Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 7/18/16

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT

VS ST A SS  

Topsoil Moisture 2 13 72 13

Subsoil Moisture 1 13 74 12  

VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus      

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK

This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
5.5             5.6                   6.0           5.4 

CROP CONDITION PERCENT 

VP P F G EX 

Corn 3 5 23 53 16 

Cotton 3 7 28 56 6 

Hay 1 8 40 46 5 

Pasture 3 12 37 42 6 

Peanut 0 2 16 68 14 

Soybean 0 4 25 57 14 

Sorghum 1 4 21 69 5 

Sweet Potato 0 0 21 73 6 

Tobacco: Flue Cured 0 4 19 64 13 

Tobacco: Burley 0 0 20 74 6 

Peach 15 11 48 19 7 

Apple 10 12 42 35 1 

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 89 92 94  
Corn – Dough 60 42 49 55
Corn – Dented 10 n/a n/a 15  
Cotton – Squaring 83 68 87 88
Cotton – Setting Bolls 24 12 38 40
Peanuts – Pegging 65 40 64 75
Soybean – Emerged 98 94 97 93  
Soybean – Blooming 32 25 34 27  
Soybean – Setting Pods 14 n/a 12 n/a
HARVESTED:
Hay 2nd Cutting 45 31 39 49  
Peaches 46 41 40 45  
 

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

The county is starting to get dry. Water level in the creeks and river are getting low. 
Julia Houck – Ashe-Alleghany Co FSA 

Recent rains have offset what was shaping up to be severe drought conditions across the region. Some isolated area were hit with high winds and hail causing damage to tobacco and corn.
Dwayne Tate – Agronomist Region 12 

Scattered rain showers continued this week; however, amounts were light and highly variable ranging from less than .5" to around 1.5" depending on location in the county. The corn crop is still suffering and pastures are failing with some livestock producers already having to supplement with hay. Second cutting hay is going to be short due to the dry weather and many producers are concerned if they will be able to produce enough hay to get them through the winter. 
Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension 

Franklin County has had over 20 inches of rain since the Flue Cured tobacco crop was planted. Tobacco is suffering in some areas. We have had hail storms and wind damage. Over 125 acres have been mowed and destroyed.
Charles Mitchell – Franklin County Extension 

Rain and hail bad storms the last three weeks. With all the rain most corn will make through harvest. Soybeans are looking better coming out of soil born diseases. Tobacco is being cut on the bottom leaves. Pastures are improving.
Gary Cross – Person County Extension

With some recent rainfall, corn and soybeans are looking pretty good. Farmers are spraying milo for the sugarcane aphid, which has shown up in the last few weeks.
Stephen Bishop – Cleveland SWCD 

The area has had regular rain events, some heavy at times, over the past week.
Page Burns – Richmond County Extension 

Many areas received 6+ inches of rain on 7/16 and 7/17 in a short time. Flooded fields and hail damage reported in tobacco. Tobacco harvest has begun as weather permits.
Mike Wilder – Agronomist Region 6 

Wet weather has slowed most field activity. Corn is looking well with consistent moisture. Soybeans are looking better, but low areas in fields have been affected by wet weather.
Daniel Simpson – Pamlico County Extension 

Rains on Friday and Saturday have helped all crops. it was extremely dry in parts of Johnston County, North Carolina. Some areas received excessive rain.
Cathy Herring – Central Crops Research Station 

Crop conditions continue to improve with frequent rain showers despite the heat. Some reports of corn at black layer with good yields expected. Tobacco, soybeans, peanuts, and cotton look good overall.
Mac Malloy – Robeson County Extension 

For the full report, click here.