🌾 A Dry Halloween, Real Rain Midweek, Hay Ready for It, Rye in the Ground and a Holiday Cactus That Blooms on Time — Your Farm & Garden Report

Or: A Calm Friday in Dunlap — Sunday Stays Light, the First Real Rain in a While Shows Up Tuesday Night Through Thursday, How to Line Up Round Bales So They Shed It, the Seeds Worth Sowing First, and Faster FSA Loans

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Friday, October 30, 2026

Good Friday morning. The National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap is mostly sunny today with a high near 78, then patchy fog early Saturday and a mostly cloudy, dry Halloween near 74. No frost is in the forecast through next Thursday. Sunday’s shower chance slipped again to 50%, and the Weather Service’s early numbers show only a few hundredths of an inch. The bigger news is midweek. The Weather Service’s early estimate for Dunlap is about 1.7 inches of rain from Tuesday night through Thursday, and the national Climate Prediction Center says chances are high for a wetter-than-normal stretch in the Tennessee Valley Nov. 4–8.

Here’s the roundup. Since real rain may finally show up, we start with hay. UT Extension says round bales left uncovered on the ground can lose about 35%, and there’s a simple way to line them up so they shed water. That rain is also a good reason to get rye or garlic in the ground this weekend. Indoors, UT Gardens explains how to get a Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus to bloom on time. USDA says FSA farm loans got faster for many borrowers. And two signups open this weekend: 2027 ARC/PLC on Monday and Marketplace health coverage on Sunday. A short checklist is at the end.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Weather: Dry through Halloween. Highs 74–78. No frost. Sunday showers 50%, but light. About 1.7 inches possible Tuesday night–Thursday (early estimate).
• Hay: Uncovered bales on the ground can lose about 35%. Get them off the ground, in rows running north to south, with space between rows, and away from trees.
• Seeding: UT says even a mid-November rye cover crop still helps, and garlic isn’t too late. Sow before the rain.
• Holiday cactus: Cool nights (55–65°F) and about 13 hours of total darkness each night set the buds.
• FSA loans: The fast-track process is now permanent. USDA says those applications ran about 8 days faster.
• Paperwork: Marketplace opens Sunday, Nov. 1. 2027 ARC/PLC opens Monday, Nov. 2.

🌧️ Halloween Stays Dry, Sunday Stays Light, and Real Rain Lines Up for Midweek

Here’s what the National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap says, as of its 6:06 a.m. update this morning:

• Today (Friday): Mostly sunny, high near 78. Tonight, mostly cloudy with patchy fog late, low around 53.
• Saturday (Halloween): Patchy fog before 8 a.m., then mostly cloudy, high near 74. Saturday night, a 30% chance of showers after 1 a.m., low around 54.
• Sunday, Nov. 1: Cloudy, 50% chance of showers, high near 63. The Weather Service’s early rain estimate for Sunday is only about 0.06 inch.
• Monday and Tuesday: Partly to mostly sunny, highs near 69 to 73.
• Tuesday night through Thursday: Rain chances of 40%, 50%, then 30%, highs near 71. The early estimate adds up to about 1.7 inches, with the most on Wednesday.

The Weather Service office in Morristown says the midweek system brings “low to medium chances for additional rainfall and gusty mountain winds Wednesday into Friday,” with details still to come. The Climate Prediction Center’s outlook for Nov. 4–8 says “confidence is high (greater than 60 percent chance) for above normal precipitation across the Tennessee Valley.”

What it means for you: This is the first forecast in a good while that looks like it could actually wet the ground and not just the windshield. Think of it like a long-promised visit from your sister. She’s not on the porch yet, and the plans could still change, but it’s time to sweep. Rain totals five days out often move up or down, so check again Monday. Meanwhile, you have about four dry days to get hay sorted, seed sown and loose things tied down ahead of possible gusty winds. If you drive the farm truck early Saturday, slow down in foggy low spots.

👉 Read more (National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast)

🧱 Get the Hay Ready for Rain: Off the Ground, North to South, and Not Touching

A dry fall means a lot of round bales are sitting outside right now. A UT Extension tip sheet by Grainger County agent Anthony Carver and UT specialist Dr. John Buchanan, plus UT’s hay storage guide, explain why the first real rain matters:

• The outside is most of the bale. UT says the first 12 inches of a round bale make up over half the hay in it. Moisture is hay’s “number 1 enemy,” leading to mold, rot and waste.
• Storage losses, by UT’s numbers: barn about 6%, hay tarp about 12%, uncovered on the ground about 35%. Under trees or along fencerows with trees, losses could be greater than 50%.
• If it has to stay outside: Put bales flat end to flat end, snug, in rows. Run rows north to south on well-drained ground in full sun, so the sun dries both sides after rain.
• Keep rows apart. UT says when rows touch, they hold rain in the bales.
• Get off the dirt. A rock pad or other base keeps moisture from wicking up from the ground.
• Feeding counts too. UT’s guide says unrolling hay can waste more than 25%, while a ring or cone feeder can cut waste to about 3–7%.

