As the month of August came to close, weather conditions continued to be dry, something that has been unusual this growing season. In its weekly report, the NASS Kentucky field office reported precipitation for the period ending Aug. 30 at 0.09 inch, which is more than half an inch below normal.

Coupled with the drier weather, however, were below-normal temperatures by as much as 6 degrees below normal. The dry, cool weather kept hay producers in the field and provided ample opportunities for tobacco cutting to continue.

NASS noted 42 percent of the state’s tobacco had been cut, slightly ahead of last year’s crop and the five-year average. Tobacco conditions continued to be dismal as more of the crop was making its way into barns.

More than half of the crop is currently rated as being in fair or below conditions. Forty-two percent was listed as good, according to the NASS report, with only 7 percent being counted as excellent.

One bright spot for tobacco producers is that housed tobacco is reported to be in good shape, so far.

Kentucky corn is in very good condition, although there were some reports of southern rust and gray leaf spot. Conditions were listed as being 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 51 percent good and 30 percent excellent.

Twenty-nine percent of the corn has reached the mature stage, which is well behind the five-year average of 42 percent.

Soybean conditions were reported to be 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 56 percent good and 19 percent excellent. Pasture conditions also remain in positive shape. NASS reported pastures around the state as being 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 61 percent good and 13 percent excellent.