pasture conditions have remained relatively steady over the past month. Pastures were rated as 2 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: November 6, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced windy conditions and very cool temperatures as remnants of Hurricane Sandy passed through the area. Cold air made for highs only getting into the upper 30s and lower 40s for eastern and Bluegrass portions of Kentucky. Kentucky experienced 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled 0.45 inches, 0.31 inches below normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 45 degrees across the state, which was 7 degrees cooler than normal, and was 14 degrees cooler than last week. Topsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 17 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 9 percent very short, 30 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Another hurricane? The end of October featured the Commonwealth’s second occasion to see the remnants of a hurricane pass through the area, but this time, the main features included windy conditions and very cool temperatures. As Hurricane Sandy neared the eastern coastline, its central pressure dropped tremendously and a strong pressure gradient developed. This made for very high winds as it meandered west toward the Commonwealth. Wind speeds over 20 mph with gusts over 30 were common during this period. Cold air wrapping around the backside of the low made for highs only getting into the upper 30s and lower 40s for eastern and Bluegrass portions of Kentucky. This helped in leading to the largest below normal temperature deviation we have seen all year. The average temperature across Kentucky for the week was a cool 45 degrees, which was 7 degrees below normal. Along with cold air came a great deal of rainfall for the eastern portion of the state. Precipitation totals well over an inch were common across extreme eastern portions of Kentucky. Some higher elevations even saw over a foot of snow. CROPS: As of Sunday, November 4, 98 percent of the corn had been harvested, compared with 95 percent last year and five-year average of 94 percent. Eighty-three percent of soybeans have been harvested, compared with 77 percent last year and the five-year average of 78 percent. TOBACCO: Stripped tobacco condition was rated at 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 58 percent good, and 15 percent excellent. The amount of burley tobacco already stripped was 26 percent. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Winter Wheat seeded was reported at 75 percent, slightly ahead of last year’s 74 percent, and the five-year average of 71 percent. The winter wheat condition was rated 1 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 65 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Pasture conditions have remained relatively steady over the past month. Pastures were rated as 4 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 42 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: November 1, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced the last of Indian summer this past week. While most of the week was on the warm side, cooler temperatures set in by the end of the week. Kentucky experienced 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled 0.53 inches, 0.21 inches below normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 59 degrees across the state, which was 4 degrees warmer than normal, and was 2 degrees warmer than last week. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 19 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 10 percent very short, 32 percent short, 55 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. In addition to stripping of tobacco, wheat seeding and the harvesting of late fall crops, many farmers were busy getting their operations ready for the coming winter months. Headlines this past week were all about the Indian summer and the proceeding blast of cold air into the weekend. Surface high pressure to our southeast kept a near continual surge of southerly winds packing into our region through the work week. This brought much warmer temperatures into the state with nearly all regions of Kentucky making it up into the upper 70s to low 80s. Putting this into perspective, normal highs for this time of year are only in the mid to upper 60s. As the weekend approached, a very strong cold front passed through the Ohio Valley. While most sections of the Commonwealth saw beneficial rainfall of at least a quarter inch, the bigger headline was the much cooler temperatures. Cold air, accompanied with strong northerly winds behind the front sent temperatures plunging, with highs only in the 40s and 50s for the remainder of the weekend. CROPS: As of Sunday October 28, 96 percent of the corn had been harvested, compared with 91 percent last year and five-year average of 90 percent. Ninety- four percent of the soybean crop was rated as mature compared with last year at 96 percent and the five-year average of 97 percent. Seventy percent of soybeans have been harvested, compared with 64 percent last year and the five-year average of 67 percent. TOBACCO: Housed tobacco condition was rated at 1 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. The amount of burley tobacco already stripped was 18 percent. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Winter Wheat seeded was reported at 61 percent, slightly ahead of last years 57 percent, and the five-year average of 57 percent. Pasture conditions have held relatively steady over the past three weeks due to moisture received and seasonal temperatures. Pastures were rated as 4 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: October 23, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced another chilly week. While most of the week was on the cool side, warmer temperatures set in by the end of the week. Kentucky experienced 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled 0.48 inches, 0.22 inches below normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 56 degrees across the state, which was 1 degree cooler than normal, and was 2 degrees warmer than last week. Topsoil moisture was rated 2 percent very short, 18 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 10 percent very short, 29 percent short, 58 