Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 11/14/16

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK

VS ST A SS 

Topsoil Moisture 15 20 58 7
Subsoil Moisture 8 20 63 9
VS= Very Short ST = Short A = Adequate SS = Surplus

 

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENT
This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Avg.
6.7               6.7               3.4            5.1 

CROP CONDITION PERCENT

VP P F G EX 

Barley 1 12 15 71 1

Oats 0 11 45 42 2

Pasture 15 25 29 27 4

Wheat 1 13 30 56 0

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:

Wheat – Emerged 30 24 30 32   
HARVESTED:
Cotton 81 57 59 66
Hay 3rd Cutting 95 90 94 91
Peanuts 84 76 73 90
Sorghum for Grain 94 87 n/a n/a
Soybeans 62 50 48 44
Sweet Potato 92 84 91 92
PLANTED:
Barley 76 70 76 81
Oats 68 61 60 72
Winter Wheat 56 42 42 58

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT REPORTS

Rutherford County is extremely dry. Hay reserved for winter is being used for livestock and producers are waiting on rain to plant winter wheat. Janice Nicholson – Rutherford County 

Extremely dry conditions continue with no measurable rainfall for the week. Temperatures were much cooler with lows primarily in the upper 20's with heavy frost most mornings this week. Conditions are ideal for wildfires with several fires burning in the area. Christmas tree harvest is now in full swing. 
Stanley Holloway – Yancey County Extension 

Drought conditions exist in western North Carolina. 10-15% of small grain yet to be planted because farmers fear failure to survive dry conditions. Getting late to plant to ensure crop success even if conditions change. Small grain planted in October is struggling. Continued dry conditions for upcoming week. Minimal stockpiled grazing areas. Forage supplement feeding underway. Dwayne Tate – Agronomist Region 

Continued extremely dry and unseasonably warm conditions. Paige Burns – Richmond County Extension 

Very dry conditions affecting small grain stands.
Robin Watson – Agronomist Region 8 

Much needed rain arrived Monday November 14th. It will delay cotton and soybean harvest but is very helpful for the small grains. Cathy Herring – Central Crops Station 

The county is very dry. Producers are feeding hay and may be short for the winter if we don't soon get rain. 
Julia Houck – Ashe-Alleghany County Ext 

Drought conditions are delaying emergence of cover crops and forage crops that require moisture in the surface. This is a significant limitation in our sandy soils.
Taylor Williams – Moore County Extension 

Our current air is terrible quality due to burning of mass acreage in our county and we still have not had any rain to quell the issue.
Hannah Bundy – Rutherford County Extension

6 weeks of dry weather have made conditions for wheat struggling to emerge. Most crops are out except soybeans. Soybean quality is down to drought and leaving in the field to long. Gary Cross - Person County Extension

Dry conditions allowed for multiple field activities this week. Great gains were made in soybean harvest and planting small grain crops. Considering rainfall levels obtained during the hurricane, dry weather has been good for allowing crops to dry down and for quick harvest of crops remaining in the field. Debris cleanup continues in hardest hit areas.
Georgia Love – Agronomist Region 5 

All small grains have been planted and have germinated but are in desired need for rainfall. Soil moistures have been depleted since the last rainfall from Hurricane Matthew. Livestock producers are feeding hay since pastures are beginning to decline. Very little rainfall is projected for the next 10 days here in the county. Joey Knight – Caswell County Extension 

Conditions are good for soybean harvest. Some wheat will be planted but very little.
Daniel Simpson - Pamlico County Extension

Very dry, no measurable precipitation in weeks. County has been smoke-filled because of wildfires in surrounding areas.
Milly Sandfoss – McDowell County Extension 

Great weather for harvest over the past 7 days. Wheat planting slowed due to dry conditions.
Tim Britton – Johnston County Extension 

Another dry week helped farmers get soybeans combined. Soybean yields are good to excellent across the county with the highest yields pushing 60 bushels per acre. Harvest of late planted soybeans is delayed due to maturity. Frost/freeze is needed to help finish these acres. Some wheat has been planted and early emergence looks good. Limited acres due to commodity prices. Mark Seitz – Pender County Extension 

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