Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending July 26, 2015.
Micah Orfield – Ashe/Alleghany County Extension: Parts of county are dry while other parts receive adequate moisture
Joey Knight – Caswell County Extension: Tobacco growers have been irrigating the crop. Tobacco growers have already harvested at least once and overall the crop looks fairly good. With the lack of rainfall, some of the other crops like, soybeans, are in great need for rainfall and moisture.
Early sweet corn growers are finishing up harvesting. Pasture are turning brown and need some rainfall. Vegetable growers are continuously harvesting and selling at nearby Farmers Markets.
John Ivey – Guilford County Extension: Most tobacco has been topped, beans are setting pods. Not much rain.
Carl Pless – Cabarrus County Extension: Spotty brief showers fell on some areas of the County. Many farms have received very little rain during the past few months. Livestock farmers are feeding hay and looking for forage supplies. Stream flow is extremely low.
Stephen Bishop – Cleveland NRCS: The upper part of Cleveland County had some relief with a few heavy rains in the past week. The southern part of the county is still suffering, with little to no rain in the last three weeks.
Richard Rhodes – Bertie County Extension: Hot temperatures and limited rainfall has resulted in much of the cotton in the county cutting-out. These conditions may also be affecting the quality and weight of the first pullings of tobacco. Cotton growers are scouting and spraying for stink bugs as needed.
Tommy R Grandy – Currituck County Extension: Crops looking fairly good with potential for corn diseases. Need rain in areas
Cathy Herring – Central Crops Research Station: Rain last week were very good for all crops. It was a very timely rain for the cotton crop.
Tim Hall – Agronomist Region 4: Heat stress a major factor last 2 weeks, soil moisture variable across region
Mark Seitz – Pender County Extension: Severe thunderstorms in central, southern Pender County dropped 4″ to 6″ of rain in 3 to 4 hours last Thursday. While the intensity was high, the rainfall was desperately needed. Northern Pender received 1″ to 2″ of rain in places. Soybeans look much, better across the county. Rain should help late planted corn finish pollinating and finishing and keep early planted corn filling kernels.