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. It was another chilly week across the Commonwealth with the state seeing its 6th straight week, going back to the start of September, of normal or below normal temperatures. While most of the week was on the cool side, warmer temperatures were found ahead of a cold front ushering through the area. Strong southwesterly winds with gusts over 30 mph at times, put highs well into the 70s midway through the work week. This cold front supplied the only significant rainfall event for the period. The western part of the state came out as the leaders in precipitation with just under an inch measured. They were the only area of Kentucky to see above normal precipitation, which resulted in the state being below normal for the second straight week. CROPS: As of Sunday October 21, ninety-four percent of the corn had been harvested, compared with last year and five-year average of 85 percent. Fifty- four percent of soybeans have been harvested, compared with 51 percent last year and the five-year average of 57 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was reported as 6 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 39 percent good and 17 percent excellent. TOBACCO: Housed tobacco condition was rated at 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. The amount of tobacco already stripped was 16 percent. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Winter Wheat seeded was reported at 40 percent, slightly ahead of last years 36 percent, and the five-year average of 42. Pasture conditions continue to improve with moisture and cooler temperatures. Pastures were rated as 3 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: October 16, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced a wide swing in temperatures this last week. Temperatures ranged from the upper 20s to low 80s. Temperatures were coolest Thursday morning, but rebounded by the end of the week. Kentucky experienced 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled 0.28 inches, 0.45 inches below normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 54 degrees across the state, which was 5 degrees cooler than normal, and was 6 degrees cooler than last week. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 16 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 11 percent very short, 30 percent short, 56 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. A temperature swing was the center of most attention this last period. Surface high pressure dominated most of the work week with clear skies and chilly conditions. Temperatures were coolest on Thursday morning where many in the Bluegrass portion of Kentucky saw morning lows drop down into the low 30s and even the upper 20s. One station even reported a temperature of 26. It wasn’t until the weekend when temperatures became warmer than normal. A low pressure system with very strong southerly winds of over 20 mph at times and gusts well into the 30s allowed for highs to rebound into the upper 70s and even lower 80s. Although temperatures made a comeback, rainfall was at a minimum last week. After 3 straight weeks of above normal rainfall, Kentucky ended the week nearly a half inch below normal. CROPS: As of Sunday October 14, ninety-one percent of the corn had been harvested, compared with last year’s 77 percent and the five-year average of 80 percent. Forty-two percent of soybeans have been harvested, compared with 35 percent last year and the five-year average of 42 percent. Condition of the soybean crop was reported as 9 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 37 percent good and 14 percent excellent. TOBACCO: Housed tobacco condition was rated at 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. The amount of tobacco ready for stripping was 24 percent, while the amount of tobacco already stripped was 8 percent. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Winter Wheat seeded was reported at 21 percent, slightly ahead of last year’s 18 percent, but the same as the five-year average. Pasture conditions continue to improve with moisture and cooler temperatures. Pastures were rated as 4 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: October 9, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) 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 highs dropping to the upper 50s. 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. Unseasonably cooler temperatures overran the Ohio Valley this past weekend as a strong cold front made its presence known. After a couple days of seeing temperatures rise up into the mid 70s and around 80 near mid week, highs only made it up into the mid to upper 50s through the weekend with the departure of the front. The cooler conditions led to the Commonwealths 4th straight week of below to near normal temperatures. Rainfall for the week was once again above normal with central portions experiencing the most at an average of an inch and a half. Most of the rainfall can be attributed to a low pressure system tracking north earlier in the work week bringing widespread precipitation. CROPS: Eighty-seven percent of the corn has been harvested, compared with last years 66 percent and the five-year average of 71 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. 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 years 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. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: October 2, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Widespread showers swept across Kentucky last week, but cleared out just in time for the weekend. Farm operators were periodically kept out of fields with 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled 1.27 inches, 0.44 inches above normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 64 degrees across the state, which is normal for this time of year, but was 2 degrees warmer than last week. