Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 7/6/20


CROP SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 5, 2020

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Subsoil Moisture 1 23 69 7
Topsoil Moisture 2 22 70 6
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
6.2             5.5              5.9          5.8 

CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX
Apples 0 0 14 76 10
Corn 1 5 21 51 22
Cotton 3 9 25 54 9
Hay 1 2 19 71 7
Pasture 1 4 24 66 5
Peanuts 1 2 29 57 11
Sorghum 0 3 42 48 7
Soybeans 3 4 24 56 13
Sweet Potatoes 0 1 21 63 15
Tobacco: Flue-Cured 2 5 31 55 7
Tobacco: Burley 0 1 37 61 1
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 79 74 90 85
Soybeans 90 83 95 96
Sweet Potatoes 91 78 90 94
Tobacco: Burley 91 82 95 95
Peaches 0 3 21 71 5
PHENOLOGICAL:
Corn Silking 70 45 60 77
Corn Dough 11 N/A 12 20
Cotton Squaring 47 33 65 62
Peanuts Pegging 32 13 40 37
Soybeans Emerged 83 78 88 89
Soybeans Blooming 21 N/A 10 16
HARVESTED
Barley 93 84 96 95
Hay: Second Cutting 34 23 32 26
Oats 90 77 86 92
Peaches 37 34 36 28
Wheat 87 73 84 93

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FIELD
Due to heat and wind, areas of dry pockets are showing up in
some areas. Most producers would welcome rain.
– FORSYTH/STOKES/SURRY

Consistent 90+ degree temperatures during the week are creating
dry soil conditions across the county. Corn is starting to curl during
the day and soybean growth has slowed. There should be enough
soil moisture to allow double crop soybeans to germinate, but we
will see slow seedling growth unless we get some rainfall.
Pastures are getting dry, with little forage growth. Tobacco
is faring well, but expect to see irrigation operations starting soon.
– GRANVILLE

Soil moisture reserves are diminishing for most crops due to less
frequent and quantity of rain. However, dryer conditions are
allowing for the completion of soybean planting, as well
as harvesting of cabbage and Irish potatoes. Growers are also
applying post emergence applications of herbicides to corn and
soybeans. Significant acreage of both crops are in the
reproductive stages of growth, but the protracted planting
season will be reflected when they reach the grain filling period.
– PASQUOTANK

Wheat harvest is wrapping up and soybean planting continues as
growers experienced optimal weather last week for working in the
fields. Growers are racing to catch up on weed control. Cotton
crop is looking better, but conditions are lagging behind normal.
– ROBESON

Wheat harvest is nearly complete. Farmers indicating the
continuous wet weather in June, combined with April frost
damage, prevented harvest to occur in a timely manner. Seeds
ripened, dropped kernels, and low test weights reduced yield
potential up to 30%-35% of what was possible in mid-May 2020.
Due to heavy, frequent rains in May and June farmers were
prevented from harvesting wheat, thereby delaying second crop
soybean plantings. Dry, hot conditions moved in late last week
and are projected to continue into this following week. While soils
are currently saturated, pop up showers and thunderstorms will
be needed to prevent them from drying out. Many second crop
soybeans will not be planted and will be filed as preventative loss
acres. – PENDER

Field work continues between rains. As much as 30% of
soybeans may not be planted and many fields of wheat have yet
to be harvested. Corn, tobacco, cotton, peanut, and sweet potato
crops continue to improve but plant growth is slower than desired.
Prior nutrient adjustments, despite leaching and denitrification
losses, seem adequate. Warmer weather and higher
temperatures favor crop growth. However, small cotton
and soybean plants with shallow and limited root systems seem
to be stressing. – CRAVEN

Scattered rains this week as field work continued. Most soybeans
have been planted or replanted. Potato harvest continues.
– PAMLICO

For the full report, click here.