Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 7/8/19


SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT 
VS ST A SS
Subsoil Moisture 10 32 57 1
Topsoil Moisture 13 34 52 1
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
5.9      6.4        5.8           5.9 
CROP CONDITION PERCENT 
VP P F G EX
Apples 1 1 22 68 8
Corn 10 22 29 33 6
Cotton 4 12 29 51 4
Hay 1 4 34 58 3
Pasture 2 8 36 50 4
Peaches 0 0 24 70 6
Peanuts 3 8 34 53 2
Sorghum 4 8 45 43 0
Soybeans 3 9 38 46 4
Sweet Potatoes 1 3 37 52 7
Tobacco: Flue-cured 4 11 30 52 3
Tobacco: Burley 0 11 44 42 3
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:
Sorghum 91 86 96 84
Soybeans 92 82 92 92
Sweet Potatoes 92 86 97 96
Tobacco: Burley 96 91 97 97
PHENOLOGICAL:
Corn Silking 62 54 80 53
Corn Dough 15 N/A 25 28
Cotton Squaring 69 55 68 67
Cotton Setting Bolls 19 N/A 10 10
Peanuts Pegging 46 26 47 45
Soybeans Emerged 91 81 90 91
Soybeans Blooming 13 N/A 22 20
HARVESTED:
Barley 97 93 93 96
Hay: Second Cutting 35 25 34 32
Oats 88 82 88 90
Peaches 38 30 22 30
Wheat 89 73 94 96

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS
Rain stopped hay harvest and planting of fall vegetable crops.
Julia Houck – Alleghany/Ashe County FSA

Weather conditions for the week were on the warm side with
slightly above average temperatures. Scattered rain showers and
afternoon thunderstorms limited some field activities. Precipitation
levels were highly variable across the county with most areas
receiving between 1.75" to 3" of rain for the week.
Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension

Typical Summer conditions have existed over the last period with
scattered afternoon and evening scattered thundershowers. Some
got rain, while other locations stayed dry. Temperatures near
normal with highs in 80s and lows in 60s.
Robert Hawk – Jackson/ Swain County Extension

Very hot and dry some relief this weekend. Corn twisting,
soybeans stunted, tobacco being watered under stress conditions.
Gary Cross – Person County Extension

Dry weather continued to delay soybean planting. Some rain late
in the week has improved the conditions some.
Cathy Herring – Central Crops Research Station

For the most part, corn and soybeans seem to be doing pretty
good, with enough rain showers and thunderstorms to keep some
moisture in the ground.
Stephen Bishop – Cleveland County Extension

Very dry. Drought stress on all non-irrigated crops.
Carrie Ortel – Pitt County Extension

Early planted soybeans are finally providing a canopy over the
soil. Double cropped soybeans are emerging, but need rainfall.
We have had a few scattered showers, but need a good general
rainfall. Tobacco is looking good in some areas, and not so good
in other places. Topping and sucker control is underway. Corn is
showing heat stress again due to high temperatures and high
humidity. Pastures are pretty dry, and crabgrass and other
summer grasses growing well. Growing well.
Paul Westfall – Granville County Extension

Had 7 days suitable for working but most of the county got
showers every afternoon starting Thursday afternoon.
Lance Grimes – Martin County Extension

Some showers have helped to reduce drought stress, but corn
pollination has been hindered. Soybean growth is also reduced
due to drought stress. Rains have been spotty and rarely produce
significant amounts needed by crops.
Daniel Simpson - Pamlico County Extension

Portions of the area received some rain. Less than an inch.
Tim Britton – Johnston County Extension

Scattered rains provided some relief from drought and heat yet
too late for most corn. Many field operations postponed waiting
for rainfall to avoid application in excessive heat and too stressed
crops.
Mike Carroll – Craven County Extension

Extremely dry soil conditions and excessive heat severely
impacted crops this week, especially corn and flue-cured tobacco.
Willie Howell – Agronomist Region 4

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