Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 10/11/16

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT

VS ST A SS 

Topsoil Moisture 2 13 44 41
Subsoil Moisture 2 14 52 32
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus
 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
4.4               3.8                   3.3           n/a 

CROP CONDITION PERCENT

VP P F G EX 

Cotton 8 13 35 40 4

Pasture 8 19 39 30 4

Peanut 3 8 22 57 10

Soybean 4 8 31 45 12

Sweet Potato 2 8 31 56 3

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: Cotton – Bolls Opening 90 85 91 89  
Soybean – Dropping Leaves 62 52 63 52

HARVESTED:  
Apple 77 74 74 77
Corn for Grain 92 89 87 88
Hay 3rd Cutting 73 71 68 66
Peanuts 18 13 10 22
Sorghum for Grain 60 50 n/a n/a
Soybeans 11 n/a n/a n/a
Sweet Potato 39 34 33 50
Tobacco: Flue Cured 94 90 83 90
Tobacco: Burley 70 64 71 86

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

Rutherford County producers are harvesting corn and hay and will soon be harvesting soybeans. Pastures are turning green from the brief showers we have experienced throughout most of the county and hopefully will help to delay the use of hay stored for winter feeding. Janice Nicholson– Rutherford County FSA 

A little rain late in the week was a welcome sight as the county remains very dry. Precipitation amounts were variable across the county with most areas receiving around 0.75"-1.25" of rain. Windy conditions did cause a few downed trees but no major issues. Temperatures also dipped considerably late in the week with lows in the lower 40's-upper 30's around the county. Most livestock producers have begun feeding hay as pastures have suffered from the dry conditions. Stanley Holloway - Yancey County Extension 

Hurricane Matthew hit on October 8th and dropped from 6-7 inches of rain in Franklin County. Tobacco harvest had finished the week before, and 95% of the corn had been harvested. Soybeans did not take too much punishment, but they are going to produce low yields due to earlier dry weather. The moisture will benefit our pastures and hay fields. We also welcome the cooler weather. Charles Mitchell – Franklin County Extension 

With the 9 inches of rainfall as a result of hurricane Matthew in the County this past weekend, harvesting the remaining tobacco crop was slowed down as well as any fall soybean and corn harvesting. Seeding in pastures and small grains has stopped temporary from this weekend's Matthew rains. Some wind damage to crops but nothing serious. Joey Knight – Caswell County Extension 

Flooding and trees down across the county. Extent of storm damage is unknown at this time. Damage will be assessed today and throughout the coming week.
Zachary Taylor – Lee County Extension

Torrential rains from hurricane Matthew has led to extremely saturated soils, flooding in my area. It remains to be seen what the final results will be for crops still in the fields. Peanuts and sweet potatoes will be especially vulnerable to damage. What little bit of tobacco still in the fields may not be worth harvesting at this point. Soybeans are likely to damage.
Don Nicholson – Agronomist Region 7 

There are widespread reports of damage to sweet potatoes drowning under 14" of rainfall due to Hurricane Matthew. Some tobacco was left in the field, which will almost certainly be lost to wind damage. This is on top of Angular Leafspot, a bacterial disease that appeared suddenly late in the season, too late to prevent with any available crop protectant. Milo crop was lodged in many areas. Collards and other greens were damaged by wind. Power is out in most areas, so that barns cannot be ordered, loaded and operated. Tobacco losses may be 5% to 10% due to weather, and 10% to angular leaf spot. 
Taylor Williams – Moore County Extension 

Prior to Hurricane Matthew, growers harvested corn and soybeans as rapidly as possible. However, very wet fields from previous rains and lack of storage slowed progress. Growers reporting 5-8 inches of rainfall from Hurricane Matthew. Scattered areas of strong wind and flooding anticipated to damage crops and delay harvest. Damage estimates in progress.
Mike Carroll – Carteret County Extension 

Due to Hurricane Matthew, field conditions have deteriorated significantly (in most locales) as compared to prior to the storm. Crop condition are currently being assessed and will be updated as soon as possible.
Bruce McLean – Bladen County Extension 

For the full report, click here.