Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 10/6/14

GENERAL: There were 5.8 days suitable for field work for the week ending Oct. 5, 2014. Topsoil moisture was rated 1% very short, 11% short, 78% adequate, and 10% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2% very short, 10% short, 78% adequate, and 10% surplus. Most of the eastern part of the state stayed dry this week which allowed farmers to get back in the fields. Overall temperatures were around normal. Reported crop progress data for the week showed soybeans leaf drop at 46% with some areas beginning harvest. Cotton bolls opening recorded at 86%. Reports for corn harvested for grain at 79% and harvested for silage at 89%. Flue-cured tobacco harvest was reported at 85% while Burley harvested is at 75% both remain behind the previous year and the 5 year averages. Sweet potato harvest is at 50%, peanut harvest has begun in earnest and is reported at 21%. Apple harvest is at 77% and the third cutting of hay is reported at 76%. Small grain planting has begun with barley reported at 11%.  

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COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS
All of a sudden, with the cooler nights, stinkbug populations have exploded with a flood of calls about congregating on houses, etc. Also absolutely covering the soybean crop. Donna Teasley – Burke County Extension  

We received our first fall frost/freeze over the weekend as temperatures dipped into the lower 30's wrapping up most of summer vegetable crops, especially peppers and tomatoes. Silage harvest has been completed and all but a limited amount of late set burley tobacco has been harvested. Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension  

The pace of tobacco picked up with good weather conditions. Growers are reporting good yields and quality. More soybeans are turning color, with a few fields dropping leaves. Hay is still being cut, and a couple of soybean fields were cut for hay. Pastures are in pretty good shape. The fall hay crop is making up for a short spring crop Paul Westfall – Granville County Extension  

Harvest continues for tobacco, peanuts, cotton and corn. Yields and quality for tobacco in some areas look to be very good, while areas that had an abundance of rain are not as good.  Don Nicholson – Agronomist Wake County Area   

Pastures, hay and soybeans are in need or rain. Frost was observed in some areas on Sunday morning, though little damage is yet apparent.  Carl Pless – Cabarrus County Extension  

Cotton harvest just getting underway, with good yields reported. With drier soil condition returning peanut harvest moving at a steady pace with generally excellent yields. Tobacco producers working to get crop in the barn before further crop deterioration. Richard Rhodes- Bertie County Extension  

Dry conditions this week will allow growers to do some necessary field work to finish tobacco and corn harvesting. The warm weather will be a blessing as many cotton growers will be applying defoliants this week. Growers reporting late season stink bugs on soybeans at threshold. Roy Thagard – Greene County Extension  

Harvest continues for some tobacco and corn growers. Sorghum harvest is picking up. Cotton harvest should begin this week for some. Rapeseed planting intentions have almost doubled with planting occurring now. Hay producers are trying to get their last cutting in as well. Mac Malloy – Robeson County Extension  

CROP PROGRESS PERCENT – WITH COMPARISONS   
This Week  Last Week  Last Year*  5-Year Avg  
PHENOLOGICAL:      
Soybeans % Leaf Drop 46 34   na     42  
Cotton % Bolls Opening 86 75 na     89        
PLANTED:      
Barley 11 na na 14        
HARVESTED:      
Apples 77 70 na 69  
Corn for Grain 79 71 na 87  
Corn for Silage 89 83 na 97  
Hay 3rd cutting 76 73 na 63  
Peanuts Threshed 21 na na 17  
Sorghum 10 na na na  
Sweet Potato 50 40 na 45  
Tobacco: Burley 75 65 na 90  
Tobacco: Flue-cured 85 80 na 90

*Data for last year unavailable due to 2013 federal government shutdown   

CROP CONDITION PERCENT  
VP P F G EX  
Cotton 0 5 28 53 14  
Pasture  1 10 32 48 9  
Peanuts 0 1 14 69 16  
Sorghum 0 1 26 58 15  
Soybeans 1 4 22 60 13  
Sweet Potatoes 0 1 14 69 16        
VP = Very Poor  P = Poor  F = Fair  G = Good   EX = Excellent

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