Pennsylvania Ag Connection - Most Pennsylvania Pastures Good to Excellent

Pennsylvania Ag News Headlines

Most Pennsylvania Pastures Good to Excellent
Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 07/23/2019

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Pennsylvania, there were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday. Topsoil moisture supplies were 6 percent very short, 8 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 86 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus.

Pasture conditions ranged from 0 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 8 percent excellent.

Reporters are from Extension Service (Ext), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Conservation District (CD), farmers, commodity specialists, or other knowledgeable individuals.

ADAMS County, Judy A. Behney -- Adams County has had a very hot week of temperatures. Most days were high 80's to mid 90's. Morning temperatures started low's 70's and humid most days. Some rainfall received in the county but very sporadic and some areas haven't gotten anywhere you just go down road up the hill on other side and rainfall was received. Some corn has been rolling in the county this week from the excessive heat. Everyone could use a little rainfall that would benefit all crops. Corn and soybeans continue to grow and are looking pretty good. Some double cropped soybeans were still planted this week. Hay continues to be made when weather conditions permit. Wheat for the most part was all good wheat this year unless harvested after 4th of July when rains fell in the county. Fruit crops are looking pretty good with sizing of fruit when driving down road you can see pretty well. Some early peaches and apples are being harvested. Vegetables are readily available in the county at farmers markets or roadside stands with good crops being reported. Overall the producers are keeping busy with fieldwork as they progress through planting season and topdressing depending when they planted their crops. Mowing of conservation waterways and other areas around the farm are also being completed. Strong thunderstorms went through Adams county Sunday night. Sporadic amounts of rainfall. Cashtown only got tenths of an inch and York Springs had 1.25 inches where other areas also got significant amounts. Sunday's temperatures reached 96 degrees and corn and soybeans were showing signs of heat as the plants were rolling.

ADAMS/FRANKLIN counties, Thomas Kerr -- Hot weather with warm nights may affect yield on corn that is now in silk. Early corn is looking great. Peach harvest is just beginning and is about average yield with excellent quality.

BRADFORD County, Casey Guindon -- Hot and dry weather this week promoted rapid crop growth and allowed for dry hay production. Manure spreading and spraying were the most popular tasks in the area this week.

CENTRE County, Adriana Murillo-Williams -- After a short dry period, Centre Co received 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain in 2 days. Corn is tasseling and soybeans are at R1. Insects observed in soybeans are Japanese beetles, thistle caterpillars, aphids, grasshoppers, silver spotted skippers, and bean leaf beetles. Diseases in soybean include brown spot, frogeye leaf spot, and downy mildew.

CENTRE County, Dick A. Decker -- Hot weather and recent rain provides ideal crop conditions. 1 inch rainfall for the week. Most crops look good.

JUNIATA/SNYDER counties, William C. Sheaffer -- A week that was very hot and stressful. Thank goodness for the rain on Wednesday in the range of one to two inches. Crops are looking good at this point. Weeds are a problem in some areas. Activities for the week were harvesting small grains, haymaking and baling straw.

LANCASTER County, Jeff Graybill -- Strong winds and heavy rain lodged corn and caused some wind damage in the eastern side of the county this past week. Also some isolated hail damaged some tobacco fields. However, most of the rain was welcome and it helped carry the crop through the heat of the past few days. Most of the corn had already pollinated, so I don't expect significant heat damage other than rapidly depleting our soils of precious moisture. Overall hearing very few reports of disease and seeing nice pod and ear development on the corn and soybeans.

Other Pennsylvania Headlines