Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 4/10/17

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK  
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg
5.0 4.9 5.8 5.6

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT.    

VS ST A SS 
 Topsoil Moisture 3 18 73 6   
Subsoil Moisture 5 19 72 4              
VS= Very Short   ST = Short   A = Adequate   SS = Surplus    

CROP PROGRESS PERCENT – WITH COMPARISONS 
This  Week Last Week Last Year 5 Yr. Avg.    
PLANTED:
Corn 10 n/a 19 17  

CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX      

Barley 1 14 35 46 4 
Oats 1 4 34 59 2       
Pasture  2 13 39 44 2       
Wheat 1 7 24 62 6                   
VP = Very Poor  P = Poor  F = Fair  G = Good   EX = Excellent

Winter Wheat freeze damage  57% none; 29 % Light; 11% moderate; 3 % severe 

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

A Spring snow event mid-week brought significant accumulations to parts of the county. The southern portions of the county reported upwards of 12" of snow in the highest elevations but most areas received only a few inches of accumulation. Precipitation levels for the week were highly variable across the county with the northern portion receiving around an inch of total precipitation for the week and the southern portion receiving over 2.5". Temperatures dipped following the snow event with low temperatures dropping below freezing. Fortunately temperatures didn't remain below freezing for very long, so very little freeze damage has been reported. Pastures continue to green-up and most livestock are now on spring pastures. The moist soil conditions prevented much field work for the week. Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension 

Still in a drought recovery situation with pastures and forages, stands are very thin, and supplemental feeding is taking place. Bill Skelton – Haywood County Extension 

We had near normal rainfall for the period of which 1" fell. Light Frost/Freeze was recorded 3 of the days during the period with temperatures slightly below average ranging from 20's to 70s overall. Cattle pastures are good overall, but horse pastures are not good. Cool season grasses are doing well in most cattle pastures. Robert Hawk – Swain County Extension 

Still assessing wheat freeze damage, but may not be as bad as originally thought. Tim Hambrick – Forsyth County Extension 

Dry warm weather at the end of the week started corn planting off strong. Forecast through next week is dry, so planting will be in full swing. Daniel Simpson – Pamlico County Extension 

Rape crop in excellent condition. No cotton, peanuts or tobacco are grown in Currituck. Fruits & berries and vegetable crops were in good condition. Corn not yet planted. Cameron Lowe – Currituck County Extension 

Early wheat is heading. Freeze damage appears to be light compared to others parts of the state. Corn planting has begun but rain slowed up progress as a cool front moved across the area bringing high winds with it. Mac Malloy – Robeson County Extension 

Freezing temps on 4/7 & 4/8. Still two weeks out from corn planting starting. Joe Deal – Macon County Extension 

Recent widespread rainfall may help alleviate moderate drought conditions in the county. Rainfall totals approaching 2" fell between April 5 and April 8. Randy Fulk - Stoker County Extension 

Several good rains have pastures greening up and beginning to improve. There appears to be some moderate to severe wheat damage, especially in early planted fields, because of the freeze. There was some damage to strawberries, but most producers seemed come through okay with the use of row covers.  Stephen Bishop – Cleveland Soil and Water District  

Recent rains have improved small grains and pastures. Cattle farms vaccinating animals and starting ground prep for summer annual pasture areas. We have a couple of farms that have just finished planting alfalfa. Corn planting is well underway with good weather and soil conditions for planting. Early varieties of rabbiteye blueberries were damaged by earlier freeze events Brian Parrish – Harnett County Extension 

Wheat wasn't far enough along in most areas to suffer freeze damage in March. Warm, dry field conditions allowed some corn to be planted. Rain in mid-week helped recharge soil moisture levels. Cold temperatures on the backside of the rain may affect corn emergence. Blueberry crop damage assessments continue to vary between a 50%- 80% loss.  Mark Seitz – Pender County Extension 

Early wheat is heading. Freeze damage appears to be light compared to others parts of the state. Corn planting has begun but rain slowed up progress as a cool front moved across the area bringing high winds with it. Mac Malloy – Robeson County Extension

Field preparation continued, Rainfall slowed progress for about a day. Wheat is recovering well from the cold weather. Some farmers have reported that nitrogen applications made before the freeze were not effective and were reapplying N in some cases. Pastures are improving, but farmers are still feeding hay until grass gets a little more mature, although hay supplies are short. Paul Westfall – Granville County Extension

For the full report, click here.