Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 9/21/20

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT 
VS ST A SS
Subsoil Moisture 0 13 71 16
Topsoil Moisture 0 15 63 22
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             5.1                6.9           5.4 

CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX
Corn 6 10 32 42 10
Cotton 3 12 31 46 8
Pasture 1 13 22 58 6
Peanuts 0 1 19 69 11
Sorghum 0 1 37 57 5
Soybeans 3 7 33 50 7
Sweet Potatoes 0 3 37 51 9
Tobacco: Burley 0 5 44 51 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 Mature 93 90 94 96
Cotton Bolls Opening 49 39 72 69
Soybeans Dropping Leaves 26 18 41 35
HARVESTED
Apples 52 47 68 62
Corn for Silage 83 77 87 88
Corn for Grain 63 47 78 75
Hay: Third Cutting 60 49 62 59
Peaches 96 93 97 97
Sorghum 22 20 32 22
Sweet Potato 16 12 31 20
Tobacco: Flue-Cured 83 74 76 75
Tobacco: Burley 34 29 38 43


OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FIELD
Harvest is in full swing for pumpkins, while just beginning for
silage corn. Producers are harvesting hay as weather permits. –
ASHE

Jackson and Swain counties received widespread and above
normal rainfall as a tropical depression moved through the area.
Reports of 1” to 3” received. Temperatures this week remained
slightly above normal. – JACKSON, SWAIN

Corn harvest has begun just as the tobacco harvest is winding
down. Tobacco farmers locally are reporting lower weights and
yields for this year’s crop. Other activities this week include
cutting and baling fall hay and laying plastic in preparation of early
October strawberry planting. Seasonal weather is bringing cooler
temperatures that may limit fall vegetable production. –
FRANKLIN, HALIFAX, NASH

Hurricane Sally produced much rain in the area, halting fieldwork
for a couple of days. Tobacco harvest continues as farmers are
just now pulling lugs some fields. Yet in others, harvest is
complete. Cool season grasses are starting to grow and hay
quality looks good. Soybeans appear green as leaves are starting
to turn in early variety fields. - GRANVILLE

Harvest activities stopped due to onset of rain Wednesday. -
PERSON

Delays in all field activity due to excessive rains. The amount of
additional soil moisture in the fields will affect the quality of corn
for grain and increase the rate of soybean leaf drop. - PAMLICO

Harvest continues for corn and tobacco after recent rainfall
events had halted progress. Harvest of all other crops may be
delayed due to immaturity and late planting. Pest
management practices should continue well into October. -
CRAVEN

Remnants of Hurricane Sally dropped 2" to 3" of rain across
Pender County. The storm halted corn harvest for a few days, but
gave soybeans much needed moisture. Local growers are
reporting slightly above average corn yields at 145-150 bushel
per acre and soybean crop potential looks good. Farmers have
started planting the spring strawberry crop. - PENDER

Corn harvest continues and some areas it appears to be lagging.
Tobacco harvest is looking good as farmers are clearing fields
quickly. Limited harvest of early soybean acres are showing good
yields. Field activities slowed due to rainfall this week. Late
developing crops should benefit from the rain. - ROBESON

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