Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE 8/10/14

GENERAL: Days suitable for field work 4.0. Topsoil moisture 1% very short, 10% short, 67% adequate and 22% surplus. Subsoil moisture 2% very short, 11% short, 78% adequate and 9% surplus. For the third week the state experienced widespread showers and thunderstorms with many areas receiving over 2.0 inches precipitation. Again this week temperatures were below normal and averaged 4 degrees below normal. This week’s report shows soybeans continue to run slightly ahead of the 5 year averages with blooming at 71% and setting pods at 46%. Cotton setting bolls is nearing completion at 90% and in-line with last year and the 5 year average. Reports for corn dough were at 86%, and dented at 68% with mature reported at 22%, indicating corn is running slightly behind last year and the 5 year averages. The second cutting of hay slowed due to the continued rain and was reported at 78% with 3rd cutting reported at 22%, peaches harvested at 76% and flue-cured tobacco harvest progressing well at 30%.  

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EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

Cool temperatures have slowed growth of warm season hay and pasture crops. Timely rains over last 3 weeks have all crops looking good at this point. Some 90 day early deer corn harvested this past week. Getting reports of armyworms damaging hay fields. Brian Parrish - Harnett County Extension  

Rain the past two weekends have made field conditions wet. Field  preparation for planting fall vegetable crops have been delayed a few days. Cathy Herring  – Central Crops  

Rainfall continues to delay field work. County wide reports of rainfall between 3-9 inches last week with most receiving 2-4". Tobacco crop declining due to excess water but cotton, soybeans and for the most part, peanuts, progressing favorably with excess rainfall. Anticipation of major corn earworm flight not yet realized. No major pests in soybeans. Conversely, stinkbugs are common in scattered cotton fields at levels above threshold. Rainfall varies but generally, most areas received excessive rainfall. Few areas 6-9". Insect pressure low for all crops but isolated fields exceed threshold for stinkbugs in cotton. Mike Carroll – Carteret and Craven County Extension  

Sclerotinia Blight has become prevalent in peanuts, first find of Southern Rust in corn. Art Bradley - Edgecombe County Extension  

Rains have slowed tobacco harvest somewhat but have improved the condition of most of the crop. Quality of cured leaf is mixed. Most other crops have also improved with the rain. Corn harvest has begun with decent yields for the early planted portion of the crop. Don Nicholson – Region 7 Agronomist  

Tobacco harvest started on several more farms, though rains have slowed most farm operations. Fields are pretty wet, but the water has been needed. Soybeans are doing well and are outgrowing the deer pressure. Cotton looks better than it has in a few years. Some grain sorghum planted behind wheat is not doing to well, but most crops are in good shape. Pastures are recovering somewhat with the moisture and cooler temperatures.  Paul Westfall - Granville County Extension  

Rainfall this week was widespread impacting field conditions and access. Jan McGuinn – Rutherford County Extension  

CROP PROGRESS PERCENT – WITH COMPARISONS  
This Week  Last Week  Last Year  5-Year Avg  

PHENOLOGICAL:

Soybeans % Blooming 71 63 51 68  

Soybeans % Setting Pods 46 36 27 35  

Corn % Dough 86 79 92 93  

Corn % Dented 68 55 70 73  

Corn % Mature 22 10 22 27  

Cotton % Setting Bolls 90 86 87 89  

HARVESTED:      

Apples 32 24 12 11  

Corn for Silage 17 n/a n/a 27  

Hay 2nd cutting 78 74 49 75  

Hay 3rd cutting 22 13 n/a n/a  

Peaches 76 71 72 78  

Tobacco: flue-cured 30 24 36 27

     
CROP CONDITION PERCENT  

VP P F G EX  

Apples 3 5 28 61 3  

Corn 4 11 25 45 15  

Cotton 0 3 22 62 13  

Hay 0 5 25 60 10  P

asture  2 12 38 41 7  

Peanuts 0 1 16 65 18  

Sorghum 0 2 29 51 18  

Soybeans 1 4 25 54 16  

Sweet Potatoes 0 1 15 68 16  

Tobacco: Flue-cured 1 5 22 57 15  

Tobacco: Burley 1 4 27 39 29        
VP = Very Poor  P = Poor  F = Fair  G = Good   EX = Excellent        

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT   VS ST A SS  
Topsoil Moisture 1 10 67 22
Subsoil Moisture 2 11 78 9        
VS= Very Short   ST = Short   A = Adequate   SS = Surplus