Source: USDA' S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 10/19/15
SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT VS ST A SS Topsoil Moisture 5 7 70 18
Subsoil Moisture 4 7 73 16
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
5.7 3.3 4.8 4.7 CROP CONDITION PERCENT VP P F G EX Cotton 6 19 37 35 3 Pasture 9 16 45 28 2 Peanuts 5 16 35 38 6 Soybeans 12 17 28 37 6 Sweet Potatoes 2 15 36 44 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: Cotton Bolls Opening 96 93 95 95 Soybean Dropping Leaves 77 67 73 70
PLANTED:
Barley 21 n/a 24 33
Oats 18 n/a 21 32
Wheat 10 n/a 11 11
HARVESTED:
Apples 80 75 89 85
Corn for Grain 91 88 88 94
Cotton 15 n/a 22 24
Hay 3rd cutting 75 69 82 76
Peanuts Threshed 23 11 47 45
Soybeans 14 n/a 15 12
Sweet Potatoes 48 35 68 65
Tobacco Flue Cured 91 84 94 96
Tobacco Burley 84 75 84 96 COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS Widespread heavy frost over the region this past weekend. After heavy rains earlier in the month, farms were able to begin harvesting corn and soybeans last week. Initial yields look above average. Chris Leek – Agronomist Region 13
The first killing frost/freeze of the season occurred late in the week as temperatures dipped into the mid 20's over most of the county. Other than a few scattered light rain showers early in the week, we've dried out considerably. Main farm activities for the week included harvesting corn for grain, last minute harvesting of vegetable crops, tending livestock, and tagging Christmas trees in preparation for harvest.
Stanley Holloway - Yancey County Extension
Tobacco growers are finishing harvesting, but there are still a few growers that need a few more days to finish. Frost projections are posted for this weekend and hopefully it won't amount to much. Some of the soybeans and corn that needed to harvest before the rainfall that fell from Sept. 24 to Oct. 4 with 14 inches are sprouting, not good for these small grain growers. Cooler temperatures have helped livestock producers with pastures improving. Joey Knight – Caswell County Extension
Frost and freezing temperatures in some areas of County on Sunday morning but not enough to end growing season just yet. Many hay fields mowed this week. Yields improved by recent rains, but still short of needs and quality only marginal. Farmers seeding small grains and ryegrass into pastures hoping for hay saving winter and early spring grazing. Expecting growing season ending freeze on Monday and Tuesday. Livestock farmers again feeding hay. Carl Pless - Cabarrus County Extension
The heavy rains of the last two weeks has caused issues in nearly all row crops but given hay fields a last chance for growth before going dormant. The freeze on Sunday evening may have caused damage to unharvested tobacco crops, we will see in about a week. Taylor Williams - Moore County Extension
Grain sorghum will lose 40% yield to sprouting seeds in the heads. Arthur Whitehead – Halifax County Extension
Drying conditions this week helped growers salvage some early beans that were damaged by recent rains. All soybeans are dropping leaves. Daniel Simpson – Pamlico County Extension
Thankful for the clear weather. Much damage to early maturing soybeans, sorghum, and not yet harvested corn from the rainy September. Tim Hall – Agronomist Region 4
Greatly needed clear skies prevailed this week allowing fields to dry and corn harvest to resume. Farmers estimated 20% loss to 30% of the corn acres that did not get harvested before 13 days of rain hit in late Sept/early October. Thankfully winds were light and corn remained standing. Some re-sprouting is occurring in corn and in soybeans but in all we escaped what could have been a disastrous weather event.
Mark Seitz – Pender County Extension
For the full report, click here.
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