Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 1/29/18

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


SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Topsoil Moisture
1 7 57 35
Subsoil Moisture
0 13 63 24
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

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

CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX
Barley 0 8 17 73 2
Oats 0 2 46 52 0
Pasture 2 27 36 34 1
Wheat 0 3 24 70 3
VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS
Rutherford County has experienced extremely cold conditions throughout the county and have been dry up until the 4.5 - 6 inches of snow with 1 - 2 inches this past weekend. Hay reserves are being utilized to offset the lack of grass for grazing.
Janice Nicholson - Rutherford County Extension

Small grains are looking fair to good.
Don Nicholson – Agronomist Region 7

Franklin County was getting dry compared to most winters. The snow helped and now we are receiving much needed rain to fill the irrigation ponds for summer. The small grain crops and pastures have suffered some from the extreme cold temperatures and lack of rain.
Charles Mitchell - Lee County Extension

10 inches of snow last week some rain behind that
Gary Cross – Person County Extension

Not much outside activities be done on the farm, but growers are preparing for the upcoming growing season as well as doing inside activities including working on equipment, etc.
Al Wood – Pasquotank County Extension

Wet winter conditions have limited field work.
Daniel Simpson – Pamlico County Extension

Very little rainfall in December.
Tim Britton – Johnston County Extension

Winter wheat has been recovering from the previous week's freeze. Some is in need of N fertilization very soon. Strawberries left uncovered have damaged foliage, but crowns appear minimally damaged at this point.
Georgia Love – Agronomist Region 5

Cold wave first half of January with more normal temperatures second half of month. 2-3 of rainfall month, which is .5-1 inch below normal. Basically a colder and drier month than average.
Robert Hawk – Swain County Extension

Frigid temperatures at the end of December caused some injury to small fruits and tree fruits. Will know more by the end of January.
Taylor Williams - Moore County Extension

Extremely cold temperatures have had adverse effects across many crops, especially winter wheat and rye. There have been 2 snow events that have helped with drought conditions, but the county is still abnormally dry for this time of year which is concerning for many farmers as the year progresses.
Brad Thompson – Montgomery County Extension

We have had 1.5-3 inches of water across the county since 1/28. Coupled with the 1-5 inches of snow that melted in from the 1/17 snowfall, topsoil moisture in good. Irrigation ponds and creeks are still low, but may rise after this rainfall.
Tim Britton – Johnston County Extension

For the full report, click here.