A cold front made its way across the state last week bringing with it rain and significantly cooler temperatures. Many areas reported their first hard freeze of the season and a few isolated snowflakes were reported. Farmers along the Tennessee River reported damage to unharvested crops from the strong storms that went through on Saturday, October 26. Pasture conditions showed signs of improvement after the rains and livestock producers reported that their ponds were filling back up, alleviating the need to haul water to their herds. There were 2.6 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 10 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4 percent very short, 16 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus.

CROP PROGRESS

Corn (harvested) – 99 percent this week, 98 percent last week

Cotton (harvested) – 67 percent this week, 60 percent last week

Soybeans (harvested) – 75 percent this week, 72 percent last week

Winter Wheat (planted) – 58 percent this week, 50 percent last week

Winter Wheat (emerged) – 36 percent this week, 21 percent last week

CROP CONDITIONS

Corn – 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 56 percent good and 27 percent excellent

Wheat – 4 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 54 percent good and 7 percent excellent

Pasture – 12 percent very poor, 31 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 15 percent good and 2 percent excellent

CATTLE REPORT

Compared to close last week: Feeder and Stocker steers sold steady to 3.00 lower. Feeder and Stocker heifers sold mostly steady. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 1.00 lower. Demand best for preconditioned cattle weaned a minimum of 30 days.

Steers (M&L 1-2) This Week Prior Week Last Year

300-350 lbs 142.90 142.63 159.97

350-400 lbs 140.97 146.89 157.95

400-450 lbs 140.42 143.77 151.69

450-500 lbs 133.25 136.94 149.05

500-550 lbs 134.09 135.08 144.19

550-600 lbs 131.09 133.63 141.18

600-650 lbs 126.32 126.80 136.91

650-700 lbs 127.27 129.69 133.52

700-750 lbs 119.87 125.68 129.99

750-800 lbs 121.28 125.92 123.30

Heifers (M&L 1-2)

300-350 lbs 123.04 119.79 139.55 230.01

350-400 lbs 118.42 120.74 132.92

400-450 lbs 116.73 116.86 127.73

450-500 lbs 115.71 116.03 125.91

500-550 lbs 114.86 114.78 124.28

550-600 lbs 112.85 116.00 122.62

600-650 lbs 113.57 112.38 121.34

650-700 lbs 111.97 111.63 118.19

700-750 lbs 106.33 105.59 114.29

750-800 lbs 108.09 107.50 114.99

WEELY COW SUMMARY

Slaughter Cows Average High Low

Breakers 41.50-52.00 48.00-54.50 40.00-44.00

Boners 40.00-53.00 48.00-68.00 32.00-43.50

Lean 31.00-45.00 23.00-39.00

Slaughter Bulls Average High Low

Yield Grade 1’s 59.50-78.00 73.00-77.00 43.00-65.00