Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 10/13/14

GENERAL: There were 5.8 days suitable for field work for the week ending Oct. 12, 2014. Topsoil moisture was rated 2% very short, 14% short, 78% adequate, and 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2% very short, 11% short, 79% adequate, and 8% surplus. The state received scattered showers during the week with most areas receiving less than an inch. Temperatures jumped above normal for the week. Reported crop progress data for the week showed soybeans leaf drop at 60% and harvest just beginning at 11%. Cotton bolls opening recorded at 92% and harvested at 15%. Reports for corn harvested for grain jumped to 85% and harvested for silage at 93%. Flue-cured tobacco harvest was reported at 90% while Burley harvested is at 80% both remain behind the previous year and the 5 year averages. Sweet potato harvest is at 59%, peanut harvest is reported at 32%. Apple harvest is at 81% and the third cutting of hay is reported at 80%. Small grain planting has begun with barley reported at 18% and oats planted at 14%. 

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COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS
The 3 inches plus of rain this weekend helped retained moisture levels in the soil but put a slow-go on tobacco harvesting. Tobacco growers are harvesting as much as possible before the mid October frost comes in. A little frost came through the area the first week in October but did very little damage to crops. Small grains are beginning to be planted and soybeans and corn for grain are being harvested. Joey Knight - Caswell County Extension

Tobacco harvest should finish up within the next few weeks. Group 4 and 5 soybeans are being harvested with yields ranging from 35-50 bushels per acre in the Guilford area. Sorghum harvest is beginning in some areas and yields are around 50-75 bushels per acre on average. Barley planting has been delayed in the northern part of the region due to late harvest of corn and soybeans. Colby Lambert – Agronomist Region 9 

For the most part soil moisture is adequate but soil surface is not soft enough for trouble free, no till planting of small grains. Soybean harvest has begun and reported yields are excellent. All things considered a pretty good year for the field crops despite the drought. Very likely the not so hot temps were a factor. A unique year with several bizarre issues, ie Southern leaf blight of soybeans in one area and the brown marmorated stink bug making debut as pest in cotton. Steve Gibson – Catawba County Extension  

Dry weather conditions aided harvest operations of all crops. Reports indicate peanut and cotton yields are tending better than average in many fields. Richard Rhodes - Bertie County Extension Some early soybeans have already been harvested this past week with good yields reported. Cotton harvest will get underway just as soon as fields dry out.  The showers Sunday night and expected heavy rains this week will delay field work.  Apple harvest is wrapping up, but some fruit crop producers are still picking blackberries. One berry producer is actually getting ready to harvest a fall crop of strawberries. Stephen Bishop – Cleveland NRCS 

Good weather over this past week allowed for great gains in harvest of most crops. Conditions are dry across most of the region. Cotton yields appear better than expected with early reports of 800lb/A.  Majority of tobacco has been harvested. Georgia Love – Agronomist Region 5 

CROP PROGRESS PERCENT – WITH COMPARISONS 
This Week Last Week Last Year*  5-Year Avg
PHENOLOGICAL:  
Soybeans % Leaf Drop 60 46  n/a      58
Cotton % Bolls Opening 92 86 n/a      92
PLANTED:  
Barley 18 11 n/a 27  
Oats 14 n/a n/a 21
HARVESTED:  
Apples 81 77 n/a 75  
Corn for Grain 85 79 n/a 92  
Corn for Silage 93 89 n/a 98  
Cotton 15 n/a n/a 15
Hay 3rd cutting 80 76 n/a 66  
Peanuts Threshed 32 21 n/a 30  
Sorghum 15 10 n/a na  
Soybeans 11 n/a n/a n/a  
Sweet Potato 59 50 n/a 56  
Tobacco: Burley 80 75 n/a 94  
Tobacco: Flue-cured 90 85 n/a 94
*Data for last year unavailable due to 2013 Federal Government Shutdown

CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX
Cotton 0 4 28 54 14
Pasture 1 10 34 48 9
Peanuts 0 1 14 67 18
Sorghum 0 2 25 57 16
Soybeans 1 4 23 59 13
VP = Very Poor  P = Poor  F = Fair  G = Good   EX = Excellent

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Topsoil Moisture 2 14 78 6
Subsoil Moisture 2 11 79 8
VS= Very Short   ST = Short   A = Adequate   SS = Surplus