What it means for you: Hay outside in the rain is like a loaf of bread left on the counter. The middle stays fine for a while, but the crust goes first, and on a round bale the crust is half the loaf. You don’t need a new barn this weekend. Moving bales out from under the trees, spacing the rows and getting them onto gravel or pallets is a good Saturday job. If you use tarps, tie them down tight before Wednesday in case the wind comes along. Short on hay? The state’s free hay directory lists sellers.

👉 Read more (UT Extension: Hay Storage Hints and Tips)

🌱 Sow Before the Rain: Rye and Garlic Still Have Time

The UT Extension 2026 Tennessee Home Fruit and Vegetable Garden Calendar has a few notes for the first week of November:

• Nov. 2: “Even if it’s a mid-November seeding a cover crop like rye can still be a benefit.”
• Nov. 3: “Did you get your garlic planted? It isn’t too late!”
• Garlic basics from the same calendar: soil pH 6.0–6.5, cloves about 4 inches apart and 1 to 1½ inches deep.
• For pollinators: UT suggests leaving some hollow stems standing in the garden over winter, where native bees may nest.

What it means for you: With a dry spell this long, seed on top of dusty ground can just sit there waiting. Sowing in the next few days and letting midweek rain do the watering is like putting the coffee on a timer the night before. If the rain comes, rye sprouts and starts holding soil over winter. If it doesn’t, you’re out only a little seed. Rake it in lightly so birds don’t get it all.

👉 Read more (UT Extension: 2026 Tennessee Home Fruit and Vegetable Garden Calendar, W436)

🌺 How to Get a Christmas Cactus to Bloom on Time

Many Valley homes have a holiday cactus that’s been passed down for years. UT Gardens, the state botanical garden, has this advice from professor emerita Mary Lewnes Albrecht:

• Buds form in fall with shorter days and cooler nights.
• Indoors: Find a spot that stays 55–65°F and gets total darkness for about 13 hours every night. If nights are above 70°F, UT recommends about 15 hours of darkness. The cooler the nights, the less the hours matter.
• Outdoors: The plant can handle nights in the 40s, but bring it in before nights drop below 40°F.
• Water: Let the mix get quite dry between waterings in fall to set buds. Too much water leads to root rot.
• Once buds show, don’t move it. Sudden temperature changes, drafts from heat vents and soil that’s too wet or too dry can make buds drop.
• Which is which: UT says Thanksgiving cactus has the sharpest “teeth” on the stem segments. Christmas cactus has smaller teeth.

What it means for you: A holiday cactus is like a grandchild at bedtime. It wants a cool room, lights out and nobody bothering it. A spare bedroom or back porch room that doesn’t get turned on at night works well. When you switch on the heat for the first time this fall, keep the plant away from the vent.

👉 Read more (UT Gardens: Christmas Cactus)

🏦 FSA Farm Loans Get Less Paperwork, Same Rules

In an Oct. 28 USDA blog post, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce described changes to Farm Service Agency lending. This is a nationwide change:

• Effective Oct. 1, 2026, FSA is simplifying steps and reducing paperwork for qualified applicants, for both direct FSA loans and FSA-guaranteed loans through banks and other lenders.
• Application Fast Track is now permanent. It’s for certain low-risk direct loan applicants with a proven repayment record. When it was piloted in 2023, about 23% of direct loan customers qualified, and their applications were processed about 8 days faster on average.
• Experienced lenders with a strong FSA record can now handle more of the review on guaranteed loans.
• Early 2027: Lenders will be able to submit guaranteed loan applications electronically.
• USDA says it is not loosening requirements or lending standards.

What it means for you: Think of it as the feed store opening a second checkout line. The prices and rules haven’t changed, but if you’re a regular who pays on time, you may get through quicker. If you’re thinking about a loan for equipment, land, cattle or operating costs, the first step is the same as always. Call the Jasper USDA Service Center at (423) 942-2244, or ask your bank whether it works with FSA guarantees.

