SOURCE: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 1/12/2021

“We know that 2020 was a very challenging year for NC farmers and we want to thank them again for taking the time to complete USDA/NASS surveys. It is vital during these times that quality and reliable agricultural data is available to assist North Carolina farmers, agricultural organizations, and industry experts with their decision making and forecasts,” said Dee Webb, North Carolina State Statistician. “In 2020, North Carolina corn, soybean and wheat crops showed increases in yields as compared to 2019 while tobacco and cotton experienced large decreases in production due to lower harvested acres and yields.”

Corn for Grain

• North Carolina farmers harvested 950,000 acres of corn for grain in 2020, up 20,000 acres from 2019.

• Yield averaged 113 bushels per acre, up 2 bushels from the 111 bushels per acre averaged in 2019.

• Production at 107.4 million bushels was 4% higher than the 2019 total of 103.2 million bushels.

Cotton

• Cotton acres harvested in 2020 totaled 330,000, down 160,000 acres from the 500,000 harvested in 2019. • Yield averaged 785 pounds per acre, down 213 pounds per acre from last year.

• Production at 540,000 bales was down 48% from the 1,040,000 bales produced in 2019.

Peanuts

• North Carolina farmers harvested 106,000 acres of peanuts in 2020, 4,000 acres higher than the 102,000 acres harvested in 2019.

• Yield per acre at 4,000 pounds was down 400 pounds from the 2019 estimate.

• Production at 424 million pounds was down 6% from 449 million pounds of peanuts produced in 2019.

Soybeans

• Soybean acres harvested in 2020 totaled 1.57 million. This was up 50,000 acres from the 1.52 million acres harvested in 2019.

• Yield averaged 37 bushels per acre. Up 2 bushels per acre from the 2019 average.

• Production totaled 58 million bushels, up 9% from last year’s production of 53 million bushels.

Burley Tobacco

• North Carolina farmers harvested 310 acres of burley tobacco in 2020, down 90 acres from last year.

• Yield averaged 1,700 pounds per acre, down from the 1,750 pounds per acre averaged in 2019

• Production at 527,000 pounds was down 25% from last year’s production at 700,000 pounds

Flue-cured Tobacco

• North Carolina farmers harvested 102,000 acres of flue-cured tobacco in 2020, down 15,000 acres from last year.

• Yield averaged 1,800 pounds per acre, down from the 2,000 pounds per acre averaged in 2019

• Production at 184 million pounds was down 22% from last year’s production at 234 million pounds

For the full report, click here.