Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 5/21/18


DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg
3.4     6.2     6.2     5.5

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Topsoil Moisture 0 4 57 39
Subsoil Moisture 0 5 82 13
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX
Barley 0 7 16 63 14
Corn 1 7 22 59 11
Cotton 0 2 18 65 15
Hay 1 1 35 47 16
Oats 0 2 18 77 3
Pasture 1 5 27 63 4
Peanuts 0 0 19 62 19
Tobacco: Flue-cured 0 2 14 75 9
Wheat 0 4 19 65 12
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 96 92 96 96
Cotton 51 35 58 61
Peanuts 51 32 48 53
Sorghum 18 8 32 20 
Soybeans 38 24 34 31
Sweet Potatoes 21 n/a 17 18
Tobacco: Burley 18 n/a 31 41
Tobacco: Flue-cured 88 74 88 87
PHENOLOGICAL:
Barley Headed 90. 80 n/a n/a
Corn Emerged 89 78 91 88
Soybean Emerged 24 10 17 14
Wheat Headed 94 87 100 96
HARVESTED:
Hay: First Cutting 43 34 36 41

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS
Scattered rains all week kept farmers out of the fields most of the
week. Remnants of the tropical system hit Pender County
Saturday with some areas receiving as much as five inches of
rain. Some spots in fields are completely flooded out and causing
crop/yield loss. Blueberry harvest is expected to be in full swing
next week. Mark Seitz/Tim Matthews – Pender County Ext

Rains late were much needed. Cotton and soybean planting have
been delayed due to dry topsoil conditions.
Cathy Herring Central Crops Research Station

Localized storms have caused flooding of emerging corn and
vegetable crops. Steve Dillion – Agronomist Region 14

Warm and wet describes this period for our counties. Rainfall was
above average with 2"+ with average with temperatures in mid80s
for highs and low 60s in morning. Pastures are too wet too cut
and harvest hay for period.
Robert Hawk – Swain County Extension

Parts of Henderson County are experiencing flooding in fields.
Strawberry crop has been cut in half by 50% due to extreme rain.
Corn and soybeans have to be replanted in low lying flood prone
areas near creeks and rivers. Flooded vegetable fields have to be
replanted. Karen Blaedow – Henderson County Extension

Rainfall last week was much needed for recently transplanted
tobacco and the corn crop. Farmers were pushing hard on
Wednesday to transplant as much tobacco before the rain that
they could. The strawberry crop was yielding very well last week.
However, you pick operations had very little traffic due to rain
chances and cloudy weather.
Brandon Poole – Agronomist Region 8

4-6 inches of rain has fallen over the last 5 days.
Dwayne Tate – Agronomist Region 12

Craven- Rainfall continues to slow progress of planting soybean,
peanut and cotton; application of fertilizer to corn and tobacco;
and, weed control applications. Rainfall from Friday through
Sunday ranged from 2-4 inches and will delay field work even
further. Carteret - Rainfall continues to slow progress of planting
soybean and cotton. Split application of nitrogen to corn also
delayed. Recent rainfall (Friday through Sunday) ranged from 1-3
inches. Mike Carroll – Craven & Carteret County Extension

Significant rainfall most of the week severely limited field activity.
Soil conditions are extremely wet as most of the county received
between 3.5"-4" of rainfall with some areas receiving more. The
heavy rains caused some localized flash flooding but no damage
has been reported. Stanly Holloway – Yancey County Ext

Very wet week with over 5" of rain almost everywhere. Tobacco
looks good, but poor drainage spots are showing up in no-till
crops. No field work taking place and we need some sun!
Tim Hambrick – Forsyth County Extension

Wet conditions excessive rain good for all crops but the rain is
coming in heavy down pours and running off. Wet humid
conditions will promote disease in wheat, soybeans, tobacco.
Gary Cross – Person County Extension

The renewed rainy weather pattern is affecting the planting of
corn planting, which is almost complete as well as soybeans,
which is just getting started good. The current weather pattern
appears to be favorable for cabbage and potatoes, which are
looking very good. Wheat is in the grain filling stage and looking
very good. Al Wood – Pasquotank County Extension

Cotton and Peanuts are being planted. Most of the tobacco has
been set. Got right much rain over the weekend.
Blake Sandlin – Duplin County Extension

For the full report, click here.