Virginia Field Reports: Crops Looking Good Despite High Heat

Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending July 21, 2019.

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

NORTHERN

LOUDOUN (Jim Hilleary)
Frequent rain events prolong drying hay. Overgrazed pastures are showing cool season grass dormancy and weed encroachment. Corn and soybeans are doing well.

WESTERN

ROCKBRIDGE (Thomas Stanley)
Hot and humid weather this week brought the first early signs of crop stress, but crop conditions are still good in Rockbridge.

BATH/HIGHLAND (Jennifer Matosky)
Everything is looking good; frequent, short afternoon rainstorms and hot during the day, cool at night.

CENTRAL

AMELIA (Laura Siegle)
Some portions of the county remain drier, and corn in these areas is showing stress. In portions of the county that received more rain, crop conditions remain good despite the recent hot weather.

CAMPBELL (Todd Scott)
A week of extremely hot days has been hectic on crops and pastures.

SOUTHWESTERN

CARROLL (Steve Pottorff)
Temperatures have been above normal for the last few days.

GRAYSON (Kevin Spurlin)
Though there was limited precipitation last week, conditions were not favorable for hay curing. However, corn is exceptional. Pastures that are not overstocked are holding up well.

SOUTHEASTERN

AgFax Weed Solutions Unable to display feed at this time.

GREENSVILLE (Sara Rutherford)
Scattered, heavy thunderstorms with high winds passed through the county on Tuesday evening. No damage was reported or observed. Generally, the soil remains dry. Adult corn ear worm moths were observed in traps earlier this week, indicating the flight of adults has made it north of the VA/NC line.

CHESAPEAKE CITY (Watson Lawrence Jr.)
Very hot week put stress on most crops and livestock. Farmers are busy making final post herbicide applications to soybeans.

BRUNSWICK (Cynthia Gregg)
Heat was the main event. Several spotty storms brought winds, and caused power outages.

General Comments

Days suitable for fieldwork were 6.4. Weather conditions were very warm and dry with temperatures up and precipitation amounts down from the previous week; rain was spotty. Areas that are drier are showing signs of stress to crops and livestock, but there are reports of good crop and pasture conditions. Farming activities for the week included harvesting apples and making post herbicide applications to soybeans.