👉 Read more (Farmers.gov: USDA Is Cutting Red Tape, Not Standards, on Farm and Ranch Loans)

🗂️ Weekend Paperwork Corner: Two Signups Open, and a Youth Hunt Next Door

• Sunday, Nov. 1: Marketplace health coverage opens (nationwide). Many farm families buy their own insurance. HealthCare.gov says enroll by Dec. 15 for coverage starting Jan. 1. Open Enrollment ends Jan. 15, 2027.
• Monday, Nov. 2: 2027 ARC/PLC enrollment opens for crops like corn, soybeans and wheat. It runs through March 15, 2027. The 2026 deadline is Dec. 11.
• Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 31–Nov. 1: TWRA’s Young Sportsman deer hunt for ages 6–16. If you let neighbors hunt your land, it’s a good weekend to remind everyone where the cattle and the property lines are.

What it means for you: Two signups opening on the same weekend is like two church suppers on one Sunday. You don’t have to go to both right away, but put them on the calendar. Neither needs a rush on day one. Watch out for anyone who calls claiming to be from Medicare, the Marketplace or FSA and asks for money or account numbers. Use the official websites or call the office directly.

👉 Read more (HealthCare.gov: Dates and deadlines) · USDA FSA: ARC/PLC enrollment · TWRA: Hunting seasons summary

📌 Sticky Notes for the Fridge

• This weekend: Dry in Dunlap through Halloween. Highs 74–78. Patchy fog early Saturday. No frost expected.
• Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Central: Halloween, and the last regular Dunlap Farmers Market Saturday at the Jeff Johnson Pavilion, Harris Park (confirm before you go). Daytime looks dry.
• Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 31–Nov. 1: TWRA Young Sportsman deer hunt, ages 6–16.
• Sunday, Nov. 1, 2 a.m.: Clocks fall back one hour. Light showers possible (50%). Marketplace Open Enrollment begins.
• Monday, Nov. 2: 2027 ARC/PLC enrollment opens.
• Tuesday night–Thursday, Nov. 3–5: Best rain chance in weeks. Early estimate about 1.7 inches. Possible gusty mountain winds. Tie down tarps.
• Thursday, Nov. 5: Next U.S. Drought Monitor map.
• Friday, Nov. 6, 8 a.m. Central: Tennessee Forage & Grassland Council annual meeting, Crossville.
• Saturday, Nov. 7: Master Gardeners’ quarterly meeting, Pikeville.
• Monday, Nov. 9: Last day to apply for winter-storm emergency loans with FSA.
• Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day. USDA Service Centers closed.
• Sunday, Nov. 15: Last day of the Tennessee White Oak Initiative acorn collection.
• Thursday, Nov. 19: NOAA’s next three-month outlook.
• Friday, Nov. 20: Apply-by date for 2027 NRCS conservation funding in Tennessee.
• Thursday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving. USDA Service Centers closed.
• Tuesday, Dec. 1: State water-quality grant proposals due to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Monday, Dec. 7: FSA county committee ballots due.
• Thursday, Dec. 10: AgLead Tennessee applications due.
• Friday, Dec. 11: 2026 ARC/PLC enrollment deadline.
• Tuesday, Dec. 15: Last day to pick a Marketplace plan for coverage starting Jan. 1.
• Friday, Dec. 18: Dairy Margin Coverage signup ends.
• Thursday, Dec. 31: Organic Certification Cost Share applications due.
• Friday, Jan. 15, 2027: Marketplace Open Enrollment ends.
• Monday, March 1, 2027: LFP applications due for 2026 drought grazing losses.
• Monday, March 15, 2027: 2027 ARC/PLC enrollment closes.

👉 Dunlap–Sequatchie County Chamber events · Dunlap Farmers Market · UT Extension Sequatchie County

✅ Your Farm & Garden Checklist for the Dry Days Before the Rain

• ✅ Move round bales out from under trees and fencerows. Line them up north to south, with space between rows.
• ✅ Get bales up on gravel, pallets or a rock pad if you can.
• ✅ Using tarps? Tie them down tight before Wednesday in case of gusty winds.
• ✅ Feeding hay already? A ring or cone feeder wastes far less than unrolling.
• ✅ Sow rye or plant garlic this weekend and let midweek rain do the watering.
• ✅ Give the holiday cactus a cool room with lights off at night, away from the heat vent.
• ✅ Thinking about an FSA loan? Call Jasper at (423) 942-2244.
• ✅ Write “Nov. 1: Marketplace opens” and “Nov. 2: ARC/PLC opens” on the barn calendar.
• ✅ Driving early Saturday? Slow down in foggy low spots. And set the clocks back Saturday night.

