August Weather Summary: Hurricane Irene swept across Eastern North Carolina on Saturday, August 27, causing damage to crops, equipment and buildings as well as flooding in some areas. As of August 28, statewide soil moisture was rated at 12% very short, 32% short, 47% adequate and 9% surplus.

Peanuts 

Yield per acre is forecast at 3,300 pounds, up 500 pounds per acre from 2010 and unchanged from last month.

Production is forecast at 267.3 million pounds, up 11% from last year’s production.

Harvested acres are projected at 81,000 acres, down 5,000 acres from 2010.

Soybeans 

Yield is forecast to average 29 bushels per acre, up 2 bushels from last month and close to the 10-year average of 29.6 bushes per acre.

Production is forecast to total 40.3 million bushels, unchanged from last year.

Harvested acres are projected at 1.39 million acres, down 160,000 acres from 2010.

Flue-Cured Tobacco 

Yield per acre is forecast at 1,650 pounds, down 500 pounds from the August 1 estimate due to damage from Hurricane Irene.

Production is forecast at 283.8 million pounds, 19% less than the 348.6 million pounds produced in 2010.

Acres for harvest are estimated at 172,000, up 6,000 acres from last year.

Burley Tobacco 

Yield per acre is forecast at 1,500 pounds, down 100 pounds from last month and down 250 pounds from last year.

Production is forecast at 3.15 million pounds, 22% less than the 4.0 million pounds produced in 2010.

Acres for harvest are estimated at 2,100, down 200 acres from 2010.