Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 9/17/18


SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT 
VS ST A SS
Topsoil Moisture 0 1 20 79
Subsoil Moisture 0 2 28 70
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK 
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
3.7 6.6 5.6 6.2

CROP CONDITION PERCENT 
VP P F G EX
Corn 11 20 36 27 6
Cotton 5 14 33 43 5
Hay 2 12 55 29 2
Pasture 3 13 43 40 1
Peanuts 4 8 32 51 5
Sorghum 4 10 37 45 4
Soybeans 4 8 33 48 7
Sweet Potatoes 1 8 45 44 2
Tobacco: Burley 3 6 45 45 1
VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent

*Crop conditions should be considered preliminary or incomplete at this point. More will be known in the weeks to come as the impacts of Hurricane Florence are determined.

CROP PROGRESS PERCENT – WITH COMPARISONS 
This Week  Last Week  Last Year 5 Yr. Avg. 
PHENOLOGICAL:
Corn Mature 93 90 92 94
Cotton Bolls Opening 59 43 52 54
Soybeans Setting Pods 96 92 95 92
Soybeans Dropping Leaves 29 17 25 21
HARVESTED:
Apples 62 60 56 55
Corn for Grain 66 43 66 64
Corn for Silage 89 84 79 81
Hay: Second Cutting 97 94 98 93
Hay: Third Cutting 54 47 51 52
Sorghum 7 4 23 14
Sweet Potatoes 12 8 13 16
Tobacco: Burley 33 28 39 49
Tobacco: Flue-cured 70 67 72 74

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS
Hurricane Florence dropped about 6 inches of rain over the last
week in Franklin County. There may be standing water in some
soybean fields, but they should be fine. Our harvest of the tobacco
crop will be delayed, but it will begin to ripen quickly after the
storm and we may not have enough barns to save it. There is
some wind damage to the crop, but it was spared the worst. This
year's tobacco crop has experienced all the stresses it can take.
Pastures needed the rain we received to rejuvenate them.
Charles Mitchell – Franklin County Extension

Assessment of crop impacts from Florence will begin early this
week. Overall I expect corn and soybean impacts to be low except
for flood prone areas. The tobacco crop in the region will have the
most impact from the hurricane.
Brandon Poole – Agronomist Region 8

Excessive rains and winds from Hurricane Florence have
damaged the tobacco crop. It is unclear what will be the final result
will be for that crop and others as waters recede.
Don Nicholson – Agronomist Region 7

Hurricane Florence dumped 10-15 inches in Johnston County. We
expect some fields to be flooded and have wind damage.
Tim Britton – Johnston County Extension

Hurricane Florence will drop rain and wind. Next week will show
what damage to crops has occurred.
Gary Cross - Person County Extension

Peripheral effects from Hurricane Florence put a stop to field work
during the latter part of the week. Farmers worked overtime to
harvest tobacco prior to the storm's arrival, as the potential impact
was unknown. Fortunately, while Warren County has experienced
windy and rainy conditions, there was nothing too severe.
Scattered temporary power outages occurred. Rain is predicted
for a few more days, which will further delay field activities.
Paul McKenzie - Warren County Extension

Harvest continued until the hurricane stopped progress. So far
only low lying areas have been affected by wind or flooding. Less
rain than expected fell during the week as the storm turned south.
Famers experienced spotty power outages due to the weather
conditions. Pastures are still in decent shape, and livestock is in
good condition, with some farmers moving herds out of lower
areas. Farmers in this area have been fortunate.
Paul Westfall - Granville Extension

Damage assessments being conducted in Wilson County from
effects of Hurricane Florence.
Danny Tharrington – Wilson County FSA

NCSU Cunningham Research Station received 13” of rain from
Florence. Phillip Winslow – NCSU Lower Coastal Station

For the full report, click here.