Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 8/17/20

CROP SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 16, 2020

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Subsoil Moisture 0 9 70 21
Topsoil Moisture 0 7 68 25
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
4.3              4.9               6.1           5.9 

CROP CONDITION PERCENT 
VP P F G EX
Apples 0 8 19 73 0
Corn 4 9 24 53 10

Cotton 6 10 25 49 10
Hay 1 4 35 56 4
Pasture 2 5 30 60 3
Peanuts 0 3 19 58 20
Sorghum 2 4 41 47 6
Soybeans 3 8 28 51 10
Sweet Potatoes 1 4 23 62 10
Tobacco: Flue-Cured 4 13 36 42 5
Tobacco: Burley 3 17 34 46 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. 

PHENOLOGICAL:
Corn Dough 92 84 94 95
Corn Dented 74 56 80 81
Corn Mature 36 16 45 45
Cotton Setting Bolls 77 74 93 89
Peanuts Pegging 92 91 99 98
Soybeans Blooming 88 74 82 85
Soybeans Setting Pods 62 50 60 61

HARVESTED
Apples 20 14 29 24
Corn for Silage 39 20 44 40
Hay: Second Cutting 87 84 90 80
Hay: Third Cutting 18 N/A 22 14
Peaches 74 67 81 76
Tobacco: Flue-Cured 37 28 27 34

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FIELD
Scattered afternoon thundershowers brought from .25" - 3"+ of
rainfall in some localities. Temperatures slightly above normal -
JACKSON / SWAIN

The area has received more than enough rain. Some places over
the last 2.5 weeks have received over 12 inches. Then there
are areas which only received about 6 inches since the middle of
May. The tobacco crop for the most part has improved, but there’s
not been much fieldwork. Hopefully, this week we will see an
improvement in weather and harvest. Soybeans and sorghum are
looking better since the rains began. The corn crop for most had
already developed a black layer or dried up prior to these rains.
The corn yield potential is very low if at all for many. The
vegetable crops for many are later than usual this year as well. -
FRANKLIN / HALIFAX / NASH

We are seeing several acres affected by diseases and have taken
samples to the plant disease and insect clinic. Harvest is still
moving slowly due to weather conditions and plant conditions.
Double crop soybeans started growing again after
receiving rainfall. Some summer hay is being cut -
mostly crabgrass. Johnsongrass, and summer annuals.
Corn silage harvest started. Have had reports of over 2 inches of
rainfall over the weekend. That combined with showers have
kept soil moisture levels up. - GRANVILLE

Recent rain and cooler temperatures have helped finish the corn
and helped beans to retain pods. It looks like a very good tobacco
crop …. if we can work the green out of it prior to frost! -
FORSYTH / STOKES / SURRY

We had 2 inches of rain this last weekend crops still in very poor
condition - PERSON

Frequent rains have replenished soil moisture which is important
to corn, soybean and cotton phenological development.
Cabbage growers are planting. A small number of acres of corn
have been harvested. - PASQUOTANK

Most field activity was limited due to rain. - PAMLICO

Heavy rainfall over the weekend brought 1-4 inches of rain to
everyone. - JOHNSTON

Rainfall ranging from 3-4 inches fell within the past two days in
parts of the county while other areas of the county are extremely
dry and could use rainfall. Thus, crop growth varies greatly.
Insect populations are increasing in all crops. Growers
are scouting, treating for insects, applying fungicides to peanuts
or preparing for corn harvest. - CRAVEN

Heavy showers and thunderstorms have caused soil
moisture levels to increase. Some fields are impassible because
of heavy rains but others are dry enough to harvest corn.
Growers are waiting for corn moisture levels to come down.
Overall damage was limited in the recent hurricane, but will slow
harvesters as they chew through lodged corn. Full season
soybeans generally look good. Second crop beans are doing well
with rain and hot weather. - PENDER

Corn and tobacco harvest continues. Pest populations are picking
up in soybeans with treatments going out. The soybean crop
which was planted on time looks good, but a good portion of
acres went in late. - ROBESON

Double-cropped soybeans are looking pretty good after some
afternoon thunderstorms. Corn silage harvest is underway. -
CLEVELAND

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