Two months of challenging drought, then rain for state's No. 1 industry

(The Center Square) – Weeks with no rain. Weeks with rain. North Carolina’s No. 1 industry has had a two-month challenge and the season is far from in the barn.

North Carolina’ drought on July 9 – 88% of the state with about 20% suffering severe to extreme conditions – has changed six weeks later to drought free and just abnormally dry in a number of western counties. The state got anywhere from 10 to 20 inches of rain from what was left of Hurricane Debby, followed by a front.

Flue-cured tobacco, statewide, remains good for 28% of the crop and 40% is considered fair, according to Monday's crops progress report from multiple entities reporting to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There’s 32% poor or very poor, trending slightly worse this week compared to last. Sweet potato crops are 50% good, 31% fair, and 17% either poor or very poor. Cotton is 63% good and 1% excellent, with 24% fair.

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

Corn crops are struggling, with 41% very poor and 27% poor. Just 23% are fair and 8% good.

In last week’s crop progress report, less than three days were suitable for field work. Monday’s report for the week prior was up to 4.6 days.

In the July 9 U.S. Drought Monitor , all the state was abnormally dry or worse, with moderate drought covering 88% of the land, and severe drought 20%. Columbus County had extreme drought, 22 counties were touched by severe drought, and 71 were considered moderate. The remaining six were abnormally dry.

In last week’s map dated Tuesday and released Thursday , 18 counties were touched by abnormally dry conditions, and all were in the mountains.

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