By AP
Nashville, TN – The crop harvest is well ahead of average on Tennessee farms because of dry weather. The lack of rainfall, however, has thrown half of the pastures into poor or very poor condition. Agriculture officials say many farmers are having to feed livestock with baled hay because pastures were poor. A report this week from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service shows 96% of the corn crop has been picked, compared with a five-year average of 75%. The soybean harvest was at about 46%, compared to the usual 24%. Nearly half the cotton crop has been gathered in. Tobacco was on track with above 90% of both burley and dark-fired leaf harvested. Most crops were reported in fair to good condition.