North Carolina Weekly Crop Survey – June 21, 2026

Drought Impact Analysis From Extension Agents Across the State

Responses 44
Counties Mapped 45
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Drought Impact (County Reported)

Select a level to isolate it on the map.

Comment Signal

Worsening / crop stress intensifying
Some relief / conditions improving
Uneven rainfall / mixed conditions
Persistent drought / little change

Map of county-reported drought impact

Every county on this map is listed, grouped by impact level, at the end of this page under “View county data as a list”.

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Statewide Trends

Corn across the state is showing widespread stress—tasseling, rolling, and non‑irrigated fields failing in many counties.
Forage and pasture yields are sharply reduced in many areas, with first‑cut hay reported at roughly 25–50% of normal or worse.
Isolated showers provided temporary topsoil relief in some counties, but rainfall has been insufficient to erase large seasonal deficits.
Irrigation demand is increasing while ponds and small water sources are falling, and some local water restrictions have been implemented.
Tobacco and other specialty crops are experiencing stress and reduced yield or quality in multiple counties.

Top Statewide Concerns

  • Reduced corn yields
  • Low hay and forage production
  • Insufficient seasonal rainfall
  • Irrigation water shortages
  • Heat‑driven evapotranspiration
  • Emerging pest pressure (spider mites)

Regional summaries

West / Mountains & Foothills

(Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, McDowell, Swain)

  • Extreme to severe drought reported in Jackson and Swain with rapid evapotranspiration stripping topsoil moisture.
  • Severe impacts on corn and forages in several counties; recent rains have mitigated risk in parts (e.g., Henderson) but stress persists elsewhere.

Piedmont / Sandhills

(Anson, Caswell, Chatham, Cumberland, Davie, Durham, Hoke, Moore, Orange, Person, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Wake)

  • Multiple Piedmont counties report extreme to exceptional drought (including Durham and Orange) with crops and pastures very dry.
  • Forage and hay yields are greatly reduced—reports of 25–50% or lower first-cut yields in several counties.
  • Small rain events provided limited relief but are insufficient to sustain crops or support double-crop soybean planting.

North & Central Coastal Plain

(Camden, Craven, Currituck, Halifax, Hyde, Johnston, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilson)

  • Several coastal plain counties report extreme drought with severely impacted crops and dying corn (e.g., Craven, Lenoir, Nash, Washington).
  • Brief rainfall events (.7–1.2 inches in places) gave temporary topsoil relief but large seasonal deficits remain (Johnston cited ~15 inches needed).
  • Irrigation demand is rising, pond levels are falling, and pest pressure (spider mites) is being reported in soybeans.

Southeast Coastal Plain

(Brunswick, Duplin, Onslow, Pender, Robeson)

  • Mostly moderate to severe drought across the southeast coastal plain with corn and pastures negatively impacted.
  • Robeson reports ~0.75 inch of rain that helped topsoil but subsoil moisture remains extremely low and supplemental irrigation is in use.

County Comments Highlights (selected notes from impact and additional comments)

Durham
Forage and hay resources greatly reduced (25-50% yield); everything is dry and everyone is struggling from growing veggies to having hay for animals.
Orange
Forage and hay resources are greatly reduced (25-50% yield) and excessively dry even after rain events.
Chatham
Recent rainfall (0.91–1.15 inches) provided temporary relief but did not fully recover drought; forage production is reduced with first-cut hay yields averaging 30–50% of normal in many areas.
Jackson
100% of Swain and about 50% of northern Jackson are in D3, with rapid ET from high temps and low RH negating showers and drying topsoil, stressing crops.
Lenoir
Extreme drought is reducing soil moisture and raising irrigation needs for corn, soybeans, and cotton.
Washington
Even in areas with high organic soils that retain moisture, corn is starting to die from drought and heat stress.
Northampton
County received 0.5–0.7 inches of rainfall last, helpful but still just a temporary relief.
Robeson
Robeson received about 0.75 inch of rain on 6/19 improving topsoil moisture and crops, but subsoil remains extremely low; southern areas are better, irrigation used, corn at a critical water stage, and rainfall won’t persist with high heat.
Wake
Rain over the weekend was needed; ~0.9–1" was received in most areas, helping crops and pastures recover from stress, with continued rain needed.
Moore
Drought conditions continue to severely impact Moore County; some rain has fallen but it has not helped.
Wayne
Drought isn't as bad this week; most of the county received 1+ inches of rain.

County analysis as a list

View county analysis as a list

Exceptional Drought (2 counties)

  • Durham - Persistent drought / little change
  • Orange - Persistent drought / little change

Extreme Drought (12 counties)

  • Chatham - Persistent drought / little change
  • Craven - Persistent drought / little change
  • Davie - Persistent drought / little change
  • Halifax - Persistent drought / little change
  • Jackson - Persistent drought / little change
  • Johnston - Persistent drought / little change
  • Lenoir - Persistent drought / little change
  • Nash - Persistent drought / little change
  • Stokes - Persistent drought / little change
  • Surry - Worsening / crop stress intensifying
  • Swain - Worsening / crop stress intensifying
  • Washington - Persistent drought / little change

Severe Drought (13 counties)

  • Burke - Persistent drought / little change
  • Camden - Persistent drought / little change
  • Cleveland - Persistent drought / little change
  • Cumberland - Persistent drought / little change
  • Currituck - Persistent drought / little change
  • Hoke - Worsening / crop stress intensifying
  • Iredell - Persistent drought / little change
  • Northampton - Persistent drought / little change
  • Onslow - Persistent drought / little change
  • Person - Some relief / conditions improving
  • Robeson - Some relief / conditions improving
  • Wake - Persistent drought / little change
  • Wilson - Worsening / crop stress intensifying

Moderate Drought (14 counties)

  • Anson - Persistent drought / little change
  • Brunswick - Persistent drought / little change
  • Caldwell - Worsening / crop stress intensifying
  • Caswell - Some relief / conditions improving
  • Duplin - Persistent drought / little change
  • Gaston - Persistent drought / little change
  • Haywood - Persistent drought / little change
  • Martin - Some relief / conditions improving
  • Moore - Persistent drought / little change
  • Pamlico - Some relief / conditions improving
  • Pasquotank - Persistent drought / little change
  • Pender - Some relief / conditions improving
  • Stanly - Persistent drought / little change
  • Warren - Persistent drought / little change

Abnormally Dry (4 counties)

  • Henderson - Persistent drought / little change
  • Hyde - Some relief / conditions improving
  • McDowell - Persistent drought / little change
  • Wayne - Some relief / conditions improving

Note: Map reflects county-reported drought classifications from the June 21, 2026 survey. Comment signal summarizes the tone of county narrative responses. Counties without a clearly mapped report remain unshaded.