Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 8/13/19

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT 
VS ST A SS
Subsoil Moisture 5 37 58 0
Topsoil Moisture 8 26 61 5
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus


DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK 
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
6.4             5.9              4.3              5.4 
CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX
Apples 1 1 31 57 10
Corn 10 21 30 29 10
Cotton 4 10 27 48 11
Hay 0 4 33 58 5
Pasture 1 12 35 47 5
Peanuts 2 5 40 44 9
Sorghum 6 7 41 41 5
Soybeans 2 8 35 43 11
Sweet Potatoes 1 4 37 47 11
Tobacco: Flue-cured 3 10 31 49 7
Tobacco: Burley 1 0 7 42 51

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:
Corn Dough 91 87 90 92
Corn Dented 70 58 67 73
Corn Mature 30 14 26 31
Cotton Setting Bolls 91 83 77 84
Soybeans Blooming 75 62 81 78
Soybeans Setting Pods 51 38 53 52
HARVESTED:
Apples 18 13 18 23
Corn for Silage 40 24 19 27
Hay: Second Cutting 88 83 69 74
Hay: Third Cutting 14 n/a n/a 11
Peaches 77 66 63 71
Tobacco: Flue-cured 21 17 29 30

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS
Scattered showers and thunderstorms, some with hail, moved
through Saturday. Some farms reported 2.5 inches of rain. Hail
damage was minimal. Pastures and spray fields are rebounding
nicely since mid-July and farmers are indicating with a good late
cutting of hay they will be in good shape for the winter. Army
worms in pastures have been a problem this week. Corn harvest
has started with some growers reporting 40 bushel per acre yields
on early maturing varieties. Soybeans continue to look good.
Mark Seitz - Pender County Extension

Corn and soybeans are showing the stress of the drier conditions
and intense heat. We definitely could use some rain.
Janice Nicholson - Rutherford County

Dry conditions crops struggling.
Gary Cross – Person County Extension

Showers through the week helped, but were spotty. Most of the
county got some rain, but more is needed. Tobacco harvest
continued. Some hay is still being baled. Crabgrass and summer
annuals are growing well and providing some good grazing and
hay.Paul Westfall – Granville County Extension

Portions of the county received showers during the week. Crops
continue to look better but will need rain in the next few days.
Tobacco, soybeans, are doing well with peanuts looking very
good. In places, pastures are starting to dry and could use some
rain. Michael Yoder – Wake County Extension

Typical summer pattern scattered afternoon thunderstorms
predominated the week. Precipitation levels were highly variable
across the county with some areas receiving in excess of 2" and
other areas only a trace. Temperatures were near normal.
Second cutting hay harvest is underway. Vegetable crop harvest
continues and topping burley tobacco is nearly complete.
Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension

The weather has become more hot and dry in the Smoky
Mountains region with streams and creeks starting to drop in
water levels. Soil is Average Dry in subsoil to dry on topsoil.
Temperatures above average.
Robert Hawk - Swain County Extension

Some rain this week slowed the start of corn harvest.
Daniel Simpson - Pamlico County Extension

Corn harvest beginning for more growers in the area with grain
drier than expected coming out of the field. Significant yield
impacts reported on most of the early planted crop with
hopes yields improve with later planted corn.
Tobacco harvest continues. Soybeans and cotton are
progressing well. Early maturity soybeans look nice.
Mac Malloy – Robeson County Extension

Dry conditions have affected the corn crop more than other crops.
Cathy Herring – Cherry Research Station

For the full report, click here.