Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 5/1/17

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg
2.5 5.7 5.3 4.6

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Topsoil Moisture 0 4 51 45
Subsoil Moisture 1 2 65 32
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 79 63 82 77
Tobacco: Flue-cured 38 24 38 40
PHENOLOGICAL:
Corn % Emerged 54 12 52 50
Wheat % Headed 89 59 56 59

CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX
Barley 1 11 23 55 10
Corn 0 0 13 86 1
Oats 0 4 59 35 2
Pasture 1 7 22 67 3
Wheat 2 12 25 55 6
VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

Conditions for the week were relatively warm and dry with high temperatures reaching into the mid to upper 80's later in the week. There were some scattered rain showers with most of the county receiving less than a half inch of rain. Main farm activities included field preparations, a limited amount of corn planting and some limited planting of early season vegetables. Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension

Rainfall last week measured from 3-6 inches. Land prep for tobacco and vegetables has been delayed. Corn planting has been delayed as well. Strawberries are at risk due to wet conditions and threat of increased disease pressure. Dwayne Tate – Agronomist Region

We had about 2.75" for the period, which is "ABOVE" normal rainfall for the period. Good appreciable rain was recorded. Temperatures were above normal during the period. Pasture and Hay-fields are coming on stronger now. Strawberry farms are reporting excellent crop, best since 2009. Robert Hawk – Swain County Extension

Pastures/hay fields in need of reseeding after last year’s drought. Bill Skelton - Haywood County Extension

Franklin County received on average 7.5 inches of rain. Charles Mitchell - Franklin County Extension

We have had some excess moisture which has caused some of the strawberry crop to be thrown away. Danelle Cutting - Rowan County Extension

Rainfall totals across Lee county reportedly ranged from 4-5 inches. Approximately 70% of the tobacco crop had been set before the rain event. Leaching adjustments will be needed. Weed control will be a concern as many PRE herbicides have likely leached. Zachary Taylor - Lee County Extension

Rainfall ranging from 3-7 inches delayed all field work. Rising river water may flood isolated fields in coming days. Only a small percentage of tobacco transplanted so the impact is small. In contrast, corn already showing signs of poor growth (low nitrogen and/or sulfur along with saturated soil conditions) in isolated spots. Mike Carroll – Craven County Extension

Heavy rain (4/24/17) dropped 5"-6" across the entire county in 24 hours. Newly seeded corn and emerged corn fared better than expected except in low, poorly drained spots. The rain greatly improved pasture quality and recharged subsoil moisture levels but nutrient leaching in corn is forcing farmers to side dress corn earlier than normal to maintain fertility levels. Mark Seitz – Pender County Extension

NCDA Agronomic Region 6 received 3 to 8 inches Monday and Tuesday. Tar River flooded moderately. Planting, cultivation resumed Saturday. Strawberry crop likely sustained heaviest damage with ripe fruit deterioration. Fruit disease pressure has become heavy. Mike Wilder – Agronomist Region 6

Rainfall totals for the area range from 5.5 to 8.5 inches from this past week. Contentnea Creek flooded nearly as bad as it did during Hurricane Matthew. Some flooding will result in tobacco, sweet potato, and corn acres needing to be replanted. Early reports are not as many acres as I feared, but some fields were certainly affected. High temperatures over the weekend may cause strawberry blooms to have aborted. I know farmers were hoping for a long season and to end strawberry season before May is heartbreaking. Roy Thagard – Greene County Extension

We had six inches of rain that was needed. Gary Cross – Person County Extension

Flooding from the Tar river has affected corn and some early planted peanuts and cotton. Some tobacco has been affected by localized flooding, standing water and field erosion. Art Bradley - Edgecombe County Extension

6-9" of rain last week has really backed up field work. Tim Hambrick – Forsyth County Extension

Early week showers slowed planting until condition dried later in the week. Some soybeans are going in the ground and most corn is up and growing. Overall, conditions are good for most crops. Daniel Simpson – Pamlico County Extension

For the full report, click here.