Source: USDA'S  NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 5/14/18

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Topsoil Moisture 3 31 63 3
Subsoil Moisture 3 18 76 3
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
6.2 6.3 4.4 5.1

CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX
Barley 1 8 16 60 15
Corn 0 3 16 69 12
Oats 1 2 21 71 5
Pasture 1 5 29 58 7
Tobacco: Flue-cured 0 2 15 77 6
Wheat 0 4 18 65 13
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:
Corn 92 81 92 92
Cotton 35 14 29 33
Peanuts 32 16 23 25
Soybeans 24 13 17 17
Tobacco: Flue-cured 74 49 71 73
PHENOLOGICAL:
Barley Headed 80 69 n/a n/a
Corn Emerged 78 58 85 79
Soybean Emerged 10 n/a n/a n/a
Wheat Headed 87 74 99 91
HARVESTED:
Hay: First Cutting 34 17 29 25

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

Dry weather prevailed this week allowing farmers to finish planting
corn. Soybean planting started on farms as corn planting finished
this week. Temperatures in the 90s over the weekend depleted
soil moisture quickly. Subsequently wheat is drying out quickly as
we move toward early June. Blueberry harvest is underway in
most places with early maturing varieties. Cold vegetable crops
are just beginning to harvest this week.
Mark Seitz/Tim Matthews – Pender County Extension

Dry weather conditions have taken a toll on the wheat crop during
grain filling. Yields will be impacted. Much of the region is in need
of rain soon. Planting of some crops is delayed due to poor
moisture conditions. Georgia Love – Agronomist Region 5

Fruit crops gave us a scare due to early floral development and
late freezes, but we have perhaps a 60% crop of peaches, and
blueberries about the same. Strawberry season will be short due
to late development and onset of hot weather recently.
Taylor Williams - Moore County Extension

Dry conditions are negatively affecting all crops, especially
recently transplanted tobacco and small grains.
Don Nicholson – Agronomist Region 7

Conditions have gotten dry over the last few weeks. The first
cutting of hay is well under way, and some early soybeans are
already being planted.
Stephen Bishop – Cleveland SWCD

Drying weather towards the end of the week help many to finish
corn planting and start on soybeans.
Daniel Simpson – Pamlico County Extension

Extremely dry and hot conditions have hampered planting of
cotton and soybeans this past week.
Cathy Herring Central Crops Research Station

Rainfall has been hit or miss, this week
Tim Britton – Johnston County Extension

Craven- Warmer temperatures and lack of rainfall afforded
opportunity for field work. Planting of corn and transplanting of
tobacco almost complete. Limited soybean and cotton planted.
Carteret - Isolated thunderstorms slowed planting progress in a
few small areas but most producers made advancements due to
favorable weather conditions.
Mike Carroll – Craven & Carteret County Extension

Some areas of the county received a small shower of rain last
Thursday night. More rain is needed to increase topsoil moisture
for good planting conditions. Lack of rainfall during grain fill will
probably have a negative impact on what looked like a wheat
crop with high yield potential. Nutrient issues are showing up in a
few corn fields. Mac Malloy – Robeson County Extension

Weather conditions for the week were on the warm side for this
time of year with highs mainly in the upper 70 to mid-80's. Very
little precipitation for the week, less than 0.25" in most areas of
the county, allowed good progress in planting vegetable crops
and corn planting is getting started. Pastures and hay ground is
really coming on with the warmer temps and in response to
fertilization. Stanly Holloway – Yancey County Extension

Italian ryegrass is showing up in several fields of wheat,
otherwise the crop looks pretty good. Tobacco transplanting
continued, with no problems reported so far other than being
behind due to weather conditions earlier. Corn is up and looking
OK so far. Soybean planting continued. Hay harvest continued
with yields increasing but cool season grasses are headed out
and the crop is maturing fast.
Paul Westfall – Granville County Extension

For the full report, click here.