Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 8/1/16

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK

This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.

6.6              6.3             6.6          5.5 

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT

VS ST A SS
Topsoil Moisture 6 27 59 8
Subsoil Moisture 4 16 71 9
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

CROP CONDITION PERCENT

VP P F G EX 

Apple 11 12 42 34 1 

Corn 4 7 25 49 15 

Cotton 4 8 25 57 6 

Hay 2 9 40 44 5 

Pasture 3 14 38 39 6 

Peanut 1 3 15 67 14 

Soybean 1 5 26 52 16 

Sorghum 1 4 22 68 5

Sweet Potato 0 0 21 74 5 

Tobacco: Flue Cured 1 5 20 63 11 

Tobacco: Burley 0 0 20 74 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:
Corn – Dough 88 75 81 83  
Corn – Dented 55 28 51 50
Corn – Mature 10 n/a n/a n/a  
Cotton – Squaring 94 90 95 95
Cotton – Setting Bolls 68 50 71 74  
Peanuts – Pegging 90 79 87 93
Soybean – Blooming 66 46 56 51
Soybean – Setting Pods 37 23 31 25  

HARVESTED:
Apple 17 10 13 12  
Hay 2nd Cutting 65 55 52 61
Peaches 58 50 62 70
Tobacco: Flue Cured 18 10 15 18

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

Most of the county received 1 inch or more of rain this week. Some pastures are showing signs of heat stress and many producers are suffering from a more severe summer slump in our pastures due to higher than normal temperatures. Many farmers are still cleaning up storm damage from 2 weeks ago, many forested areas suffered major damage to harvestable timber.
Eddy Labus – Watauga County Extension 

Scattered thunderstorms brought some heavy rain showers to some areas of the county while other areas received very little. Isolated areas of the county received as much as 5" of rain resulting in some minor flash flooding. Other areas received only a trace to .5". The rains did help pastures somewhat; however the 2nd cutting hay crop is going to be very short. The recent rains have definitely improved the corn crop in many areas; however, yields are going to be short due to the drought conditions for most of the summer. 
Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension 

Corn and soybeans under extreme heat stress. Tobacco is suffering from disease brought on by high humidity such as blue mold target spot. Second cutting of hay has started progressing well. Gary Cross – Person County Extension 

Crops in Caswell County are showing signs of heat stress with the lack of moisture. Corn foliage is twisting and soybeans blooming are dropping some blooms with the excessive temperatures. Tobacco growers are harvesting the crop with average yields. Strawberry growers are getting ready to put in tips for the Fall planting. Livestock growers are still grazing pastures but supplies are getting short. Home gardeners are getting ready to plant Fall cool-season crops.
Joey Knight – Caswell County Extension

We are at a critical stage for grain sorghum and soybeans, with very little rain the past two weeks. Soybeans are at bloom to pod set, and sorghum is in boot to early heading.
Taylor Williams – Moore County Extension 

Although we have had unusually hot temperatures, soil moisture reserves and recent rains have kept the crops looking reasonably good. Current activities are pest management of soybeans and cotton as well as growers preparing equipment for the corn harvest.
Al Wood – Pasquotank County Extension 

Heavy rains at the beginning and end of the week has slowed most field activity. However, corn is drying down and soybeans are maturing quickly.
Daniel Simpson – Pamlico County Extension 

High heat and lack of rain during week is taking a toll on crops. Heat stress on tobacco has disease showing up in some fields. Some tobacco fields seem to be yellowing / maturing very quickly.
Brian Parrish – Harnett County Extension 

Hot and dry conditions have prevailed all week with temperatures pushing over the 100°F mark the last half of the week. Soybeans are hurting from this heat and dry weather. 
Mark Seitz – Pender County Extension 

Field conditions have dried out significantly the past week with high temperatures and no rain. Corn harvest has begun for a handful of growers who are willing to dry 26% moisture grain. Good corn yields are expected. Moth flights are picking up in the area so worm activity is expected to increase in the coming days.
Mac Malloy – Robeson County Extension 
 

For the full report, click here.