Flood waters along the Delta continued to hinder Tennessee farmers’ efforts to plant and fight weeds during the week ending July 12, according to the weekly crop progress report from NASS.

The rare July flood began the previous week when the Mississippi River overran its banks and flooded tens of thousands of prime farmland in West Tennessee. It was a particular threat to the state’s milo crop, according to state agriculture officials who toured affected areas.

While West Tennessee farmers spent the week waiting for the flood to recede, in other parts of the state rain helped improve corn, cattle and pasture conditions. However, some tobacco didn’t fare well because of too much rain. Tobacco is nearly 100 percent transplanted, which is on par with its five-year average, the report stated.

“Tobacco is hurting in some places from too much water. Producers were back in the fields towards the end of the week after being unable to do much due to rain the previous two weeks,” reported extension agent Chris Hicks of Smith County.

Despite the rain, the majority of crops in the Volunteer State were in fair to good condition, and farmers were able to spend 5.1 days working in the field, according to NASS.

“Still some soybean acreage in the county to plant, with most producers being finished with planting of all crops. Wheat harvest is complete and good yields for most producers. Tomato production is at full swing, with quality improving (and) with less rain and warmer temperatures. Pastures and cattle are in good to excellent condition,” Lauderdale County extension agent J.C. Dupree said.

“Farmers in Fayette County were busy spraying crops for insects and weeds. Conditions are dry but allowing farmers to treat their crops as needed. Fungicides are being applied to corn and milo,” reported Jeff Via, Fayette County agent.

“Continuous rain events have producers scrambling to find dry field conditions in order to make post-emerge herbicide applications to soybeans. We have had scattered ‘jailbreaks,’ with pig weeds being the main culprit. Soybean planting should be completed this weekend or early next week. Moisture and temperature have been very favorable for pollinating corn,” said Jeff Lannom of Weakley County.

“No rain and above-normal temperatures are drying fields quickly from the previous weeks of daily showers. A few farmers were busy finishing up wheat harvest and planting soybeans,” said agent Ed Burns of Franklin County.

“Most were trying to catch up on herbicide applications to soybeans, and a few are beginning to apply fungicides to soybeans as early beans are at the R3 to (R)4 stage. Corn looks really good. A couple of good rains will set the stage for high-yield potential.”

Topsoil moisture levels in the state were 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus, NASS reported.