Source: USDA' S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 5/26/15

DAYS SUITIBLE FOR FIELD WORK SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.

6.4 6.0 6.1 4.9

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT  VS ST A SS

Topsoil Moisture 3 26 65 6 Subsoil Moisture 1 16 77 6 
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 96 93 98 99  

Cotton 68 42 84 82  

 Peanuts 62 36 69 75

 Soybeans 47 26 41 35

Tobacco: Flue Cured 93 84 91 94  

 Tobacco: Burley 45 27 51 71

PHENOLOGICAL: 

 Corn % Emerged 90 84 90 95

Soybean % Emerged 20 n/a 28 20  

 Wheat % Headed 97 94 97 99

HARVESTED: Hay 1st cutting 63 44 61 63  

CROP CONDITION PERCENT ( VP P F G EX )

Apples 0 3 37 57 3 
Barley 0 4 24 68 4 
Corn 0 4 20 58 18 
Cotton 0 0 15 76 9 
Hay 1 5 45 42 7 
Sweet Potatoes 15 n/a 23 25
Oats 2 7 45 42 4 
Pasture 3 13 39 41 4 
Peaches 4 4 37 49 6 
Peanuts 0 0 13 83 4 
Tobacco: Flue Cured 0 1 23 66 10 
Wheat 2 10 30 51 7 

VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

Good weather conditions have continued. There were some showers mid-week that hurt some hay that had been cut, but the pace of farm operations didn't slow down much. Soybeans and corn are looking pretty good, and tobacco continues to be transplanted. A lot of hay has been cut the last couple of weeks, with most of it being baled and stored without getting rained on, which is unusual in May. Hay is starting to get a bit mature, but should still be of decent quality. 
Paul Westfall – Granville County Extension 

Dry conditions region wide are starting to have significant agronomic impacts on corn, soybeans and pasture.
Dwayne Tate – Agronomist Region 12 

Continued dry conditions this week. Majority of the first cutting of hay cut and harvested. Vegetables continuing to do well.
Jan McGuinn - Rutherford County Extension

Weather conditions for the week were mostly cooler and dry. The county received a few scattered rain showers but precipitation was very light in most areas. The drier weather allowed a considerable amount of first cutting hay to be harvested with no rain. Reports are that the first cutting hay crop is a little short as the grass has matured shorter than normal. The burley tobacco crop is being transplanted and most of the corn crop has been planted.
Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension 

Tobacco growers have just about finished up transplanting. Strawberry season is coming to an end with only 4 weeks of picking this year. Soil moisture is low and newly planted crops are starting to need some rainfall.
Joey Knight – Caswell County Extension

No rain in 4 weeks!! Planting of field crops has ceased and stands are poor. With no rain in forecast farmers spirits are low, especially field crop producers since prices are also low. Wheat harvest to begin in 2 weeks and yields look decent. Barley and oats have been harvested, much of this for silage and hay. Some wheat with ryegrass has been harvested for hay. Irrigation water so far is adequate but if conditions do not improve this may become a factor.
Steve Gibson – Catawba County Extension 

We need some rain desperately. Some have started feeding hay in the lower part of the county because the Bermuda grass is not growing. Second cutting of hay will be pushed back or of lower quality if it does not rain soon.
Jessica Morgan – Anson County Extension 

Soil conditions are drying out fast as growers continue to plant. Wheat is drying down with the start of harvest possibly beginning next week. Corn, cotton, and tobacco are off to a good start. Many hay growers are harvesting their first cutting.
Mac Malloy - Robeson County Extension

Major field activities for week were soybean planting, cotton planting and tobacco layby fertilization. Tobacco transplanting is complete. Sweet potato transplanting is in progress.
Brian Parrish – Harnett County Extension 

Drier weather has allowed growers to plant soybeans, apply nitrogen to corn, and perform field activities. Some areas could use some rain. Wheat is drying down with the heat and dry weather. Daniel Simpson – Pamlico County Extension 

For the full report, click here.