Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 6/5/17

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Topsoil Moisture 1 17 69 13
Subsoil Moisture 1 11 76 12
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
5.5             3.2                4.6             4.8 

CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX
Apple 0 1 38 61 0
Barley 7 28 21 35 9
Corn 1 4 18 61 16
Cotton 1 4 21 69 5
Hay 0 4 39 47 10
Oats 1 5 36 53 5
Pasture 1 3 26 61 9
Peaches 9 3 39 49 0
Peanuts 0 1 20 74 5
Sorghum 0 2 33 60 5
Soybeans 0 3 18 76 3
Tobacco: Flue-cured 2 3 23 63 9
Tobacco: Burley 0 0 56 40 4
Wheat 1 8 22 59 10
VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent


CROP PROGRESS PERCENT – WITH COMPARISONS 
This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Yr.Avg.
PLANTED:
Cotton 86 74 85 92
Peanuts 80 65 80 91
Sorghum 53 40 58 N/A
Soybeans 57 43 55 53
Sweet Potatoes 39 22 47 41
Tobacco: Burley 50 45 56 72
Tobacco: Flue-cured 98 94 97 98
PHENOLOGICAL:
Soybeans % Emerged 42 26 40 39
HARVESTED:
Barley 30 n/a 14 n/a
Oats 32 n/a n/a n/a
Hay: First Cutting 68 50 70 78 1
Wheat 18 n/a n/a n/a

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

We have plenty of rain, Fraser Fir growth is one week ahead. Some vegetable crops have slowed down due to excess moisture. All potatoes have been planted, pumpkins are starting to be planted and fruit trees are showing fruit. Jerry Moody – Avery County Extension

A much drier week allowed soils to dry so that producers could get back in the fields by mid-week. The corn crop is essentially all planted now and burley tobacco transplanting is nearly complete. Hay harvest had been hindered by rain; however, several producers were able to get some put up this week with little or no rain on it. Hay producers are still reporting 25%-30% reductions in yield on first cutting as remnant of last year's drought conditions. Vegetable crop planting is in full swing. Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension

Soybeans are being planted. Cabbage harvest is underway and I. potato growers are getting prepared for harvest. Much of the corn crop is approaching the VT growth stage. Wheat is fast drying down and harvest has started. Al Wood – Pasquotank County Extension

Rainfall was .5" - 1" for the period was was slightly below to near average. First Hay Cutting was done during this period, which was Good to Excellent due to excellent spring rains and average temperatures. This period had some drying which allowed the farmers to work their crops and get in their hay fields. Robert Hawk – Swain County Extension

Transplanting tobacco, replanting corn, planting and replanting soybeans, cutting and baling hay where ground and weather conditions permitted. Robin Watson – Agronomist Region 8

Carteret -Scattered rainfall events ranging from 1-2" per event. Thus, some areas have been able to continue field work. Corn progressing with good color and size. Other crops vary depending upon soil water saturation. Craven-Less frequent rainfall allowed field work in some fields to allow for cotton planting, early season weed control and treatment of thrips in peanut and cotton. Corn recovering from excessive rainfall and growing well. Initial evaluation of Tomato Spotted Wilt (TSW) on tobacco shows a range from 10-40% with 20-25% TSW incidence common. Mike Carroll – Craven & Carteret County Extension

A week of mostly dry conditions have allowed growers to make good progress with wheat harvest, finishing the planting of cotton and peanuts and the laying by of most of the tobacco crop. Don Nicholson – Agronomist Region 7

Wheat harvest continues with yield reports above average. Early planted corn is tasseling and looking good. Some areas of sandier soil are in need of moisture. Mac Malloy – Robeson County Extension

Overall, we have 20% of a peach crop. The March Freeze destroyed most peaches and blueberries in our area. Blackberries and strawberries (which were protected) fared much better. Labor shortages are sharp here.Taylor Williams – Moore County Extension

Heavy rains early last week left many fields flooded. Poorly drained soils caused flood damage in late planted corn, soybeans and cotton across Pender County. Rains also delayed blueberry harvest. Mark Seitz – Pender County Extension

For the full report, click here.