What Is Happening With North Carolina Crops?

USDA released the latest Crop Progress report on Monday, June 2. Here’s a closer look at recent weather and the status of North Carolina’s most important crops as June begins.

Weather

Kevin Matthews farms in northwestern North Carolina, near East Bend. Frustrated, he recaps recent weather simply: “Rain every day. Zero field work.”

The Crop Progress report noted farmers in the state had just 2.9 days suitable for fieldwork the week that ended June 1. In the last five weeks, less than 22 days were suitable for fieldwork, said USDA.

According to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet, nearly the entire state of North Carolina reported precipitation several inches above average between May 1 and June 1.

The latest Crop Progress report rated North Carolina topsoil moisture condition 4% short, 67% adequate, and 29% surplus. There was no topsoil moisture rated very short.

Over the same period, North Carolina subsoil moisture condition rated 8% short, 76% adequate, and 16% surplus. No subsoil moisture was rated very short.

The most recent maps, published June 5, indicate more than 90% of the state is free of drought. That is in stark contrast to the beginning of the year when nearly 90% faced abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions. In 2024, moisture stress up to extreme drought devastated crops during key growth and development stages through June and July.

Corn

Planting Progress

According to USDA, 99% of North Carolina’s corn had been planted by the week ended June 1. That’s slightly behind the five-year average of 100%. Last year at this time corn planting was complete.

As of May 30, the river bottoms on Matthews’ farm had not been planted yet due to “excessive rains.”

Emergence Progress

Matthews added that lots of the corn that has emerged needs sprayed, but muddy conditions are keeping ground rigs out of the fields.

USDA reported 95% of North Carolina corn had emerged by the week ended June 1. That’s 1 percentage point behind both the five-year average and last year at this time.

Condition

According to the USDA, North Carolina corn condition was 1% very poor, 2% poor, 15% fair, 68% good, and 14% excellent.

That’s better than the national averages for the week which were reported as 1% very poor, 4% poor, 26% fair, 57% good, and 12% excellent.

In a recent blog post, North Carolina Extension Field Crop Pathology Specialist Daisy Ahumada acknowledged many farmers in the state are seeing an uptick in leaf spots on their corn. “There’s no need for concern,” she wrote. “It is likely holcus leaf spot, a minor bacterial disease that typically shows up early in the season under warm, wet conditions.”

Given the wet May the state experienced, conditions are right for this disease. Yield losses are rare and management is not often required, Ahmuada noted.

Soybeans

Planting Progress

USDA said 72% of North Carolina soybeans have been planted. That is 6 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Last year at this time 68% of North Carolina soybeans had been planted.

Matthews said there are several reports of acres that will need to be replanted in his area. “We will have a hundred acres or so ourselves due to water standing three to four days in a row,” he noted.

Emergence Progress

The Crop Progress report said 65% of North Carolina soybeans have emerged. This is 11 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Last year at this time, 56 of the soybean crop in the state had emerged.

Condition

North Carolina soybeans were rated 1% very poor, 5% poor, 17% fair, 74% good, and 3% excellent.

This is slightly better than the national average of 1% very poor, 4% poor, 28% fair, 58% good, and 9% excellent.

Winter Wheat

Headed

USDA said 98% of North Carolina winter wheat has reached the heading growth stage. This is 1 percentage point behind the five-year average. Last year at this time, all of the state’s winter wheat had headed.

Harvested

Winter wheat harvest has officially begun for some North Carolina farmers. USDA said 5% of the crop had been harvested by the week ended June 1. That’s slightly behind the five-year average of 7%. Last year at this time, 9% of North Carolina’s winter wheat had been cut.

Matthews says his soft red winter wheat crop is less than four weeks away from harvest. The heavy precipitation has been “extremely tough” on his crop this spring.

Condition

USDA rated winter wheat condition 2% poor, 24% fair, 68% good, and 6% excellent. There was no winter wheat rated very poor in the state.

This is better than the national average of 6% very poor, 12% poor, 30% fair, 44% good, and 8% excellent.

Cotton

Planting Progress

USDA said nearly three quarters of the North Carolina cotton crop has been planted at 74%. This is slightly behind the five-year average of 79%. Last year at this time, 86% of the state’s cotton crop had been planted.

Squaring Progress

Squaring progress has not yet been reported in North Carolina.

Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia were the first states to report squared cotton.

Condition

North Carolina cotton was rated 7% very poor, 14% poor, 25% fair, 50% good, and 4% excellent.

This is slightly better than the national average of 8% very poor, 14% poor, 29% fair, 44% good, and 5% excellent.

Peanuts

Planted

USDA said 88% of North Carolina peanuts have been planted. That’s ahead of the 79% five-year average, but equal to progress last year at this time.

Condition

North Carolina peanuts were rated 5% very poor, 8% poor, 22% fair, 63% good, and 2% excellent.

The national average cotton condition was 2% very poor, 5% poor, 28% fair, 59% good, and 6% excellent.

Pasture and Range

North Carolina is one of a handful of states that does not have any pasture and range rated very poor or poor. USDA said conditions in the state were 31% fair, 64% good, and 5% excellent.