AGRICULTURAL NEWS: Kentucky experienced below normal temperatures and below normal rainfall this week. There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork out of a possible seven this past week. Rain for the week totaled 0.79 inches, 0.15 inches below normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 42 degrees across the state, which was 5 degrees cooler than normal, and was 6 degrees cooler than last week. 

Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 19 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. 

Subsoil moisture was rated 8 percent very short, 30 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

SOYBEANS: As of Sunday, November 18, Ninety-six percent of the soybeans had been harvested, compared with 97 percent last year and five-year average of 95 percent.

TOBACCO: Stripped tobacco condition was rated at 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 58 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. The amount of burley tobacco already stripped was 39 percent, compared with 47 percent last year and five-year average of 52 percent. 

OTHER CROPS AND PASTURE:

Winter Wheat seeded was reported at 91 percent, slightly below of last year’s 97 percent, but the same as the five-year average of 91 percent. The winter wheat condition was rated 1 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 63 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. 

Pasture conditions have declined slightly this past week. Pastures were rated as 4 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 42 percent good, and 5 percent excellent.