High pressure once again is dominating the Southeast and the typical pattern of isolated thunderstorms and warm temperatures are forecast for the upcoming week. The State's soils have benefitted from periodic showers and continue to support crop growth. Rainfall early in the week slowed outdoor activities as days suitable for fieldwork improved slightly to 5.7 days compared to 5.5 the previous week. Again, only modest gains were made in flue-cured tobacco harvest, but farmers remain ahead of schedule. Continued progress was made in corn for silage harvest.
Most farmers continue to scout pests and implement controls, especially in cotton and soybeans.
Minor gains were made baling hay. Fruit growers edged closer to completion of the peach harvest with apple harvest proceeding slowly, but ahead of schedule. Phenologically, much of the State's corn crop has matured, cotton bolls are beginning to open and a majority of the soybean crop is setting pods. The North Carolina Agricultural Statistics Service has converted toa new reporting unit for all weather data. We believe you will find the table for more informative and reliable.