North Carolina drought continues even with rain in the picture

Agricultural damaging drought continues in North Carolina, though rain during the week has helped.

Severe drought grips all or parts of 26 more counties spread across the state and 49 more have moderate drought.

That’s 77 of 100, and 21 of the rest are abnormally dry.

In Monday’s crop progress and conditions report , corn remained very poor (44%) or poor (29%). About 31% of the soybeans crop is poor or very poor, and 43% fair.

Sweet potatoes (95%), burley tobacco (96%) and sorghum (95%) are all relatively on pace in progress to last year and the five-year average.

North Carolina is No. 1 nationally each in all tobacco, flue-cured tobacco, and sweet potatoes ; and No. 5 in cotton.

Agriculture and agribusiness have an economic impact of $111.1 billion in North Carolina, the state Agriculture Department says.

People are encouraged to take breaks and stay hydrated even across the county's moderate drought warning when working or farming outdoors.

Residents of Duplin County are advised to continue with caution in cases of extreme heat for personal and fire related safety concerns.