Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 3/2/15
GENERAL: There were 0.9 days suitable for field work for the week ending March 1, 2015. Topsoil moisture was rated at 21% adequate and 79% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated at 1% short, 50% adequate and 49% surplus. The state received widespread precipitation this month with some areas receiving over 4.0 inches. The last two weeks of February were especially cold with snow and ice. The cold, wet conditions have increased feed consumption, delayed farm activities and may have an adverse affect on the quality of small grains. Average temperatures for the month were below normal across the state with some areas averaging 10 degrees below normal.
COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS
The last two weeks of February have been snow filled and harsh. Temperatures in the negative readings and highs below freezing. Wind has accompanied reach of the winter storms that hit the county. Some producers are running short on hay supplies. Some producers had to break ice in creeks to allow livestock to drink.
Julia Houck – Ashe / Alleghany Counties
February was a difficult month especially for livestock producers. Several snow events and frigid temperatures resulted in difficulty tending livestock and heavy feed consumption. Hay supplies are getting low for a number of producers. Snowfall events deposited several inches of snow across the county and with the heaviest event depositing as much as 10-11" in some areas. Temperatures mid-month were at record lows as most areas of the county reported below zero temps. Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension
Extremely wet conditions throughout NC Region 6. Recent snow, ice, and rain events seriously limited wheat topdressing. Tobacco greenhouse seeding is in progress, greenhouse tomato crop fruiting. All greenhouse growers are facing challenges with low sunlight and high heating inputs, but structures are reported to have fared well with recent storms. Some cold injury found in strawberry crop, but will likely recover.
Mike Wilder – Agronomist Region 6
Cold temperatures and very wet conditions have severely limited field work this month. Small grains are in bad need of drying conditions and sunshine. Tobacco greenhouse seeding has been delayed two to three weeks in some areas due to weather. Vegetable greenhouse growth has been delayed by cloudy, cold conditions and production costs are high with high heating bills. Pasture conditions are very poor and hay supplies have become limited due to cold conditions and increased feeding. Colby Lambert - Agronomist Region 9
We had 9 inches of snow on Thursday Feb.26th rain and ice all weekend. With warm temperatures this week and then back to very cold will be negative on wheat as head formation in early planted wheat could be damaged. Gary Cross – Person County Extension Extremely wet conditions have prevented growers from applying Nitrogen to small grain and rapeseed crops, timing for these applications is getting very critical. If conditions do not improve soon, many acres of small grain may be treated as cover crops and terminated. Cattle growers have been feeding a lot of hay due to poor growth of over seeded crops. Don Nicholson - Agronomist Region 7
It's very wet, with more forecasted rain this coming week. Most fields have standing water. Wheat condition is very low. We need some dry weather and sunshine for it to make any progress. Pasture land is the worst I have seen in the county in four years. Hay supplies are running low with a lot of folks scrambling to find hay now. Jessica Morgan – Anson County Extension
Wet and cold conditions has slowed wheat development and prevented the application of needed nitrogen up to this point in time. Little field work has been possible. Several tobacco greenhouses have been damaged by ice and growers need to replace greenhouse tops. Only a few tobacco greenhouses have been seeded. Richard Rhodes – Bertie County Extension
Too wet for field work, farmers are anxious to begin burn down programs to their corn crop and ridge tobacco land. Wheat crop is not looking good. Need some sunlight for tobacco greenhouse plants to germinate. All in all, folks are ready for spring weather. Cathy Herring – Central Crops Research Station
It's very wet, with more forecasted rain this coming week. Most fields have standing water. Wheat condition is very low. We need some dry weather and sunshine for it to make any progress. Pasture land is the worst I have seen in the county in four years. Hay supplies are running low with a lot of folks scrambling to find hay now. Jessica Morgan – Anson County Extension
Wet and cold conditions has slowed wheat development and prevented the application of needed nitrogen up to this point in time. Little field work has been possible. Several tobacco greenhouses have been damaged by ice and growers need to replace greenhouse tops. Only a few tobacco greenhouses have been seeded.
Richard Rhodes – Bertie County Extension
Too wet for field work, farmers are anxious to begin burn down programs to their corn crop and ridge tobacco land. Wheat crop is not looking good. Need some sunlight for tobacco greenhouse plants to germinate. All in all, folks are ready for spring weather. Cathy Herring – Central Crops Research Station
Wet conditions and cold temperatures have prevented growers from applying any winter weed control or fertilizer. Timing of fertilizer applications and the lateness of the calendar will mean growers have to decide whether to continue this wheat crop as a grain option or whether to plow it down as green manure and rotate to corn or soybeans. Mark Seitz - Pender County Extension
CROP CONDITION PERCENT
VP P F G EX Barley 4 5 24 65 2 Oats 3 18 53 24 2 P asture 13 31 42 13 1 Wheat 4 19 40 31 6 VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT VS ST A SS Topsoil Moisture 0 0 21 79 Subsoil Moisture 0 1 50 49 VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus
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