Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 7/16/18


SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Topsoil Moisture 16 37 46 1
Subsoil Moisture 8 24 67 1
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus


DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
6.5 5.8 6.5 5.6

CROP CONDITION PERCENT 
VP P F G EX
Apples 0 15 36 49 0
Corn 11 20 41 27 1
Cotton 10 16 25 46 3
Hay 8 18 33 37 4
Pasture 3 13 40 42 2
Peaches 1 16 26 57 0
Peanuts 4 5 29 57 5
Sorghum 3 14 43 39 1
Soybeans 7 12 39 40 2
Sweet Potatoes 2 9 33 53 3
Tobacco: Burley 1 3 37 56 3
Tobacco: Flue-cured 4 12 30 50 4

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.
PHENOLOGICAL:
Soybean Emerged 96 91 96 93
Soybeans Blooming 38 23 33 28
Soybeans Setting Pods 11 n/a 11 10
Corn Silking 90 82 92 92
Corn Dough 46 27 50 51
Cotton Squaring 78 70 78 81
Cotton Setting Bolls 24 11 22 24
Peanuts Pegging 62 49 66 65
HARVESTED:
Barley 97 94 100 95
Hay: Second Cutting 45 36 39 41
Oats 94 89 100 89
Peaches 29 22 39 40

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS
Warm with summer thundershowers with normal rainfall near 1".
Temperatures near normal.
Robert Hawk – Swain County Extension

With hit and miss thunderstorms continuing, conditions throughout
the county are variable with some areas still needing rain.
Stephen Bishop – Cleveland SWCD

Rain is needed across much of the county. The coastal side
received 2.5" of rain last week but no other areas received any
significant amounts. Moisture stress is evident in many soybean
fields at the peak of the day. Field corn is beginning to dry down.
Even late planted corn is showing signs of leaf desiccation,
suggesting yields could be below normal on many acres.
Mark Seitz/Tim Matthews – Pender County Extension

Heavy downpours of rain in areas of the county are affecting the
growth and quality of the corn while hindering the planting of
soybeans. Most of the hay producers have the first cutting of hay
in the barn and are anticipating a second cutting soon. Pastures
are in good shape. Some areas could use more rain as the county
is getting spotty showers in some areas verses the county as a
whole.
Janice Nicholson – FSA Rutherford County

Dry conditions has allowed soybean planting to be completed.
Only a small number of acres remain to be replanted, as some
growers wait on moisture. Most crops are showing signs of
drought stress. Rain is needed.
Daniel Simpson – Pamlico County Extension

It is very dry around the county. We need some rain bad. Almost
all of the wheat has been harvested. Farmers are finishing up
planting soybeans.
Blake Sandlin – Duplin County Extension

Heat has returned stressing crops. Tobacco seems to be
stressing worse than others. Soybeans seem stunted and short.
Corn is stressing due to heat.
Gary Cross – Person County Extension

Some scattered thunderstorms brought significant rainfall to parts
of the county while other parts remained dry. There was some
localized flash flooding; however, little to no crop damage
occurred. Hay producers made good progress finishing up first
cutting hay; however, hay quality is low due to over-maturity.
Overall crops are looking pretty good with some black shank
showing up in a few tobacco fields.
Stanley Holloway - Yancey County Extension

Some areas have gotten rain while others remain dry, crops are
reflecting which have received rain and those that have not.
Don Nicholson – Agronomist Region 7

Corn and soybeans as well as tobacco are showing drought
stress signs. Tobacco growers are irrigating their crops because
of the lack of rainfall in our area. Pastures and lawns are starting
to brown up with drought stress. Tobacco growers have started
harvesting the crop this past week. Organic tobacco is way far
behind in growth stages.
Joey Knight – Caswell County Extension

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