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 22 percent short, 63 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 17 percent very short, 32 percent short, 47 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. The last week of September followed the same wet pattern we have been witnessing for nearly the entire month. A frontal boundary was draped over the Bluegrass State for practically the entire work week, bringing scattered chances of rainfall on nearly a daily basis. All sections of the Commonwealth averaged over an inch of precipitation, and the state ended the week nearly a half inch above normal. The boundary moved south into Friday and skies cleared for the weekend as dry conditions and comfortable temperatures took control over the Ohio Valley. Temperatures started off the week on the cool side as surface high pressure guided lows into the mid 30s to low 40s on Monday morning, but quickly recovered. The frontal boundary kept temperatures right around normal for the rest of the week with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. CROPS: As of Sunday September 30, 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. Condition of the soybean crop was reported as 8 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 38 percent good and 11 percent excellent. TOBACCO: Housed tobacco condition was rated at 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. The amount of tobacco ready for stripping was 12 percent, while the amount of tobacco already stripped was 1 percent. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Winter Wheat seeded was reported at 6 percent. Pasture conditions improved slightly over the last week, due to rain and cooler temperatures. Pastures were rated as 8 percent very poor, 18 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 30 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: September 25, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Colder temperatures moved in across the state last week as multiple frontal passages ushered cool air down from Canada. Kentucky experienced 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled just 1.32 inches, 0.48 inches above normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 62 degrees across the state, which is 5 degrees cooler than normal and 6 degrees cooler than last week. Topsoil moisture was rated 7 percent very short, 29 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 20 percent very short, 36 percent short, 42 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Colder temperatures invaded the lower Ohio Valley last week as multiple frontal passages ushered very cool air down from Canada. The Commonwealth woke up a few times this week with lows averaging in the upper 30s to low 40s as surface high pressure descended over the area. Temperatures for the week were on average 5 degrees below normal, which was the greatest below normal reading we have seen this entire year. In regards to rainfall, the highest amounts were connected with the eastern portion of the state, where a low pressure system moved northeast over the area earlier in the work week. Precipitation totals in access of 2 inches were numerous over this period for this general area. CROPS: As of Sunday September 23, 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. Condition of the soybean crop was reported as 10 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 35 percent good and 11 percent excellent. Soybeans considered safe from frost damage was 74 percent. TOBACCO: Housed tobacco condition was rated at 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Eighty-one percent of the dark tobacco has been cut, compared to 84 percent last year and 80 percent for the five-year average. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Winter Wheat seeded was reported at 3 percent. Pasture conditions have improved with previous rains, but would benefit from more rain. Pastures were rated as 10 percent very poor, 22 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 25 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: September 18, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) 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. It was a very quiet week across the Commonwealth as dry conditions were in control. After two straight weeks of well above normal rainfall, the combination of surface high pressure and upper level ridging kept conditions dry for most of the week. Kentucky as a whole ended the period 0.78 inches below normal. The west and central portions of the state were the only ones to see any significant rainfall as a disturbance passed through the area over the course of Saturday evening. Temperatures were only below normal by two degrees, which made for a rather comfortable week with highs only averaging in the upper 70s. High pressure in place for most of the period resulted in rather extensive diurnal swings with lows dropping into the 50s at night. Some areas even saw lows plunge into the mid 40s. 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. 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. 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. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: September 11, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Significant and beneficial rains were received across the state last week. Kentucky experienced 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled 2.12 inches, 1.33 inches above normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 74 degrees across the state which is 2 degrees warmer than normal, but 4 degrees cooler than last week. Topsoil moisture was rated 9 percent very short, 31 percent short, 56 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 24 percent very short, 38 percent short, 36 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Excessive rainfall drenched the Commonwealth last week with the combination of a couple strong systems and the eventual departure of Isaac. The holiday was somewhat of a letdown this year as the remnants of Isaac put a damper on outdoor activities. Rain continued to fall in mainly bluegrass and eastern portions of the state before finally moving clear of the area Tuesday. Precipitation then continued on into the work week as a shortwave and strong cold front brought a couple lines of strong and severe storms through the area. Each system had significant rainfall as both had widespread precipitation following the initial line. Over the course of the week, Kentucky saw an average of just over 2 inches, which was over an inch above normal. This was the highest amount of above normal rainfall we have seen all year. The departure of the front on Saturday brought much cooler temperatures as northwest winds kept highs in the mid to upper 70s and lows in the 50s throughout the rest of the weekend. CROPS: As of Sunday September 9, condition of the corn crop was rated as 48 percent very poor, 32 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 5 percent good and 2 percent excellent. Four percent of soybeans have been harvested. Condition of the soybean crop was reported as 15 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 25 percent good and 8 percent excellent. TOBACCO: Set tobacco condition was rated at 5 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 43 percent good, and 15 percent excellent. Housed tobacco condition was rated at 3 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Tobacco curing conditions were improved by the cooler temperatures and increased moisture. