Tennessee experienced warm temperatures and decent rainfall early last week. Pastures and fields are greening up with the precipitation, bringing welcome relief to livestock producers feeding hay. On dry days, producers were hard at work prepping for commodity planting, as well as spraying and fertilizing pastures and hay fields.

Overall, producers report winter wheat crops looking good heading into the spring season. As of March 28, 2024, some western counties were under abnormally dry conditions, but soil moisture conditions remain decent for now. Statewide, there were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork last week.

Topsoil moisture was 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was 2 percent very short, 8 percent short, and 82 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus.

CROP PROGRESS

Apples (blooming) – 12 percent this week

Corn (planted) – 2 percent this week

Cotton (planted) – 0 percent this week

Soybeans (planted) – 0 percent this week

Winter Wheat (jointed) – 38 percent this week

Winter Wheat (headed) – 1 percent this week

CONDITIONS

Cattle – 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 9 percent excellent

Pasture – 2 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 42 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 5 percent excellent

Winter Wheat – 5 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 19 percent excellent