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Kentucky's May Weather-Related
Ag. Operations Calendar


Kentucky Ag Wx Outlook    Kentucky Crop Report

May International Crop Calendar

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Quick Menu: General Crop Operations | Vegetables | Beef Operations


May Crop Operations
(Based on 10 yrs. of Kentucky Crop Reports)

First Week Second Week Third Week Fourth Week
Forages --- --- 1st cutting Alfalfa 25% complete 1st cutting Alfalfa 40% complete
Small Grains

Army Worm Development BEGINS
Wheat 30% headed

Army Worm Development (cont.)


Army Worm Development (cont.)


Army Worm Development (cont.)
Soybeans Planting BEGINS 5% is now planted 15% is now planted -----
Tobacco ----- ----- 10% of crop is set 20% of crop is set
Corn ----- 50% of crop planted 65% of crop planted 75% of crop planted

European Corn Borer becomes ACTIVE
General Farm
Operations
----- ----- ----- -----


NOTE: CORN yield is reduced 1% for each day past May 15th that planting is delayed.



Usual Crop Planting And Harvesting Dates For May
(from Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service)

Planting Dates Harvesting Dates
Corn Entire month -----
Soybeans BEGINS May 10th -----
Burley Tobacco (Type 31) BEGINS May 10th -----
Dark Fired Tobacco (Type 22 & 23) BEGINS May 12th -----
One Sucker Tobacco (Type 35) BEGINS May 12th -----
Green River Tobacco (Type 36) BEGINS May 12th -----
Sorghum Grain BEGINS May 10th -----
Alfalfa Hay ----- BEGINS May 5th
All Other Hay ----- BEGINS May 15th
Popcorn Entire month -----





Quick Menu: General Crop Operations | Beef Operations

May Vegetable Gardener's Calendar for Western KY
(from Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky)
May 1st Start seeds outdoors for SWEET CORN, MUSTARD, RADISHES, and LETTUCE.
May 7th
  • Start seeds outdoors for GREEN BEANS and LIMA BEANS.

  • Move transplants to garden for TOMATOES, MUSKMELONS, WATERMELONS, and SQUASH.
  • NOTE: Add 10 days for Central KY and 15 for Eastern KY to these dates for spring and summer crops.


    May Garden Safe Planting Dates
    (from Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky)

    Earliest Safe Planting Date Latest Safe Planting Date

    Date Area of KY Date Area of KY
    Asparagus (crowns) ----- ----- Spring Only All
    Beans (snap) May 1st Eastern Mt. ----- -----
    Beans (lima) May 1st
    May 10th
    Central
    Eastern Mt.
    ----- -----
    Sweet Corn May 1st Eastern Mt. ----- -----
    Cucombers May 1st
    May 10th
    Central
    Eastern Mt.
    ----- -----
    Eggplant (plants) May 1st
    May 10th
    May 15th
    Western
    Central
    Eastern Mt.
    ----- -----
    Muskmelons May 10th
    May 15th
    Central
    Eastern Mt.
    ----- -----
    Okra May 10th
    May 15th
    Central
    Eastern Mt.
    ----- -----
    Onions (sets) ----- ----- Spring Only All
    Peas ----- ----- Spring Only All
    Peppers (plants) May 1st
    May 10th
    May 20th
    Western
    Central
    Eastern Mt.
    ----- -----
    Sweet Potatoes May 1st
    May 10th
    May 20th
    Western
    Central
    Eastern Mt.
    ----- -----
    Pumpkins May 5th
    May 10th
    Central
    Eastern Mt.
    ----- -----
    Southern Peas May 5th
    May 10th
    Central
    Eastern Mt.
    ----- -----
    Summer Squash May 10th
    May 15th
    Central
    Eastern Mt.
    ----- -----
    Tomatoes (plants) May 5th
    May 15th
    Central
    Eastern Mt.
    ----- -----
    Watermelons May 5th
    May 15th
    Central
    Eastern Mt.
    ----- -----
    Winter Squash May 10th
    May 15th
    Central
    Eastern Mt.
    ----- -----





    Quick Menu: General Crop Operations | Vegetables

    May Beef Operations
    (from the Beef Integrated Resource Management Calendar)
    Spring Calving Herd
  • Breeding season BEGINS.

  • Continue supplying supplemental magnesium until daytime temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees.
  • Fall Calving Herd
  • Weaning period.
  • All Cattle
  • Don't start fly control until fly population builds up.
  • Forages
  • Start hay harvests for quality forage.

  • Seed warm season annuals for supplemental forage as needed.

  • Seed warm season perennial grasses.

  • Clip seedheads to prevent seedhead formation on fescue and to control weeds as needed. Consider herbicide options.

  • Rotate pastures as needed.




  • Ag Weather Center, Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky