By Blake Jackson
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, citing data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, reports favorable conditions for the week ending June 9, 2024. With 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork, farmers made significant progress in planting and crop development.
Soil moisture remains adequate, with topsoil at 90% and subsoil at 92%. This minimizes stress on crops and allows for continued growth.
Corn planting is exceeding the five-year average, reaching 90% completion. Emergence is also progressing well at 60%. Winter wheat maturity is on track, with 85% of the crop headed.
Hay cutting has commenced, with alfalfa hay at 58% complete and other hay varieties at 50% complete. Soybean planting has reached 70%, with emergence at 50%.
Crop condition reports are positive across the board. Corn, hay, and winter wheat boast "good" ratings exceeding 80%. Barley is primarily in "good" condition (76%) with some "fair" (11%) and minimal "poor" (1%). Pastures and rangelands reflect similar optimism with a "good" rating of 73%.
Pennsylvania agricultural sector is experiencing a promising start to the 2024 season. Favorable weather conditions, coupled with strong crop development, suggest a potentially productive year for Pennsylvania farmers.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Corn, Soybeans