Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 5/28/19

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Subsoil Moisture 13 37 49 1
Topsoil Moisture 21 39 39 1
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
6.8 6.1 3.7 5.1
CROP CONDITION PERCENT 
VP P F G EX
Apples 1 2 3 93 1
Barley 0 3 34 61 2
Corn 7 14 34 43 2
Cotton 0 13 40 46 1
Hay 0 2 28 65 4
Oats 1 4 51 43 2
Pasture 1 10 39 48 2
Peaches 1 4 19 66 11
Peanuts 0 21 38 40 1
Soybeans 0 13 39 46 1
Tobacco: Flue-cured 0 4 43 52 1
Wheat 7 10 39 38 6
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 95 93 98 97
Cotton 74 52 67 74
Peanuts 66 45 66 67
Sorghum 31 20 27 28
Soybeans 52 36 48 45
Sweet Potatoes 35 18 32 26
Tobacco: Flue-cured 87 79 91 92
Tobacco : Burley 17 16 28 44 
PHENOLOGICAL:
Barley Headed 96 90 94 93
Corn Emerged 89 80 93 92
Soybeans Emerged 37 18 33 27
Wheat Headed 92 90 97 98
HARVESTED:
Hay: First Cutting 71 56 58 58

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS
Weather conditions for the week were unseasonably warm and
dry. Hay producers took advantage of the conditions and most of
the first cutting hay has now been harvested with no rain. Corn
planting is nearing completion and vegetable planting is still in full
swing. Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension

Tobacco transplanting continued. Some growers are reporting
problems with hot soils drying out the transplants at the soil line,
causing damage to the stems. Corn is up and growing, but needs
moisture. Soybean planting continued, with most early acres
planted. There will be some fields planted through late June,
though. Pastures and hay fields are still in good shape, with hay
field recovering better than expected considering the heat and dry
weather we are experiencing. We have had a few pop-up
showers, but no significant rainfall during the week.
Paul Westfall - Granville County Extension

It has quickly become dry. Soybean planting has paused because
of lack of moisture. High temps quickly draining available soil
reserves. Tim Hambrick – Surry County Extension

Extreme dry conditions with no rainfall coupled with unseasonably
hot temperatures for this time in May is affecting all crops and
delaying some planting. Expected temperatures near 100 most of
next week with no expected rainfall will not help crops. Possibly
the early stages of a drought.
Walter Adams - Lenoir County Extension

Extremely dry and unusually hot conditions are negatively
impacting crops across the region. Soybean stands are variable
and are not ideal. Corn is suffering significantly as well as other
crops that were recently planted. Wheat has dried rapidly and
yields are much less than desirable in most areas.
Georgia Love - Scotland County Extension

Field and pasture conditions are getting very dry. Tobacco crop
looks good at this stage.
Brian Parrish - Harnett County Extension

Extremely dry now. Due to wheat weather, wheat was not rooted,
and dry weather has reduced yield potential.
Tim Britton - Johnston County Extension

Conditions have gotten very dry and hot, and crops have
suffered. Rain and relief from the high temperatures are very
much needed across all areas.
Don Nicholson - Wake County Extension

Very dry some stop corn planting soybeans progressing, tobacco
under stress some are starting to irrigate.
Gary Cross - Person County Extension

Carteret - Hot, dry conditions limiting planting. Corn suffering
greatly. Craven- Lack of soil moisture and extreme heat severely
stressing plants. Most farmers have stopped planting due to
these conditions. In fact, limited field work has been performed
with hopes of conserving moisture.
Mike Carroll – Carteret & Craven County Extension

Dry. Dry. Dry. Amazing how fast soils in the county have gone
from good moisture conditions to extremely dry. Subsoil moisture
depth is dropping quickly. Soybean planting has stopped until rain
comes. Soil moisture is adequate for corn to rebound at night but
day time temperatures and dry surface conditions are causing
wilting and leaf curl. Pastures are in desperate need of rain and
fertility. If heat and dry conditions continue hay will be short going
into winter 2019-20. The good part about the recent dry weather
is hog lagoon free board levels are well below recommended
levels. Mark Seitz – Pender County Extension

Extremely Dry and Hot. Jarette Hurry – Bertie County Ext

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