Virginia Field Reports: More Rain, More Delays, More Problems

Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending May 22, 2016.

REPORTER COMMENTS BY COUNTY – Comments are based on remarks made by extension agents, farmers, commodity specialists, and other knowledgeable individuals.

WESTERN

ROANOKE (Barbara Leach) Hay has just been sitting there but now it has grown, though you can’t get on the fields to get it.

CENTRAL

AMELIA (Laura Siegle) Another wet week, although we did not have rain every day, the rain we did have over-saturated most areas, making field work difficult. The extended wet, cloudy weather is also raising serious concerns about diseases in certain crops and plants, and hay harvest has been delayed even further.

CAROLINE (Mike Broaddus) As last week, more than adequate amounts of rainfall has hampered corn and soybean planting progress and corn growth due to lack of growing degree days and loss of nitrogen thru leaching and denitrification.

CHESTERFIELD/GOOCHLAND (Charlotte Maxwell) We’ve gotten 2 inches of rain in the past week.

CAMPBELL (Todd Scott) Central Virginia has had rain almost every day in May delaying hay, and planting soybeans and corn. Hay quality seems to be poor which may cause producers to have to supplement protein this coming winter.

EASTERN

KING GEORGE (Mike Broaddus) As last week, more than adequate amounts of rainfall has hampered corn and soybean planting progress and corn growth due to lack of growing degree days and loss of nitrogen thru leaching and denitrification.

GLOUCESTER/MATHEWS/MIDDLESEX (David Moore) Another rainy week and more for this weekend. Most corn is planted with some folks looking at replanting corn due to weather and also making some small switches to soybeans. No beans planted as yet. Every day the quality of wheat decreases.

Evidence of many diseases and cold damage. Barley is turning fast and so are early wheat varieties. Corn needs some sunlight and warm weather and shortly after that, some additional nitrogen.

Not much weather for haymaking or vegetable planting.

ESSEX/KING AND QUEEN/KING WILLIAM (Keith Balderson) Another week of cool and wet weather limited field work. A small amount of corn acres will need to be replanted as a result of the wet conditions. Full-season soybean planting and the first cutting of hay continues to be delayed. The Virginia Small Grains Field Day held at the Eastern Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center was well attended on May 19th.

CHARLES CITY/NEW KENT (John Allison) Cool and wet weather has delayed soybean and corn planting.

NORTHAMPTON (Ursula Deitch) The cold and wet weather has continued. Planting has been delayed for just about all crops due to the weather conditions. Looking forward to sunny, warm conditions to dry us out in the upcoming forecast.

SOUTHWESTERN

BUCHANAN/DICKENSON (Brad Mullins) Cooler than normal.

FLOYD (Jon Vest) Cool temps and continued rain are slowing growing conditions. Pea sized hail occurred during afternoon storm events.

TAZEWELL (John Blankenship) We are getting April rain and temps in May.

SCOTT (Scott Jerrell) Rain and cooler weather this past week. Strawberry harvest is strong with good yields and approximately another 3-4 weeks picking. Other veggies looking good for this time of year.

SOUTHERN

LUNENBURG (Lindy Tucker) We continue to get rain which has made field work difficult. The vast majority of tobacco is in the ground, though more than normal was hand-planted due to the rain. Wheat is headed out, oats look good, and some of the no-till soybeans have been planted, though, even that has been delayed for the wet ground. Folks are antsy to plant.

Looking for a few days of sunshine. Some hay has been cut and baled, but we have really only had one 3-day window so most is still standing and quite mature. The grass is growing thanks to the water, but could use some sunlight to really take off.

Strawberries are coming in steady. Livestock are in normal condition. We may have some blueberries after all. Hoping to get soybeans in the ground this week.

SOUTHEASTERN

CHESAPEAKE CITY (Watson Lawrence Jr.) Wet weather continues to delay some field work. Early season vegetables are looking good. Very little soybean acres planted thus far.

BRUNSWICK (Cynthia Gregg) Rain last week along with cooler weather has cool season grasses heading out in hay fields. Hay quality will suffer as grass gets stemmy. Water is sitting in fields and some planting of tobacco and other crops are showing water damage and complete drowning of areas of fields.

PRINCE GEORGE (Scott Reiter) Very limited field work this week with rain. This round of rain has saturated soils. A few soybeans were planted Monday as soil conditions allowed. Some hay was baled Monday but it has been a very slow go for hay this spring. Many corn fields are showing signs of nutrient deficiency due to lack of growth and excessive moisture in some parts of fields.

SURRY (Mr. Glenn Slade) Recent rains have slowed planting of cotton, peanuts, and soybeans. We are also seeing nutrient deficiency issues in corn due to leaching. Hopefully, we will get some sunshine and warmer temperatures this week (5/23).

General Comments

Days suitable for fieldwork were 2.7.  Virginia received more wet weather this week; fieldwork continues to be limited and farmers may have to replant some crops. The hay harvest continues to be delayed, as soils are over saturated, making it tough to get in the fields.

Farming activities for the week included hand planting tobacco, checking crops for quality, and harvesting strawberries. Farmers are looking forward to warmer and drier weather.