Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 7/25/16

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT

VS ST A SS 

Topsoil Moisture 3 21 66 10
Subsoil Moisture 2 13 74 11
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
6.3              5.5            5.9                 5.5 

CROP CONDITION PERCENT

VP P F G EX 

Corn 3 6 25 50 16 

Cotton 3 7 27 57 6 

Hay 1 9 40 45 5 

Pasture 3 12 40 39 6 

Peanut 0 3 16 66 15

Soybean 1 5 25 53 16 

Sorghum 1 4 21 68 6 

Sweet Potato 0 0 21 73 6 

Tobacco: Flue Cured 1 4 20 63 12

Tobacco: Burley 0 0 20 74 6 

Peach 15 11 48 19 7 

Apple 11 12 42 34 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 96 93 94 97

Corn – Dough 75 60 68 73  
Corn – Dented 28 10 30 32
Cotton – Squaring 90 83 93 92  
Cotton – Setting Bolls 50 24 57 60
Peanuts – Pegging 79 65 77 86
Soybean – Blooming 46 32 44 39  
Soybean – Setting Pods 23 14 20 16  

HARVESTED:  
Apple 10 n/a n/a n/a  
Hay 2nd Cutting 55 45 46 55  
Peaches 50 46 51 55
Tobacco: Flue Cured 10 n/a n/a 13

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

Excess temperature, inadequate moisture, and a light breeze have really harmed crops in the last 10 days. With no relief in sight, corn yield is declining, tobacco harvest is moving later into the season, and soybean growth is slow to non-existent. Group IV and early Group V beans that are blooming are having a hard time setting pods. Tim Hambrick – Forsyth County Extension

Drought conditions continue with high temperatures and little to no precipitation. A few scattered rain showers brought small amounts (0.1" - 0.3") of precipitation to some areas of the county but did little to alleviate the dry soil conditions. Corn is tasseling very short and pastures are drying up. 
Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension 

Rutherford County is extremely dry. Despite the brief showers in areas of the county over the last month the lack of rain in June will be hard to overcome.
Janice Nicholson - Rutherford County Extension

Tobacco getting target spot due to wet and humid conditions. Soybeans after wheat look very good. Corn is looking very good. Some have started second cuttings on hay.
Gary Cross – Person County Extension 

Tobacco growers are beginning to harvest the crop for the first time. Corn, soybeans, and other crops are starting to show signs of stress from the lack of moisture/rainfall.
Joey Knight – Caswell County Extension

Crop conditions are very good overall. Recent timely rains have helped although some areas have gotten too much, but these areas are small. The corn crop is essentially made, so the hot weather this week should not be an issue. If the hot weather turns into an extended period, crops that are making now may suffer.
Don Nicholson – Agronomist Region 7 

Some areas have received a little rain but many have not. Corn is starting to suffer due to the lack of rain.
Danelle Cutting – Rowan County Extension 

Drier and warmer weather at the end of the week is speeding field activity. Tobacco is beginning to be harvested, potatoes are almost completed, corn is drying down, and soybeans are flowering. Turf grass is also being cut. Third hay cutting is complete. Daniel Simpson – Pamlico County Extension 

Hot weather is having an adverse effect on all crops. Storms caused wind damage in areas of the county in the past week.
Cathy Herring – Central Crops Research Station 

Crops growth is progressing well. Tobacco harvest has begun. Recent rains have delayed bermuda hay harvest pushing many fields past its prime. Mac Malloy – Robeson County Extension 

Excessive rainfall in a portion of the county. 14.3 inches of rainfall in 4 days. Drowned and windblown tobacco.
Art Bradley – Edgecombe County Extension 

For the full report, click here.