RAINS, COLDS TEMPERATURES SWEEP ACROSS THE STATE, RESULTING IN SLOWED FIELD WORK AND POTENTIAL FRUIT CROP STRESS

In West Tennessee, heavy rains, frost, and unusually cold temperatures which, at times, dipped into the 20’s, brought field work to a halt until late in the week. In some areas, the Tennessee River was over its bank, resulting in delayed field crop planting. Still other producers, concerned that soil temperatures had become lower than optimal for planting, opted to wait until soil temperatures increase before continuing. Still others were able to plant some of their planned corn and soybean acreage. The cold weather was feared to have damaged apple and peach booms. Strawberries were covered in an attempt to prevent damage. Burndown herbicides were applied to fields in some areas.

Cooler temperatures and heavy rains in Middle Tennessee brought frost, below freezing nighttime temperatures, and brought field work to a near standstill. Rain in some areas reached 3.75 inches in less than 24 hours. Some wheat and fruit crop damage caused by the cold weather was assessed. Apples are expected to have fared better than ornamentals. Except in low-lying areas, wheat was developing well. Cattle and pastures were in good condition.

Several frosts occurred in the Eastern Region of the state, which threatened potential damage to fruiting crops. Some freeze damage to strawberries, grapes, and peaches was reported, the extent to which is not fully known. Two to six inches of rain in some areas flooded early planted corn. Some corn and soybeans did get planted, but progress was slowed due to the cooler weather that lowered soil temperatures. Other field activities included weed spraying and fertilizer applications.

There were 4.1 days suitable for field work. Subsoil moisture was rated 62 percent adequate and 38 percent surplus. Topsoil moisture was rated 64 percent adequate and 36 percent surplus.

CROP PROGRESS

APPLES (full bloom) – 69 percent this week, 57 percent last week

CORN (planted) – 23 percent this week, 12 percent last week

CORN (emerged) – 3 percent this week

SOYBEANS (planted) – 2 percent this week

WINTER WHEAT (jointed) – 87 percent this week, 73 percent last week

WINTER WHEAT (headed) – 26 percent this week, 6 percent last week

CROP CONDITIONS

PASTURE – 7 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 51 percent good and 14 percent excellent

STAWBERRIES – 4 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 55 percent good and 14 percent excellent

WINTER WHEAT – 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 51 percent good and 13 percent excellent

CATTLE REPORT

Compared to last week, Feeder Steers steady to 5.00 higher; Feeder Bulls steady to 7.00 higher; Feeder Heifers steady to 4.00 higher; Slaughter Cows mostly steady; Slaughter Bulls 4.00 higher. Supply included: 53% Feeder Cattle (25% Steers, 46% Heifers, 29% Bulls); 16% Slaughter Cattle (84% Cows, 16% Bulls); 31% Replacement Cattle (100% Bred Cows). Feeder cattle supply over 600 lbs was 14%.

FEEDER CATTLE

STEERS – Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt / Actual Wt)

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price

4 305-340 330 147.00-160.00 150.77

8 355-390 384 151.00-160.00 155.15

5 400-431 420 151.00-161.00 158.45

2 495 495 149.00 149.00

1 500 500 146.00 146.00

4 553 553 138.00 138.00

2 593 593 144.00 144.00 Value Added

5 600-615 608 118.00-132.00 125.81

5 667 667 126.00 126.00

1 715 715 118.00 118.00

STEERS – Medium and Large 2-3 (Per Cwt / Actual Wt)

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price

1 320 320 137.50 137.50

4 350-375 366 124.00-145.00 134.11

2 425-440 433 144.00-147.00 145.47

1 540 540 122.00 122.00

1 555 555 124.00 124.00

1 630 630 116.00 116.00

HEIFERS – Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt / Actual Wt)

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price

1 270 270 146.00 146.00

6 305-330 319 131.00-141.00 134.26

9 350-395 369 128.50-143.00 136.16

16 405-448 431 118.00-131.00 126.57

16 460-487 473 115.00-127.00 124.28

1 510 510 110.00 110.00

9 513 513 125.50 125.50 Value Added

11 555-595 573 106.00-115.00 107.26

3 621 621 110.00 110.00

4 653-673 663 89.00-94.50 91.71

1 750 750 94.00 94.00

HEIFERS – Medium and Large 2-3 (Per Cwt / Actual Wt)

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price

1 380 380 110.00 110.00

3 460-495 477 108.00-113.00 110.37

6 505-548 529 102.00-104.00 103.01

BULLS – Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt / Actual Wt)

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price

12 400-445 416 146.00-163.00 155.42

8 470-498 481 141.00-149.00 146.55

2 535-540 538 139.00-140.00 139.50

19 550-580 563 129.00-148.00 136.36

4 688-695 692 111.00-112.00 111.50

BULLS – Medium and Large 2-3 (Per Cwt / Actual Wt)

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price

3 410-425 415 138.00-142.00 140.63

1 505 505 119.00 119.00

1 590 590 121.00 121.00

3 627 627 111.00 111.00

1 755 755 88.00 88.00

SLAUGHTER CATTLE

COWS – Breaker 75-80% (Per Cwt / Actual Wt)

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing

9 1005-1560 1309 56.00-65.00 61.99 Average

1 1365 1365 67.50 67.50 High

COWS – Boner 80-85% (Per Cwt / Actual Wt)

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing

26 980-1555 1186 55.00-65.00 61.15 Average

5 1155-1640 1372 66.00-72.00 68.58 High

COWS – Lean 85-90% (Per Cwt / Actual Wt)

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing

14 905-1230 1044 43.00-55.00 50.79 Average

1 1125 1125 60.00 60.00 High

5 755-930 833 29.00-39.00 33.89 Low

BULLS – 1 (Per Cwt / Actual Wt)

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing

7 1460-1940 1647 79.50-87.00 83.39 Average

2 1400-1575 1488 93.00-100.00 96.71 High

3 1025-1795 1492 70.00-75.00 73.65 Low