Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 1/13/20

“The 2019 crop year yields show increases in several major crops for NC while a few show slight decreases. Overall production is much better than the hurricane affected 2018 crop year.” said Dee Webb, North Carolina State Statistician. “We know the last few years have been very stressful for NC farmers and we want to thank them again for taking time to complete USDA/NASS surveys. It is during these times that quality, reliable agricultural data are available to assist farmers in their decision making as well as being vital for organizations supporting the agriculture industry in NC.” 

Corn for Grain • North Carolina farmers harvested 930,000 acres of corn for grain in 2019, up 100,000 acres from 2018. • Yield averaged 111 bushels per acre, down 2 bushels from the 113 bushels per acre averaged in 2018. • Production at 103.2 million bushels was 10% higher than the 2018 total of 93.8 million. 

Cotton • Cotton acres harvested in 2019 totaled 500,000, up 85,000 acres from the 410,000 harvested in 2018. • Yield averaged 1,018 pounds per acre, up 206 pounds per acre from last year. • Production at 1,060,000 bales was up 51% from the 702,000 bales produced in 2018.

Peanuts • North Carolina farmers harvested 102,000 acres of peanuts in 2019, 4,000 acres higher than the 98,000 acres harvested in 2018. • Yield per acre at 4,350 pounds was up 480 pounds from the 2018 estimate. • Production at 443.7 million pounds was up 17% from 397.3 million pounds of peanuts produced in 2018. 

Soybeans • Soybean acres harvested in 2019 totaled 1.52 million. This was down 50,000 acres from the 1.57 million acres harvested in 2018. • Yield averaged 35 bushels per acre. Up 2 bushels per acre from the 2018 average. • Production totaled 53.2 million bushels, up 3% from last year’s production of 51.8 million bushels.

Burley Tobacco • North Carolina farmers harvested 400 acres of burley tobacco in 2019, down 350 acres from last year. • Yield averaged 1,750 pounds per acre, up from the 1,500 pounds per acre averaged in 2018 • Production at 700,000 pounds was down 38% from last year’s production at 1,125,000 pounds 

Flue-cured Tobacco • North Carolina farmers harvested 117,000 acres of flue-cured tobacco in 2019, down 35,000 acres from last year. • Yield averaged 2,000 pounds per acre, up from the 1,650 pounds per acre averaged in 2018 • Production at 234 million pounds was down 7% from last year’s production at 251 million pounds

For the full report, click here.