Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 4/13/15

DAYS SUITIBLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
5.4                  5.3             5.5              n/a

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS
Topsoil Moisture 0 7 75 18
Subsoil 0 3 74 23

VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

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

PLANTED: Corn 25 n/a 17 28

CROP CONDITION PERCENT

VP P F G EX
 Barley 2 6 25 63 4

Oats 4 12 45 34 5
Pasture 4 17 44 33 2
Wheat 2 10 36 43 9
VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

Corn planting is well under way in the western piedmont with drier and warmer conditions. Small grains are for the most part coming out of any freeze damage that occurred with little lost. Pastures are now starting to provide plenty of grass for grazing, which is helping to alleviate the hay shortage.
Daniel Overcash – Agronomist Region 11 

Weather this past week has allowed farmers to make gains on field work. Most tobacco land is has been ridged up in the southern part of the region and transplanting should start this coming week. Greenhouse crops have responded nicely to the sunny weather and tomatoes should begin to be harvested this coming week. Strawberry growers worked hard to ensure their crops came through the freeze two weeks ago, and minimized damage. Some will have berries the last week of April, but some will be a few weeks behind.
Colby Lambert – Agronomist Region 9 

Rain with pea size hail not large enough to do damage. Heavy rains for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. About two to three weeks from transplanting tobacco. Wheat again is getting too much moisture. Corn Planting will begin as soon as it dries up in the next week.
Gary Cross – Person County Extension 

Overall field conditions have improved allowing multiple field activities to occur. Robeson did experience some passing rain showers during the week. Early wheat varieties are beginning to head. Rapeseed is in full bloom. Disease pressure in small grains seems very low.
.Mac Malloy – Robeson County Extension

Lots of field work was done this week. Corn planting got underway, and tobacco field prep began. Fertilizer applications continued for wheat and pastures. Forages grew well with low temperatures staying in the 40's at night. Farmers are still feeding some hay, though forage quantity is improving. 
Paul Westfall – Granville County Extension 

A hail storm in Franklin County resulted in damage to homes and property, including tobacco and commercial nursery greenhouse plastic. No crop damage reported.
Mike Wilder – Agronomist Region 6 

Wheat is looking rough, tobacco greenhouses in full swing
John Ivey - Guilford County Extension

Lots of burn down herbicides were sprayed last week, and corn planting is now under way. Many farmers are hoping for a little rain, as soil is pretty dry in some fields. Farmers are starting to quit feeding hay as pastures continue to green up.
Stephen Bishop - Cleveland County NRCS

Fruit crop injury from March 29 event is now apparent. We lost 40% of the peach crop overall, with most early varieties affected. Strawberry losses 10% overall, blueberry losses 20%, Plums 50%, Pears 60% lost. Other fruit crops normal at this time.
Taylor Williams – Moore County Extension 

Area fields are drying out, allowing Farmers to start preparing land for the 2015 crops. There have been some fields that have had water standing in them since after Christmas.
Danny Tharrington – Wilson County Extension 

For the full report, click here.