Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 9/26/16

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT

VS ST A SS 

Topsoil Moisture 9 18 53 20
Subsoil Moisture 7 21 53 19
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK

This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
4.3              6.7                 4.1             4.7 

CROP CONDITION PERCENT

VP P F G EX

Cotton 3 8 32 50 7

Hay 3 18 39 33 7 

Pasture 9 27 31 29 4 

Peanut 0 4 16 67 13 

Soybean 2 7 29 48 14 

Sorghum 2 5 32 56 5 

Sweet Potato 0 5 26 64 5 

Tobacco: Burley 1 3 23 68 5 

CROP PROGRESS PERCENT – WITH COMPARISONS  

This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Yr. Avg
PHENOLOGICAL:  
Cotton – Bolls Opening 76 66 81 76  
Soybean – Dropping Leaves 44 30 41 28  

HARVESTED:
Apple 69 65 62 64  
Corn for Grain 87 82 77 77
Corn for Silage 97 94 91 91  
Hay 3rd Cutting 69 66 58 54
Sorghum for Grain 40 33 n/a n/a
Sweet Potato 27 20 20 28
Tobacco: Flue Cured 86 82 76 82
Tobacco: Burley 56 39 57 75
VP = Very Poor P = Poor F = Fair G = Good EX = Excellent

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

The condition of most of the tobacco crop continues to deteriorate, mainly due to leaf diseases. Strawberry growers plastic mulch laying has been delayed due to recent rains. Rains are also delaying cotton harvest and quality, although peanuts and late soybeans do seem to be benefitting from them.
Don Nicholson – Agronomist Region 7 

Another dry week with only a trace of precipitation in parts of the county. Corn silage and second cutting hay harvesting is nearly complete. Yields for both are off considerably due to the earlier and current drought conditions. Pasture conditions, which had improved somewhat mid-summer, continue to decline as we've not had significant rain for several weeks now. 
Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension 

We had about 4 inches of rain but too late for most crops except maybe pastures and soybeans after wheat.
Gary Cross – Person County Extension 

Rutherford County has been experiencing extremely dry conditions for the last 3 months. The drought we are in has affected corn, soybeans, hay and grazing. Most of our livestock producers have been feeding hay for the last month if not all summer depending on the area of the county in which they live. Janice Nicholson – Rutherford County Extension 

Franklin County received much needed rain last week. Pastures and hay fields were in need of moisture. The rain did come a little late for the soybean crop. It will help fill out the beans that were developing. Charles Mitchell - Franklin County Extension

Showers during the week prevented soybean and corn harvest. If conditions dry, soybean harvest will begin in earnest.
Daniel Simpson – Pamlico County Extension 

We continue to have calls from farmers looking for hay; some have already decided to sell off cows; dry weather has farmers waiting to spread fertilizer and drill small grains and cool season grass. Soybeans are dropping leaves fast now.
Stephen Bishop – Cleveland SWCD 

Rain all week stopped corn harvest. Need dry weather to finish corn harvest, let soybeans dry out and get strawberry land prepped for fall planting.
Mark Seitz – Pender County Extension 

Daily rainfall reported by growers ranged from 0.5-3.0 inches. Thus, little to no field work occurred.
Mike Carroll - Craven County Extension

Several areas received 3-7 inches this week adding to the month total of 5-15 inches. Tim Britton – Johnston County Extension

Dry conditions continue to persist in Region 12. Forage and double crop soybeans are impacted.
Dwayne Tate – Agronomist Region 12 

For the full report, click here.