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



SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Subsoil Moisture 3 21 74 2
Topsoil Moisture 9 33 56 2
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
6.1             6.0             6.4           6.2 

CROP CONDITION PERCENT 
VP P F G EX
Apples 0 0 11 89 0
Corn 7 14 22 47 10
Cotton 10 16 19 51 4
Pasture 1 5 32 59 3
Peanuts 5 12 25 50 8
Sorghum 5 10 33 44 8
Soybeans 8 11 28 48 5
Sweet Potatoes 1 2 27 59 11
Tobacco: Flue-Cured 3 9 35 49 4
Tobacco: Burley 3 9 30 58 0

CROP PROGRESS PERCENT – WITH COMPARISONS 
This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Yr. Avg. 
PLANTED:
Sorghum 93 88 94 89
Soybeans 97 94 99 100
Hay 1 2 24 67 6
PHENOLOGICAL:
Corn Silking 94 86 86 92
Corn Dough 47 29 49 57
Cotton Squaring 79 62 88 86
Cotton Setting Bolls 26 10 48 39
Peanuts Pegging 72 55 68 71
Soybeans Emerged 94 90 98 98
Soybeans Blooming 40 32 32 38
Soybeans Setting Pods 24 10 15 16
HARVESTED
Hay: Second Cutting 63 46 50 47
Peaches 45 43 54 45
Wheat 98 94 98 99
VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FIELD
Typical summer storms produced spotty rain across the county.
Some areas will get an inch or more while others get nothing. -
BURKE

The area received hit and miss rain showers last week. Overall,
crops are suffering from heat and lack of rain. Limited or no rain in
the past 2-3 weeks has reduced corn yields tremendously and the
tobacco crop is stressed and fringing up in the bottom. Hard and
dry ground delayed the finish of soybean plantings. It is a struggle
to keep vegetable crops watered and the extremely hot
temperatures has affected fruit setting. Pastures are becoming dry
and second hay cut is limited. Harvest is slow to start. –
FRANKLIN, HALIFAX, NASH

Extreme heat taking toll on corn, soybeans, and tobacco, as well
as pastures. Crops under severe stress. Rain is needed. -
PERSON

Heat and sunlight has improved crop growth and the dryer
weather has allowed most field practices to take place. However,
excessive dryness is setting in and despite the relief from lower
night time temperatures, rain will be needed in the coming week. -
PAMLICO

With the initial tobacco harvest underway, target spot continues to
be major disease concern for this crop. Cotton and soybean
growers are making final weed management applications. Both
cotton and soybeans are 10-15 days behind normal growth stage
for the season. Some cotton fields are just beginning to bloom.
Meanwhile, only isolated, very early planted, and early maturity
group soybeans are showing blooms. All crops are stressing from
excessive heat. - CRAVEN

Dry conditions have prevailed this week as extreme heat has set
in. Scattered t-storms have helped in some areas of the county,
but surface soil moisture is quickly drying out. - PENDER

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