Harvest Needs Last Rain

It is harvest time in the fields as farmers work hard to bring this year’s crop to market. Overall, I am hearing really good news from our local growers, though one last speed bump has prevented a bumper crop.

That pitfall comes in the guise of a late season dry spell which has slowed the growth of local crops here in late summer. “The dry weather is hurting the tobacco crop at topping time”, says Myron Evans, Carter County Kentucky extension agent. “We could use a nice rain to help with the late crop”.

Myron rates this year’s crop an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale. “Remember, 30% of the weight of the tobacco comes in the last 30 days before harvest”, Myron added. And since only one rain (with the passage of Fay) has occurred during this period, a bumper crop has not materialized.

Scioto County ex agent Rich Sherman concurs. “We had a slow start in spring with the damp and cool weather of May, but since then the weather was nearly perfect thru mid August. But as we dried off in late summer, the soybean pods and kernels of corn didn’t fill to their potential.” Rich rates the crop in the Scioto bottomlands a 6 or 7 on a 10 scale.

One thing that has been hurt hard by the dry weather in the past month has been the hay crop. The first spring cut was healthy and bountiful, but the late summer 2nd cut has been stunted by the long hot and dry pattern.

Odds are against a third cut this fall, though some good rains are due in town during the next 10 days (including a half inch of rain on Tuesday), so farmers should get some good September and October pasture growth for cattle to graze on before cold late autumn and winter winds arrive.

And a reminder, the harvest moon now just a week away. Shine on Shine on harvest moon!!