Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending April 15, 2018.
REPORTER COMMENTS BY COUNTY – Comments are based on remarks made by extension agents, farmers, commodity specialists, and other knowledgeable individuals.
NORTHERN
ROCKINGHAM (Doug Horn)
Snow flurries on Monday and high temperature in the low eighties on Friday. Heavy rainfall started Sunday night. Two to three inches of rain so far. Burn down spraying underway for corn planting. First field of rye was cut for silage.
LOUDOUN (Jim Hilleary)
Heavy rain 16 April, short duration.
WESTERN
ROCKBRIDGE (Thomas Stanley)
The week started cool, but was very warm Thursday – Saturday. Sunday night brought much cooler temperatures and heavy rain with accumulation over an inch and still falling as this report was being submitted. Most farmers are current on field work, but no corn has been planted and spring vegetable crops are behind normal progress.
BATH/HIGHLAND (John Benner)
Cold weather continued for much of the week and finally gave way over the weekend. Rain and hail on Sunday.
CENTRAL
CAROLINE (Mike Broaddus)
The soil moisture is falling rapidly due to lack of ground recharging rainfall and warm, windy days.
CAMPBELL (Todd Scott)
We have been really dry for this time of year. Last night we got 1.5″ of rain which should help. The wind has been blowing and seems to be drying the ground moisture up fast.
EASTERN
KING GEORGE (Mike Broaddus)
The soil moisture is falling rapidly due to lack of ground recharging rainfall and warm, windy days.
CHARLES CITY (Scott Reiter)
Corn planting got a lot of attention by mid-week as temperatures warmed up. Rain is needed for grass and wheat crop as no significant rainfall has occurred in the past 3 weeks.
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SOUTHWESTERN
CARROLL (Steve Pottorff)
Pasture growth is still slow due to the cooler than normal weather.
WYTHE (Matthew Miller)
Too cold, too cold, too cold. Grass not growing, ground temp too cold, hay behind in growth, and zero corn in the ground.
SOUTHERN
LUNENBURG (Lindy Tucker)
We finally got some much-needed rain last night! Things should start to take off a little more now.
SOUTHEASTERN
GREENSVILLE (Sara Rutherford)
Unseasonably warm temperatures for three consecutive days. Planting and planting preparation underway.
CHESAPEAKE CITY (Watson Lawrence Jr.)
Corn planting began in earnest this week with sunny days and warm temperatures.
ISLE OF WIGHT/SOUTHAMPTON/SUFFOLK CITY (Livvy Preisser)
Crops are looking good and farmers have been in the fields planting. We had severe weather last night, but with minimal damage.
BRUNSWICK (Cynthia Gregg)
Wind dried out fields last week. Several fields were plowed and bedded for tobacco. Tobacco transplants in greenhouses have been trimmed for the second time. Greenhouse tomatoes are in full swing as well, ripening and harvest. Rain and high winds were prominent in the county on Sunday evening.
PRINCE GEORGE/SURRY/SUSSEX (Scott Reiter)
Corn planting got a lot of attention by mid-week as temperatures warmed up. Rain is needed for grass and wheat crop as no significant rainfall has occurred in the past 3 weeks.
General Comments
Days suitable for fieldwork were 6.2. Windy and warmer days during the week helped dry fields before rain moved in over the weekend. Pasture growth is still slow and some crops are behind in progress. Farming activities for the week included planting corn and plowing fields for tobacco.