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Pasture conditions improved with recent rains and were rated as 15 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 20 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Last weeks rains should have been a boon to not only pastures, but also ponds and streams. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: September 4, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled 1.25 inches, 0.51 inches above normal, and most of that occurred this past weekend from the remnants of Hurricane Isaac. Temperatures for the period averaged 78 degrees across the state which is 4 degrees warmer than normal and 6 degrees warmer than last week. Topsoil moisture was rated 27 percent very short, 37 percent short, 34 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 37 percent very short, 39 percent short, 23 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. There have been a few reports of fall army worms in the western part of the State in conjunction with the grain harvest. The remnants of Hurricane Isaac dominated headlines last week as the system slowly progressed through the nations midsection. Throughout the holiday weekend, the Commonwealth saw multiple rounds of scattered precipitation. When portions of the Bluegrass State did see rainfall, it was abundant and at times, torrential. The tropical air mass in place supplied the system with an elevated amount of moisture and was represented through the higher rainfall totals in numerous bands of precipitation. The state ended the week 0.51 inches above normal as most sections of the state received an inch or more. Western portions of Kentucky saw an average of about 2 inches, which was highly beneficial as they still remain in extreme to exceptional drought conditions. In addition, Kentucky did see an end to our 3 week stretch of near to below normal temperatures as the state ended the week 4 degrees above normal. CROPS: As of Sunday September 2nd, condition of the corn crop was rated as 45 percent very poor, 35 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 5 percent good and 1 percent excellent. Condition of the soybean crop was reported as 20 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 21 percent good and 4 percent excellent. TOBACCO: Set tobacco condition was rated at 7 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. There have been random reports of black shank in the fields. Housed tobacco condition was rated at 4 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Of the tobacco which has been housed, eight percent is showing evidence of houseburn. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Pasture conditions were rated as 27 percent very poor, 30 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 14 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. This past weekends rain was very beneficial, but more precipitation is needed to restore the pasture base. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: August 27, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced both below average rainfall and temperatures last week. Rain for the week totaled 0.05 inches, 0.75 inches below normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 72 degrees across the state which is 3 degrees cooler than normal, but the same as the last reporting period. Topsoil moisture was rated 28 percent very short, 39 percent short, 31 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 34 percent very short, 36 percent short, 29 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.5 out of a possible seven. Quiet and comfortable conditions were experienced across the Bluegrass State last week. Dry conditions dominated as the Commonwealth was under the influence of surface high pressure and upper level ridging. Kentucky saw its third straight week of below normal rainfall, as it ended 0.75 inches below average. The area has not seen a deficit this large since the last week of June. Temperatures were also on the cool side for the second straight week as the state fell 3 degrees below normal. This was mainly due to mostly clear conditions throughout the overnight hours giving way to low temperatures that were on average 6 degrees below normal across the state. Some portions of the state even dropped into the upper 40s for the second straight week. CROPS: As of Sunday August 26th, condition of the corn crop was rated as 45 percent very poor, 38 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 2 percent good and 1 percent excellent. Condition of the soybean crop was reported as 18 percent very poor, 29 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 21 percent good and 6 percent excellent. TOBACCO: Condition of set tobacco is rated as 5 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. The more moderate temperatures received this past week should continue to help the tobacco crop but all field crops still maturing are still short on adequate precipitation. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Condition of the States pasture base experienced a slight decline this past week due to the lack of rain even though temperatures were below normal. Pasture conditions were rated as 23 percent very poor, 26 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 16 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: August 20, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced below average rainfall and cooler temperatures last week. Rain for the week totaled 0.77 inches, 0.09 inches below normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 72 degrees across the state which is 4 degrees cooler than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 25 percent very short, 27 percent short, 45 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 32 percent very short, 32 percent short, 34 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.8 out of a possible seven. Attention last week seemed to be drawn to the well below normal temperatures across the Commonwealth. Areas averaged 4 degrees below normal for this mid- August time frame, with highs only averaging in the lower 80s and lows in the lower 60s. Some spots in the west even saw lows drop all the way into the upper 40s. This comes as the area has seen multiple strong cold fronts pass through during the last couple weeks. Precipitation was also slightly below normal for the second straight week with the state being nearly a tenth of an inch below average. Following a frontal passage later in the work week, the weekend was very comfortable as surface high pressure descended on the lower Ohio Valley and brought dry conditions, mostly clear skies, and even cooler temperatures. CROPS: As of Sunday August 19th, condition of the corn crop was rated as 45 percent very poor, 34 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 5 percent good and 1 percent excellent. Condition of the soybean crop was reported as 19 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 21 percent good and 4 percent excellent. TOBACCO: Condition of set tobacco is rated as 9 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 36 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. Cooler temperatures received this past week should continue to benefit the tobacco crop, but there are always concerns about how it will cure in the barns after it is cut. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Condition of the State’s pasture base continues to improve with the cooler temperatures and intermittent rains. Pasture conditions were rated as 23 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 16 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: August 13, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced below average rainfall and cooler temperatures last week. Rain for the week totaled 0.48 inches, 0.42 inches below normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 75 degrees across the state which is the normal temperature. Topsoil moisture was rated 27 percent very short, 27 percent short, 41 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 32 percent very short, 35 percent short, 30 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.6 out of a possible seven. An impressive cold front was the highlight of last week as it brought much cooler temperatures and less humid conditions to the Bluegrass State. Going into the weekend, highs were in the upper 70s to mid 80s. This led to all portions of Kentucky with temperatures near or slightly below normal for the weekly average. In regards to rainfall, the state was fairly dry overall as surface high pressure dominated both the start of the work week and following the frontal passage into the weekend. After four straight weeks of above normal rainfall, the state ended the week almost a half an inch below normal. This was an unwelcome sign as western sections of the state continue in exceptional drought conditions. CROPS: As of Sunday August 12th, condition of the corn crop was rated as 44 percent very poor, 34 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 5 percent good and 1 percent excellent. Condition of the soybean crop improved slightly with 19 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 20 percent good and 4 percent excellent. TOBACCO: Condition of set tobacco is rated as 8 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Rainfall received this past week should continue to benefit the tobacco crop, but there are a few reports of black shank in the tobacco. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Condition of pasture improved with 27 percent rated as very poor, 25 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 16 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Rains that were received this past week continues to improve pastures. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: August 6, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK Ag. Weather) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced above normal rainfall and temperatures last week. Rain for the week totaled 1.34 inches, 0.38 inches above normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 80 degrees across the state which was 4 degrees warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 28 percent very short, 29 percent short, 39 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 33 percent very short, 36 percent short, 29 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.6 out of a possible seven. Extremely warm temperatures and high humidity continued to lay claim to the state of Kentucky. In relation to this, the Bluegrass State witnessed its 8th straight week of above or near normal temperatures. Continuing the trend from recent weeks, Kentucky did see numerous rounds of beneficial precipitation. It was hit and miss across the lower Ohio Valley during the period, until a more organized cold front came through on Sunday that brought widespread precipitation and cooler temperatures. The multiple rounds of precipitation resulted in Kentucky seeing its 4th straight week of above normal rainfall. The western climate division was also above normal for the week, ending over a half of an inch above average. The rainfall was very beneficial in helping to alleviate exceptional drought in the west. CROPS: As of Sunday August 5th, condition of the corn crop was rated as 42 percent very poor, 35 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 5 percent good and 1 percent excellent. Condition of the soybean crop improved slightly with 19 percent very poor, 29 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 18 percent good and 4 percent excellent. Farmers in areas hit worst by dry conditions are starting to harvest their corn for grain. TOBACCO: Condition of set tobacco is rated as 9 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 32 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Rainfall received this past week should continue to benefit the tobacco crop. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Condition of pasture is rated as 27 percent very poor, 26 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 14 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Rains that were received this past week continues to improve pastures and hay fields a little bit, but more rain is needed. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: July 30, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced above normal rainfall and temperatures last week. Rain for the week totaled 1.17 inches, 0.19 inches above normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 81 degrees across the state which was 4 degrees warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 33 percent very short, 27 percent short, 36 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 38 percent very short, 34 percent short, 25 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.5 out of a possible seven. Hot and humid start of the work week transitioned into a much cooler and wet pattern by weeks end. Heat indices were well into the 100s for most of the work week and led to the 7th straight week of above normal temperatures. Exceptional drought conditions continued to expand and deepen across western portions of Kentucky, but were aided with the propagation of a stronger cold front through the lower Ohio Valley in the latter half of the work week. The frontal boundary was associated with some severe weather as the atmosphere was very unstable, but it was very beneficial in regards to rainfall totals. Kentucky, as a whole, saw its third straight week of above normal rainfall, but the west continued to struggle and ended the week a half of an inch below normal. The weekend brought much relief to the Bluegrass State, as surface high pressure brought near normal temperatures and lower dew points, which acted to end the streak of extreme temperatures and high humidity that the state had been witnessing. CROPS: As of Sunday July 29th, condition of the corn crop was rated as 45 percent very poor, 34 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 5 percent good and 1 percent excellent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated as 23 percent very poor, 31 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 16 percent good and 2 percent excellent. The rains received this past week has helped improve the soybean crop conditions, but still need more rain for further development. Farmers in areas hit worst by dry conditions are harvesting their poorer corn fields for silage. TOBACCO: Condition of set tobacco is rated as 10 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 29 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. Rainfall received this past week should continue to benefit the tobacco crop. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Condition of pasture is rated as 32 percent very poor, 26 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 10 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Rains that were received this past week has improved pastures and hay fields a little bit, but more rain is needed. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: July 23, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced above normal rainfall and temperatures last week. Rain for the week totaled 1.15 inches, 0.18 inches above normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 80 degrees across the state which was 3 degrees warmer than normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 34 percent very short, 29 percent short, 34 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 39 percent very short, 38 percent short, 21 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 4.8 out of a possible seven. Hot and humid conditions returned to the Bluegrass state for the beginning of the work week, helping to account for the 6th straight week of normal or above normal temperatures. Rainfall was also well above normal for most sections of Kentucky as the area was under a very unstable and moist air mass. Earlier portions of the work week were dominated by diurnal showers and thunderstorms, while a cold front passed through toward the end, bringing a more organized precipitation event. Western parts of the state were once again, excluded from any significant rainfall opportunities and ended the week well below normal. The lack in precipitation expanded and deepened exceptional drought conditions in the west, while all other areas saw significant improvement. The week ended with dryer and cooler conditions following the passage of the front, bringing a brief relief from hot and humid conditions to the lower Ohio Valley. CROPS: As of Sunday July 22nd, condition of the corn crop was rated as 43 percent very poor, 34 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 5 percent good and 1 percent excellent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated as 23 percent very poor, 33 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 14 percent good and 2 percent excellent. The rains received this past week has helped the soybean crop, but still need more rain for further development. Farmers in areas hit worst by dry conditions are making decisions on the utilization of their corn crop. TOBACCO: Condition of set tobacco is rated as 11 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 27 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Rainfall received this past week should benefit the tobacco crop. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Condition of pasture is rated as 34 percent very poor, 32 percent poor, 28 percent fair and 6 percent good. Recent rains improved pasture a little bit, but more rain is needed. Some cattle producers are feeding hay due to poor pasture conditions. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: July 16, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced above normal rainfall and normal temperatures last week. Rain for the week totaled 1.77 inches, 0.77 inches above normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 77 degrees across the state which was near normal. Topsoil moisture was rated 49 percent very short, 30 percent short, 20 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 52 percent very short, 33 percent short, 14 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 5.3 out of a possible seven. Widespread, beneficial rainfall returned to the Bluegrass state last week as a frontal system slowly meandered north and south of the Kentucky/Tennessee border. Rainfall dominated the southern half of the state during the workweek and became more widespread during the weekend. Central and east received the greater amounts of rainfall last week, but all areas received above normal rainfall. Extreme temperatures were in the mid 90s but the weekly average was tempered by extended cloud cover and a much cooler second half of the workweek and weekend. CROPS: As of Sunday July 15th, condition of the corn crop was rated as 38 percent very poor, 39 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 5 percent good and 1 percent excellent. Condition of the soybean crop was rated as 21 percent very poor, 31 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 15 percent good and 1 percent excellent. Both the corn and soybean crops are advanced for this point in the season and continue to be stressed in some areas due to lack of moisture and high temperatures. Farmers in areas hit worst by dry conditions are making decisions on the utilization of their crops. TOBACCO: Condition of set tobacco is rated as 12 percent very poor, 26 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 21 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Rainfall received this past week should benefit the tobacco crop. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE: Condition of pasture is rated as 39 percent very poor, 34 percent poor, 22 percent fair and 5 percent good. Recent rains should improve pasture somewhat, but more rain is needed. Some cattle producers are feeding hay already due to poor pasture conditions. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: July 9, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy & Matt Dixon, UK) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: The State experienced another hot and dry week. Rain for the week totaled 0.79 inches, 0.2 inches below normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 84 degrees, which was 8 degrees warmer than normal and 4 degrees warmer than last week. Topsoil moisture was rated 66 percent very short, 28 percent short and 6 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture was rated 60 percent very short, 33 percent short and 7 percent adequate. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.4 out of a possible seven. Record and near record temperatures dominated this past work week, as drought conditions continued to intensify and expand eastward across the Bluegrass state. High temperatures averaged in the upper 90s across the state, which is 11 degrees above normal for this time of year. Most locations had several days with high temperatures at or above 100 degrees. Extreme hydrologic drought conditions continued in western sections of the state, while a severe drought developed and expanded east over much of the remainder of Kentucky. While the weekend started following a similar pattern, it ended wet for the northern portions of the state, with the passage of a slow moving cold front. This event brought much needed rainfall to the state as we ended the week only 20% below normal. CROPS: As of Sunday July 8th, condition of the corn crop was rated as 34 percent very poor, 38 percent poor, 23 percent fair and 5 percent good. Both the corn and soybean crops continue to be advanced for this point in the season and are stressed due to lack of moisture and high temperatures. Some farmers are already chopping corn for silage. TOBACCO: Condition of set tobacco is rated as 12 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 19 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Tobacco has withstood the high heat and drought conditions better than corn and soybeans, but in desperate need of rain as well. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE Condition of pasture is rated as 39 percent very poor, 37 percent poor, 20 percent fair and 4 percent good. Pasture conditions continue to deteriorate due to less than normal rainfall and above normal temperatures. Some cattle producers are feeding hay already due to declining pasture conditions. ==== Agricultural Situation Report: July 5, 2012 (USDA's Crop Report with comments from Tom Priddy, UK) AGRICULTURAL NEWS: The State experienced a hot and dry week. Rain for the week totaled 0.04 inches, 0.94 inches below normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 80 degrees, which was 5 degrees warmer than normal and 2 degrees warmer than last week with multiple days exceeding 100 degrees statewide. Topsoil moisture was rated 62 percent very short, 30 percent short and 8 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture was rated 50 percent very short, 38 percent short and 12 percent adequate. Days suitable for fieldwork averaged 6.7 out of a possible seven. The combined impact of dry conditions and extremely hot temperatures at this time is causing a one-two punch. The timing of the impact on corn has already and will continue to reduce yields significantly. Double-cropped soybeans are having a difficult time with germination. Ponds are running low for irrigation purposes and watering livestock. Western and central location's may be near the point where rain would provide little benefit for corn and soybean growth, development and yield. CROPS: As of Sunday July 1st, condition of the corn crop was rated as 19 percent very poor, 29 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 19 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Both the corn and soybean crops continue to be advanced for this point in the season and are stressed due to lack of moisture and high temperatures. TOBACCO: Thirteen percent of burley tobacco is blooming while 30 percent of dark tobacco is in the bloom stage. Condition of set tobacco is rated as 9 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 30 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE Condition of pasture is rated as 28 percent very poor, 36 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 9 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Pasture conditions continue to deteriorate due to less than normal rainfall and above normal temperatures.