Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 1/27/20

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT 
VS ST A SS
Subsoil Moisture 0 4 78 18
Topsoil Moisture 0 4 68 28

VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
4.2 N/A N/A N/A


CROP PROGRESS PERCENT – WITH COMPARISONS 

N/A 

CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX
Barley 0 3 25 68 4
Oats 1 1 62 33 3
Pasture 3 16 57 22 2
Wheat 0 5 22 66 7
VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent

EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

Overall the month of January has been warmer than normal;
however, temps dipped to near single digits this past week. Wet
conditions are prevalent with average precipitation levels ranging
from around 5"-8" for the month. Wet soil conditions have made
feeding livestock difficult for some producers as they're dealing
with muddy feeding conditions. A few livestock producers are
reporting that they may be a little short of hay depending on
weather conditions later in the season.
Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension

Rainfall has prevented much field prep work from getting done.
Farmers are working in their shops and going to meetings for GAP
certification, respirator fit testing, pesticide applicator credits, and
other production meetings. Livestock farmers are looking for hay
as supplies are currently short and getting shorter. Some farmers
may need to reduce herd size if sources of hay are not available.
Paul Westfall – Granville County Extension

Rain has been excessive wheat is struggling. To wet to apply any
nitrogen or chemicals.
Gary Cross – Person County Extension

Winter wheat is pretty average for this time of year. Field work has
not generally started yet, other than application of fertilizer and soil
amendments.
Michael Yoder – Wake County Extension

Temperatures got high enough to spark some growth in pasture
forage and winter cover crops.
Blake Szilvay – Randolph County Extension

Ground remains saturated. A lot of hay was put up last year, so
hay supply is ok for now.
Stephen Bishop – Cleveland Soil & Water

Warm and seasonably wet winter continues with warm conditions
first half of January and more seasonable the later half of
January. Nearly 5" of rainfall for the month thus far. Lows in the
20s and highs ranging from the 30s to 50s. No snowfall in valleys
and light snowfall in highest elevations above 5,000'.
Robert Hawk – Jackson/Swain County Extension

Sage crop looks well.
Tommy Corbett – Peanut Belt Research Station

Warmer than normal temperatures and normal rainfall has winter
grains slightly ahead of schedule. Soils are fairly wet with little
time between showers to topdress.
Tim Britton – Johnston County Extension

Warm temperature through much of January pushed wheat
growth ahead of normal and pushed blueberry and strawberry
blossom production way ahead of normal. Cold air at the end of
January slowed down wheat growth and farmers will have time to
topdress and keep the wheat growing. Cold temperatures,
combined with night time wind and the calendar only being
January precluded many blueberry growers from taking any
frost/freeze protection measures. Early blossoming blueberry
varieties will likely suffer crop loss. Some strawberry growers tried
frost protection but with more than 50 days before the significant
threat of frost goes away and harvest season normally starts,
many did not try. Mark Seitz – Pender County Extension

For the full report, click here.