Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 7/27/15

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK

This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg. 

5.9            6.0             5.1          5.5 

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
VS ST A SS 
Topsoil Moisture 9 29 56 6 
Subsoil Moisture 8 31 56 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 9 15 29 36 11 

Cotton 0 5 21 59 15 

Hay 8 14 38 34 6 

Pasture 14 23 33 27 3 

Peanuts 0 1 20 64 15

Soybeans 4 9 29 48 10 

Sweet Potatoes 0 2 44 47 7 

Tobacco: Flue Cured 1 7 29 54 9 

Tobacco: Burley 0 1 43 53 3 

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

PHENOLOGICAL:  
Corn Silking 95 93 95 98
Corn Dough 73 54 71 79
Corn Dented 37 12 40 40
Cotton Squaring 94 90 94 93  
Cotton Setting Bolls 62 43 77 68
Peanut Pegging 80 70 93 91
Soybean Blooming 47 37 54 42  
Soybean Setting Pods 22 15 28 17
 
HARVESTED:
Hay 2nd cutting 48 41 71 63
Peaches 55 42 64 59
Tobacco Flue Cured 10 N/A 18 14
VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

Parts of county are dry while other parts receive adequate moisture
Micah Orfield – Ashe/Alleghany County Extension 

Tobacco growers have been irrigating the crop. Tobacco growers have already harvested at least once and overall the crop looks fairly good. With the lack of rainfall, some of the other crops like, soybeans, are in great need for rainfall and moisture. Early sweet corn growers are finishing up harvesting. Pasture are turning brown and need some rainfall. Vegetable growers are continuously harvesting and selling at nearby Farmers Markets.
Joey Knight – Caswell County Extension 

Most tobacco has been topped, beans are setting pods. Not
much rain.
John Ivey – Guilford County Extension 

Spotty brief showers fell on some areas of the County. Many farms have received very little rain during the past few months. Livestock farmers are feeding hay and looking for forage supplies. Stream flow is extremely low.
Carl Pless – Cabarrus County Extension 

The upper part of Cleveland County had some relief with a few heavy rains in the past week. The southern part of the county is still suffering, with little to no rain in the last three weeks.
Stephen Bishop – Cleveland NRCS

Hot temperatures and limited rainfall has resulted in much of the cotton in the county cutting-out. These conditions may also be affecting the quality and weight of the first pullings of tobacco. Cotton growers are scouting and spraying for stink bugs as needed.
Richard Rhodes – Bertie County Extension 

Crops looking fairly good with potential for corn diseases. Need rain in areas
Tommy R Grandy – Currituck County Extension 

Rain last week were very good for all crops. It was a very timely rain for the cotton crop.
Cathy Herring – Central Crops Research Station 

Heat stress a major factor last 2 weeks, soil moisture variable across region
Tim Hall – Agronomist Region 4 

Severe thunderstorms in central, southern Pender County dropped 4" to 6" of rain in 3 to 4 hours last Thursday. While the intensity was high, the rainfall was desperately needed. Northern Pender received 1" to 2" of rain in places. Soybeans look much,  better across the county. Rain should help late planted corn finish pollinating and finishing and keep early planted corn filling kernels. 
Mark Seitz – Pender County Extension 

For the full report, click here.