Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 7/13/20

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Subsoil Moisture 0 27 67 6
Topsoil Moisture 2 25 68 5
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus


DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
6.0              6.2              5.9            6.1 

CROP CONDITION PERCENT 
VP P F G EX
Apples 0 0 14 78 8
Corn 3 7 16 51 23
Cotton 4 7 26 55 8
Hay 0 2 20 70 8
Pasture 0 3 17 75 5
Peaches 0 4 23 67 6
Peanuts 2 4 22 60 12
Sorghum 1 2 33 41 23
Soybeans 3 5 26 54 12
Sweet Potatoes 0 0 18 66 16
Tobacco: Flue-Cured 2 6 26 58 8
Tobacco: Burley 0 0 33 67 0

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 88 79 92 87
Soybeans 94 90 97 98
Sweet Potatoes 96 91 95 97
Tobacco: Burley 97 91 98 98
PHENOLOGICAL:
Corn Silking 86 70 75 86
Corn Dough 29 11 31 39
Cotton Squaring 62 47 78 76
Cotton Setting Bolls 10 N/A 30 21
Peanuts Pegging 55 32 54 53
Soybeans Emerged 90 83 94 94
Soybeans Blooming 32 21 19 26
Soybeans Setting Pods 10 N/A N/A N/A
HARVESTED
Barley 97 93 98 98
Hay: Second Cutting 46 34 41 37
Oats 95 90 90 95
Peaches 43 37 47 37
Wheat 94 87 92 97

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FIELD
Rainfall and temperatures above normal. Rainfall averaged
from .5" - 4.5" with most locations averaging 2". -
JACKSON / SWAIN

Area has been extremely dry in many locations. Sporadic
rain showers popped up in certain areas. Irrigation started
on the tobacco and corn crop last week. Our cucumber crop
is beginning to wind down due to the extreme heat.

The wheat harvest was good this year averaging close
to 55-60 bushels. Vegetable crops are about two weeks late
this year, but are finally ready to be harvested in the coming
days. Pastures are beginning to look weak with the heat
and dry weather. - FRANKLIN / HALIFAX / NASH

Widespread rainfall helped crops and livestock
tremendously. Soil moisture improved for short time at
least, and ponds stayed fairly full. Pastures are in the
summer slump, though livestock is doing well on crabgrass
and other warm season grasses. Some hay was cut late in
the week after the rains. Double crop soybeans are up
and growing. - GRANVILLE

Dry and extremely hot conditions have placed crops under
stress. – PERSON

It is extremely dry in the northeastern NC counties.
- Agronomy region 1

Minimal rainfall is resulting in soil moisture depletion that is
causing some fields to start experiencing moisture stress,
which is critical to corn in the grain fill stage. Farmers are
still planting double crop soybeans behind wheat, cabbage,
and Irish potatoes. Most farmers have completed
harvesting of cabbage and Irish potatoes, although there is
still some left to be harvested of both crops. Rain
is needed for corn, soybean, and cotton. - PASQUOTANK

Dry weather this week was welcomed as it allowed
planting of second crop and replanting of most soybeans.
Crops are responding to heat and dry weather with
better growth. - PAMLICO

Less frequent rainfall has allowed a variety of field work
activities to manage weeds, make nutrient adjustments,
apply gypsum to peanuts, apply contact materials
to tobacco and scout fields. - CRAVEN

Sporadic and heavy showers and thunderstorms have kept
Pender County very wet. Thankfully the tropical storm
that moved in this week stayed offshore and didn't add
a whole lot of rainfall. The expected drier weather will be
too late to plant any late soybeans. - PENDER

Crop growth is progressing with adequate moisture. The
first signs of drought stress were seen in corn this
week with the increase in temperatures just prior to
some scattered rain showers. – ROBESON

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