Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 7/7/14
GENERAL: Days suitable for field work 5.8. Topsoil moisture 9% very short, 29% short, 55% adequate and 7% surplus. Subsoil moisture 6% very short, 26% short, 61% adequate and 7% surplus. Hurricane Arthur, category 2, passed over the coastal area of the state late in the week. Early reports indicate less damage than originally expected however final crop and livestock damages are still being evaluated. This week’s report shows cotton squaring was rated at 70%, peanuts pegging at 57%, corn silking at 80% and dough at 30%, soybeans emerged at 91% and blooming at 18%, and sweet potatoes at 93% planted. The second cutting of hay at 47% and peaches harvested at 27% along with small grain harvest nearing completion. The state experienced slightly below normal temperatures and the majority of the precipitation was received in the coastal area from Hurricane Arthur. For the full report, click here.
EXTENSTION AGENT REPORTS: Hurricane Arthur blew through Pender County in 24 hours. Winds 30-50 mph did some damage in tobacco and knocked some peaches on the ground. No other crops were affected by wind. 2" - 4" of much needed rain fell on the region. Some low or poorly drained areas in fields flooded but in total Arthur's worst went north. Corn, soybeans, cotton all look good at this point in the season. Mark Seitz – Pender County Extension
A great deal of Harnett County is dry with drought conditions prevailing. Only the very Northern tip of Harnett benefited from the storm with Angier area reporting six tenths of rain. Tobacco is very stressed and drawn up, many farmers beginning to irrigate their tobacco. Brian Parrish – Harnett County Extension
Arthur spared us for the most part. There is some corn and tobacco blown around and some produce will likely come off faster after the storm. However, most growers I have spoken with have been thankful for the rain and that the winds were not any worse than they were. Even those that were in the eye of the storm seemed relieved with outcome. Structural damage has been minimal. Chris Jernigan – Region 3 Agronomist
Hyde County suffered significant damage from the hurricane. Significant acres of corn are either flattened or broken off by winds. We will have to wait a while before assessing yield losses. Rob Gurganus – Hyde County Extension
Corn is twisting up as well as other crops such as tobacco showing signs of lack of moisture and rainfall. Tobacco farmers are beginning to irrigate. Vegetable gardens are being harvested now but late planted vegetable gardens need rainfall. Black shank is showing up in tobacco fields, especially in the 326 variety. Joey Knight – Caswell County Extension
Heavy rainfall in sections of the county earlier in the week. Continuing harvest of vegetable crops and planting soybeans. Jan McGuinn – Rutherford County Extension
Some much needed rain fell this week. Rain is still needed as parts of the county have not received the afternoon scattered showers and are dry. Julia Houck – Ashe-Alleghany County Extension
CROP PROGRESS PERCENT – WITH COMPARISONS
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg
PHENOLOGICAL: Soybean % Emerged 91 85 72 88 Soybeans % Blooming 18 n/a n/a n/a
Corn % Silking 80 67 86 91
Corn % Dough 30 14 28 26
Cotton % Squaring 70 42 59 74
Peanut % Pegging 57 41 30 52
PLANTED:
Sorghum 84 78 69 n/a
Soybeans 97 n/a 77 92
Sweet Potatoes 93 84 89 95
HARVESTED:
Hay 2nd cutting 47 38 24 41
Peaches 37 24 18 24
Wheat 94 85 73 94
Barley 97 n/a 81 94
Oats 73 n/a 76 93
CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX
Apples 2 4 28 63 3
Corn 3 11 29 45 12
Cotton 1 3 24 61 11
Hay 1 3 25 64 7
Pasture 4 12 34 45 5
Peaches 4 20 19 53 4
Peanuts 0 1 18 68 13
Sorghum 1 2 28 56 13
Soybeans 1 4 30 55 10
Sweet Potatoes 0 1 27 61 11
Tobacco:
Flue-cured 1 5 20 60 14
Tobacco: Burley 1 5 26 41 27
VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent
SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Topsoil Moisture 9 29 55 7
Subsoil Moisture 6 26 61 7
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus
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