Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 2/27/17

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK  
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
6.7 n/a n/a n/a

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT    
VS ST A SS   
Topsoil Moisture 6 44 47 3   
Subsoil Moisture 5 20 71 4              
VS= Very Short   ST = Short   A = Adequate   SS = Surplus    

CROP PROGRESS PERCENT – WITH COMPARISONS  
This  Week Last Week Last Year 5 Yr. Avg.   

no data

CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX       
Barley 1 2 18 77 2       
Oats 0 14 46 38 2       
Pasture  3 21 38 37 1       
Wheat 0 7 24 57 12                   
VP = Very Poor  P = Poor  F = Fair  G = Good   EX = Excellent

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

The wheat crop is growing fast due to the warm weather. If we have the potential for multiple freeze events in March and April we will more than likely lose some of our wheat crop. We are in a mild drought currently. We have not seen any measurable rainfall since mid-January. Charles Mitchell - Franklin County Extension  

The entire county remains abnormally dry. While there is no burning ban in place, residents are asked to use extreme caution when conducting outdoor burning. Randy Fulk – Stokes County Extension 

Very warm temperature and dry conditions are driving very early blooming of strawberries. Wheat and other small grains are in need of rain. Some tobacco growers are fumigating tobacco land, with some who are broadcast treating are close to finishing. Don Nicholson – Agronomist Region 7   

Temperatures just below to around freezing last night. Raleigh Exec Airport, typically a cold spot in the county, reported a low of 26. Unsure yet how the strawberry crop was impacted, most growers were prepared to protect. If berries are saved, ripe strawberries will be ready in about 2 weeks. No significant rain in almost 2 weeks. Dry conditions have allowed a lot of early field prep to be completed, some tobacco land has been fumigated. Warm and sunny weather have helped tobacco transplants get off to an excellent start. Zachary Taylor - Lee County Extension 

With the nice weather farmers were able to get a head start on herbicide burn-down applications. Tobacco transplants looking good so far in greenhouses. We had a light frost overnight, so many fruit tree blossoms that were exposed would have been killed. Roy Thagard – Greene County Extension 

Wheat is advanced in many areas due to warm conditions. Growers are concerned about potential freeze damage going into March. Some strawberry growers have started fertilizing and are picking berries on day neutral varieties. The crop is very advanced for this time in the season and freeze protection is a general concern. Georgia Love – Agronomist Region 5 

Extremely dry.  Nancy Keith – Iredell county Extension

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