North Carolina Weekly Crop Survey – October 4, 2026
Drought Impact Analysis From Extension Agents Across the State
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
Pasture and forage shortages are reported across many counties, stressing livestock feed availability.
Corn and other row crops in multiple counties are experiencing reduced yield potential or harvest impacts under severe to extreme drought.
Recent rainfall was often localized or light; several counties report that weekend rains were insufficient to restore soil moisture or refill ponds and creeks.
Low streamflows, low water tables, and active water restrictions were reported in multiple locations, constraining water supply.
Tobacco, peanuts, and cotton in affected counties are noted as being harmed or at risk from prolonged dry conditions.
Top Statewide Concerns
- Pasture/forage shortages
- Low surface water and streamflows
- Reduced row-crop yields
- Localized/insufficient rainfall
- Delayed harvest and planting decisions
- Difficulty establishing winter cover/wheat/rye
Regional summaries
West / Mountains & Foothills
(Burke, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Henderson)
- Reports range from No mapped response to Moderate Drought and Abnormally Dry conditions; recent rains were scarce in parts of the region.
- Water restrictions and low stream flows reported (Burke); pasture and forage concerns noted alongside apples, vegetables, and nurseries.
Piedmont / Sandhills
(Alamance, Anson, Chatham, Davie, Durham, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, Person, Scotland, Surry, Wake, Yadkin)
- Several counties report Severe to Extreme Drought, with pasture and crop plantings drying down and harvest ongoing.
- Some localized, light rains provided limited relief in parts of the region, while other areas saw little to no measurable rainfall.
North & Central Coastal Plain
(Camden, Craven, Currituck, Edgecombe, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Johnston, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilson)
- Conditions range from Abnormally Dry to Extreme Drought; extreme dryness is reported to be reducing potential yields for cotton, peanuts, and soybeans in affected counties.
- Multiple reports of low surface water and ponds/creeks not refilling; some counties received light, localized rains that were insufficient for recharge.
Southeast Coastal Plain
(Brunswick, Duplin, Pender, Robeson, Sampson)
- Conditions vary from Abnormally Dry to Severe Drought with pasture, soybeans, and sweet potatoes commonly affected.
- Weekend rains were reported in places, but impacts are mixed—some areas saw enough to delay harvest or help topsoil while others remain dry.
County Comments Highlights (selected notes from impact and additional comments)
County analysis as a list
View county analysis as a list
Extreme Drought (6 counties)
- Craven - Persistent drought / little change
- Halifax - Persistent drought / little change
- Montgomery - Worsening / crop stress intensifying
- Person - Persistent drought / little change
- Warren - Persistent drought / little change
- Wayne - Persistent drought / little change
Severe Drought (5 counties)
- Alamance - Persistent drought / little change
- Anson - Persistent drought / little change
- Brunswick - Persistent drought / little change
- Chatham - Worsening / crop stress intensifying
- Durham - Worsening / crop stress intensifying
Moderate Drought (12 counties)
- Camden - Persistent drought / little change
- Catawba - Persistent drought / little change
- Davie - Persistent drought / little change
- Johnston - Persistent drought / little change
- Moore - Persistent drought / little change
- Nash - Persistent drought / little change
- Robeson - Some relief / conditions improving
- Sampson - Persistent drought / little change
- Surry - Worsening / crop stress intensifying
- Wake - Persistent drought / little change
- Washington - Persistent drought / little change
- Yadkin - Worsening / crop stress intensifying
Abnormally Dry (13 counties)
- Currituck - Persistent drought / little change
- Duplin - Persistent drought / little change
- Edgecombe - Persistent drought / little change
- Gaston - Persistent drought / little change
- Henderson - Persistent drought / little change
- Hertford - Persistent drought / little change
- Hoke - Some relief / conditions improving
- Hyde - Persistent drought / little change
- Northampton - Persistent drought / little change
- Pasquotank - Persistent drought / little change
- Pender - Persistent drought / little change
- Scotland - Persistent drought / little change
- Wilson - Persistent drought / little change
No mapped response (2 counties)
- Burke - Persistent drought / little change
- Cleveland - Persistent drought / little change
Note: Map reflects county-reported drought classifications from the October 4, 2026 survey. Comment signal summarizes the tone of county narrative responses. Counties without a clearly mapped report remain unshaded.