Precipitation in many areas, especially in the Mountain and Southern Piedmont regions, continue to be below normal. However, periodic showers continue to benefit crop production and are encouraging for upcoming small grain seedings. For the third consecutive week, scattered rainfall slowed outdoor activities as days suitable for fieldwork is estimated at 5.6 compared to 5.7 the previous week. Only modest gains were made in flue-cured tobacco harvest, but farmers remain ahead of schedule. Good progress was made in corn for silage harvest, which is also ahead of schedule.
Most farmers continue to scout pests and implement controls, especially in cotton and soybeans.
Minor gains were made in baling hay. Apple harvest remains slow, but ahead of schedule. Phenologically, much of the State's corn crop has matured with concentrated harvest activities set to begin. Additionally, cotton bolls are opening and most of the soybean crop is setting pods. The North Carolina Agricultural Statistics Service has converted toa new reporting unit for all weather data.