Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 7/20/15

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.

6.0               6.3                 5.6           5.2 

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT

VS ST A SS
Topsoil Moisture 7 37 50 6
Subsoil Moisture 5 33 57 5
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

CROP CONDITION PERCENT

VP P F G EX

Apples 0 2 38 57 3

Corn 8 14 29 36 13

Cotton 0 5 19 64 12

Hay 8 13 36 37 6

Pasture 14 21 35 26 4

Peaches 3 4 41 45 7 

Peanuts 0 1 21 66 12 

Soybeans 3 7 27 53 10 

Sweet Potatoes 0 2 44 46 8

Tobacco: Flue Cured 0 6 28 57 9 

Tobacco: Burley 0 1 43 53 3
 VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent
 

CROP PROGRESS PERCENT – WITH COMPARISONS

This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Yr. Avg. 

PHENOLOGICAL:
Corn Silking 93 90 93 97
Corn Dough 54 38 62 65
Corn Dented 12 N/A 29 23  
Cotton Squaring 90 81 91 90
Cotton Setting Bolls 43 25 60 49
Peanut Pegging 70 49 89 82
Soybean Blooming 37 25 44 30
Soybean Setting Pods 15 N/A 22 11  

HARVESTED:  
Hay 2nd cutting 41 34 64 57
Peaches 42 34 58 47

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

Heavy rains and thunderstorms hit the county this week bringing some much needed rain but also some light flash flooding and wind damage. High winds caused some lodging of corn and some areas experienced some light hail with very little damage reported. Over 7.5" of rain was recorded at the weather station in Burnsville. The wet conditions limited field activity and hindered vegetable harvest. 
Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension 

Tobacco producers are making the first cutting over all tobacco looks very good. Corn is progressing and looking good. Heat stress has taken a toll. Soybeans are all over the board, some very thin others very good. No till soybeans are progressing need a rain.
Gary Cross – Person County Extension 

Some areas of Region 7 have received rainfall, while others have not, which is in direct correlation of crop conditions. With the expected high temperatures early this week, areas that are short of moisture will likely suffer.
Don Nicholson – Agronomist Region 7 

Dry weather is problem for all crops except for potatoes. Most corn is beginning to dent and dry down quickly. Soybeans are doing well but could use some rain. Potato harvest near then end.
Daniel Simpson – Pamlico County Extension

Showers continue to favor the development of corn and soybeans. Almost all of the corn crop is at the silking and tasseling stage or later. A major portion of the soybean crop is at the flowering stage. Cotton is looking good and flowering. The Irish potato crop is almost complete and cabbage harvest is getting nearing the end. Farmers are carrying out pest management tasks on corn and soybean. Some of the double-cropped soybeans has been replanted at least twice.
Al Wood – Pasquotank County Extension 

Southern Rust has been found on corn in the area, growers have been encouraged to spray fungicide on late planted corn to prevent its spread. Corn Earworm has been found feeding in multiple corn fields, suspect resistant to Bt is building up. Most farmers received timely rains over the weekend that will help cotton, soybeans, peanuts, and tobacco. Expect all growers have begun priming lower stalk tobacco by this time.
Roy Thagard – Greene County Extension 

Recent high temperatures coupled with extremely dry conditions has left most of the region with stressed crops. Some areas have received very limited rainfall for the last 6 weeks and crops are in desperate need of relief.
Georgia Love – Agronomist Region 5 

Limited rainfall and higher temperatures adding to dry conditions over most of the county.
Jan McGuinn – Rutherford County Extension 

For the full report, click here.