According to NASS’ report for the week ending Aug. 4, corn, tobacco, cotton and soybeans were rated in good to excellent condition. Most of corn was in the dough-to-dent stage, cotton was setting boils and soybeans were blooming and setting pods.

The weather was moderate during the week, giving farmers 4.5 days suitable for field work, which they spent applying herbicides and scouting fields. The moderate weather meant normal temperatures and normal rain amounts throughout the state, except for Middle Tennessee, which had lower-than-normal rainfall for the week, according to NASS and the National Weather Service.

The normal rainfall amounts were evident by soil moisture levels for the week. Topsoil levels were rated 6 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 5 percent short, 89 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus, according to the University of Tennessee extension and NASS.

“Giles County continues to receive rain each week, with another inch predicted this week. Many producers with an irrigation system have only used it once or twice this summer,” reported Kevin Rose, Giles County extension agent, early last week.

“Our barns are full, and we are stacking hay outside. Pastures are great and corn is probably looking better than we thought a month ago. It’s hard to get hay baled due to the rains,” stated Larry Moorehead, agent for Moore County.

“Tobacco has turned around from a month ago. Water-damaged tobacco is stunted but is looking much better. Pasture weeds are thriving due to all the rain; herbicides being applied. Other crops look good,” Jason Evitts of Trousdale County said.

“Soybeans and corn are in good condition as of this week. Finding more insect pressure in soybeans, and producers are spraying. Tobacco has been topped except for the late patches,” noted Wilson County’s Ruth Correll.