While the first full week of September returned to near normal conditions weather-wise, it didn’t last long, as torrential downpours came through last Thursday and left flash flooding in the wake of nearly 4 inches of rain in some locations.

That was not what tobacco producers and those trying to get a second cutting of hay needed, as harvest time was interrupted and delayed for a few days. Crop-wise, the upturn in conditions continued, according to the most recent information from NASS’ Kentucky field office.

Kentucky corn was rated as at 4 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 48 percent good and 15 percent excellent, noted the Sept. 8 NASS report. Half the crop is now listed as being in the mature stage, a number in line with the five-year average and well ahead of last year.

The soybean crop was listed as being 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 48 percent good and 14 percent excellent.

While soybean conditions continue to improve with the above-normal precipitation since August, crop conditions at this time last year were much better, resulting in a record 2013 crop.

Tobacco was listed as 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 53 percent good and 20 percent excellent. Fifty percent of the state’s tobacco has been harvested, while 91 percent of what’s left in the field has been topped.

For late tobacco, the rainy conditions will likely be a help depending on the temperature range.

Pastures have certainly benefited by the moisture. Conditions were listed as being 4 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 44 percent good and 9 percent excellent.

The Kentucky hay crop was rated at 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 56 percent good and 13 percent excellent, according to the latest NASS information.