Donna Teasley, Burke County Extension: Corn and soybeans planted early are okay. Those that planted a little later are suffering. Poor pollination in corn and soybeans small.
Paul Westfall, Granville County Extension: Received some needed showers during the week, but those were spotty across the county and didn’t even slow down farm operations. Tobacco harvest continued, with early reports that the crop is a bit light. Soybeans look good, but rain is needed to set and fill pods. Dairy farmers are cutting corn silage, with yields ranging from 15 to 20 tons per acre. Pastures are pretty dry, and some farmers are feeding hay.
Gary Cross, Person County Extension: Tobacco crop is light from first cuttings. Soybeans are progressing but disease is setting in some areas. Silage corn is being cut and will continue through this week. Pasture conditions are all over the board due to rainfall.
Danelle Cutting, Rowan County Extension: Rowan County is very dry, with little to no rain. Some areas have had no rain for weeks. Soybeans are very poor and hay is being fed with no hay left for storage. Growers are seeking hay in other counties and even states.
Cathy Herring, Central Crops Research Station: Very dry conditions are hurting soybean and cotton crops.
Carl Pless, Cabarrus County Extension: Spotty showers that seem to fall mostly on urban areas. Many areas have yet to receive meaningful rain. Farmers are feeding hay that would have been needed for this winter.
Taylor Williams, Moore County Extension: Very dry conditions in the sandhills have slowed growth on most crops, especially hay crops. Many farms will not get a third cutting on their fields leading to a possible hay shortage this winter.
Al Wood, Pasquotank County Extension: Rain is needed for the crops that are currently in the reproductive stage such as soybean and cotton as well as the cabbage that is currently being planted. Growers are also addressing pests of soybean.
Daniel Simpson, Pamlico County Extension: Corn harvest has started for most growers, with some yields looking very good. Soybeans are looking well also. Moisture conditions remain dry.
Mac Malloy, Robeson County Extension: Corn harvest is picking up in the county with reports of a lot of variability in yield. Worm treatments have been going out in soybean. Bolls are opening in early planted cotton. Tobacco harvest continues. Hay fields are slowly recovering from the extreme dry weather in the past weeks. The area could use some more rain at this time.
