|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Drought conditions affecting corn yields in parts of Kentucky |
|
|
|
| By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The numbers are coming in and the news isn’t great, but Kentucky farmers already knew that.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) report for last week was for the most part, a continuation of what producers had been seeing all summer even though corn production news was the bright spot … as long as it wasn’t grown in the drought-stricken Southeast.
“Corn production is forecast at 13.3 billion bushels, up 2 percent from last month and 26 percent above 2006. Based on conditions as of Sept. 1, yields are expected to average 155.8 bushels per acre, up 3.0 bushels from August and 6.7 bushels above last year. If realized, this would be the second highest yield on record, behind the 160.4 bushel yield in 2004. Production would be the largest on record as growers expect to harvest the most corn acres for grain since 1933,” the report stated.
Kentucky’s corn crop however, has been a mixed bag depending on location. Last week’s NASS figures reported 35 percent of Kentucky corn had been harvested with crop conditions rated at 7 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 14 percent excellent.
While production has seen an increase on last year, yields are lower in 2007 by about 26 bushels per acre due to dry conditions.
Kentucky soybeans and tobacco haven’t faired as well. Soybean production in general is down from last year with yields, as of Sept.1, projected to be down 14 bushels per acre from 2006. U.S. numbers are forecast at 2.62 billion bushels, down slightly from the August forecast and down 18 percent from last year’s record high.
Burley tobacco production in the state is deceasing despite cutting and housing acreage being up by 4,000 acres from last year. The forecasted 146.3 million pounds is a 5 percent decrease from August last year’s production. Burley yields were at 1,900 pounds per acre which is down 100 pounds from the August estimate.
Dry conditions early in the growing season did not affect the crop as much as it did in August when mature plants were unable to add weight.
The tobacco that faired well throughout the state either matured early or was irrigated.
U.S. tobacco figures mirrored Kentucky’s forecast as well with burley producing states totaling 197.5 million pounds, down 6 percent from the August forecast and 9 percent below last year. Yields are expected to be off by more than 200 pounds per acre as opposed to last year’s crop.
The dry hot weather created another problem for state tobacco growers who already have their crop in the barn; that tobacco was curing too rapidly prompting some producers to spray water in their tobacco barns to create moisture for better curing conditions.
The drop in temperatures over the last week coupled with needed rainfall should provide aid for those conditions.
Last year most farmers around the state saw a good year financially with farm cash receipts totaling $4.1 billion, the second highest on record and 2007 predictions, assuming normal growing conditions and no major disease outbreaks, were expected to create an all-time record of $4.296 billion.
But no one could have predicted the horrible weather conditions for 2007 leaving many farmers wishing to see this year end and 2008 arrive as quickly as possible.
This farm news was published in the Sept. 19, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
| 9/19/2007 |
|
|
|
|