Practical rule: Get the hay off the dirt, the seed in the ground and the tarps tied down while it’s dry, then let the rain do its work.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Farm & Garden Glossary

• Climate Prediction Center (CPC): The part of the National Weather Service that makes outlooks for 6 to 14 days ahead and longer. It gives chances, not exact amounts.
• Above-normal precipitation: More rain than is typical for that time of year.
• Mountain wave winds: Strong, gusty winds that can develop when air flows over a mountain ridge and comes down the other side.
• Net wrap: Plastic netting wrapped around a round bale that holds it tight and helps it shed water.
• Rock pad: A bed of gravel or crushed rock where bales sit so they don’t soak up ground moisture.
• Cover crop: A crop like cereal rye grown over winter to protect and build soil, not to harvest.
• Cereal rye: A tough winter grain often used as a cover crop. It’s not the same as ryegrass.
• Holiday cactus: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter cacti. They come from tropical forests, not deserts.
• Direct loan vs. guaranteed loan: A direct loan comes from FSA. A guaranteed loan comes from a bank or other lender, and FSA backs part of it.
• Application Fast Track: FSA’s quicker approval path for certain low-risk direct loan applicants with a good repayment record.
• ARC/PLC: Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage, two USDA safety-net programs for crops like corn, soybeans and wheat.
• Marketplace: The federal health insurance website, HealthCare.gov, where people without job-based coverage can buy plans.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Will the midweek rain end the drought?

It would help, but one storm rarely ends a drought this deep. The 1.7-inch figure is an early estimate, five days out, and it may change. Keep checking stock water and the forecast. The next Drought Monitor map comes Thursday, Nov. 5, but it uses data through Tuesday, so it likely won’t count the midweek rain until the following week.

Do I need a barn to store hay well?

No. UT says a barn has the lowest losses, but tight bales, net wrap, rows running north to south, space between rows, full sun, well-drained ground and a rock pad all help a lot. Keep bales away from trees, where losses can top 50%.

Is it too late to plant a cover crop?

Not for rye. UT’s garden calendar says even a mid-November rye seeding can still be a benefit. Other cover crops work best when planted earlier in the fall.

Why won’t my Christmas cactus bloom?

Usually it’s too warm or gets light at night. UT Gardens says it needs nights of 55–65°F and about 13 hours of total darkness, and the soil should dry out between waterings in fall. Don’t move it once buds form.

Does the FSA change mean easier loan approval?

No. USDA says the standards are the same. What changed is less paperwork and faster processing for qualified applicants, especially low-risk direct loan borrowers with a good repayment record.

Is Marketplace the same as Medicare open enrollment?

No. Medicare has its own open enrollment, which ends Dec. 7. Marketplace, at HealthCare.gov, is for people who buy their own coverage. It opens Nov. 1 and ends Jan. 15, 2027.

Is the Dunlap Farmers Market open Saturday?

Saturday, Oct. 31, is expected to be the last regular Saturday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Jeff Johnson Pavilion in Harris Park. Please check the market’s website or social media before you go.

🔗 Other Resources

• National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast
• National Weather Service Morristown: Area Forecast Discussion
• NOAA Climate Prediction Center: 6–10 and 8–14 Day Outlook Discussion
• UT Extension: Hay Storage Hints and Tips
• UT Extension: Hay storage and feeding guide (W1222)
• UT Extension: 2026 Tennessee Home Fruit and Vegetable Garden Calendar (W436)
• UT Gardens: Christmas Cactus
• Farmers.gov: USDA Is Cutting Red Tape, Not Standards, on Farm and Ranch Loans
• USDA FSA: 2026 and 2027 ARC/PLC enrollment
• HealthCare.gov: Dates and deadlines
• TWRA: Tennessee hunting seasons summary
• U.S. Drought Monitor: Tennessee
• Tennessee Department of Agriculture: Hay Directory
• USDA: Service Center locator (Jasper Service Center, 3709 Main St. · 423-942-2244)
• BurnSafeTN: Free burn permits
• Dunlap–Sequatchie County Chamber of Commerce: Events
• Dunlap Farmers Market
• UT Extension Sequatchie County (170 Church Street, Dunlap · 423-949-2611)
• Dunlap.Today

🏡 Keep Learning, Stay Calm and Come Back to the Porch

For once, the weather news is good news for the land. Halloween stays dry for the little ones, and real rain may finally arrive midweek. You’ve got four dry days to get ready, and none of it is hard. Line up the hay, sow a little rye, tie down the tarps and give the holiday cactus a quiet, cool room. The loan and signup news is about less waiting, not more worry. Pick one job, enjoy the trick-or-treaters and remember to set the clocks back Saturday night.

When you want the next calm, practical update for Sequatchie Valley readers, pull up a chair at Dunlap.Today.