Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 10/26/15

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT

VS ST A SS

Topsoil Moisture 5 16 70 9
Subsoil Moisture 5 11 76 8
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus
 

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

6.7              5.7                6.2            5.7 

CROP CONDITION PERCENT

VP P F G EX

Cotton 6 19 37 34 4 

Pasture 8 17 46 27 2 

Peanuts 5 16 36 37 6

Soybeans 12 17 28 37 6

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:  
Soybean Dropping Leaves 90 77 84 81  
PLANTED:

Barley 42 21 39 48
Oats 36 18 34 46
Wheat 20 10 21 20
HARVESTED:
Apples 90 80 90 90
Corn for Grain 95 91 92 96
Cotton 26 15 32 37
Hay 3rd cutting 86 75 86 82
Peanuts Threshed 45 23 62 65
Soybeans 26 14 20 19
Sweet Potatoes 66 48 77 75
Tobacco Flue Cured 95 91 95 98
Tobacco Burley 92 84 88 97

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

Second cutting of hay continued this past week.
Jan McGuinn – Rutherford County Extension 

Tobacco is just about finished after a general frost during the week. Farmers are planting wheat, which is being planted in almost ideal soil conditions. Soybean harvest began, with some early fields being cut. Early yield reports range from 40 to 60 bushels per acre on fields that weren't hit by disease. There is still some hay being baled, but that has slowed down a lot. Farmers rare being cautious about prussic acid and nitrates. Some forage tests on fescue hay have come back showing high levels of nitrates, and a veterinarian has said that he is seeing more high nitrate problems in forages than usual this fall. Pasture growth has slowed due to frost and cool night temperatures. 
Paul Westfall – Granville County Extension 

First Frost last week- some tobacco still in the field is lost, most summer vegetables are done too b/c of frost. In group 4 beans and grain sorghum we saw some sprouting and bolting, soybeans are looking rough- purple beans, shriveled, lack of filling of pods
John Ivey –Guilford County Extension 

Dry crop harvesting is moving along well. Soybeans being cut. Some wheat being planted though wheat may be planted late due to late soybeans. Corn harvest and yields are better than expected.
Gary Cross – Person County Extension

Heavy frost and temperatures in the upper-20s brought an end to the tobacco crop in Rockingham County this week. It is estimated that close to 600 barns were lost due to the frost event. Corn harvest is almost complete and average yields are the lowest they have been in nearly 10 years. Soybean harvest will begin in the next week, with yields expected to be lower than normal due to growing conditions this year.
Will Strader – Rockingham County Extension 

We have received no rain. Late soybeans look much better but some are still not the best of quality.
Danelle Cutting – Rowan County Extension 

Drying conditions have allowed for very good conditions for harvesting of soybean, and cabbage as well as planting of wheat. Grain quality of soybeans are improving as growers get the weather damaged field harvested and move to those fields that are of better quality.
Al Wood – Pasquotank County Extension 

First frost of season.
Norman Harrell – Wilson County Extension 

Field conditions favorable for harvest. Soybean seed quality has been poor with some loads being rejected at the elevator. Seed quality improving with later maturity groups.
Mac Malloy – Robeson County Extension 

For the full report, click here.