(The Center Square) – Rain has reduced drought conditions in North Carolina, according to Thursday morning’s weekly update from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Less than half of 1% is considered exceptional drought, the most severe of five levels the agency categorizes. Extreme drought or worse is 6.2% of the state, severe drought or worse is 29.2% and moderate drought is 81.4%. Abnormally dry conditions are present in 90.9% of the state, with a few mountain areas near Tennessee and some northeastern Coastal Plain region counties absent any drought condition.
On April 21, 100% of the state was in moderate drought or more; 95.54% was severe or more; 38.11% was extreme or more; and no area was in exceptional drought.
Agriculture and agribusiness are a $102 billion annual economic impact for North Carolina. It has been the state’s No. 1 industry forever. About 42,500 farms are operated on 8.1 million acres from Murphy to Manteo.
The state is eighth in the nation in value of agricultural products sold, 14th in exports.
North Carolina production is No. 1 nationally each in sweetpotatoes, all tobacco, flue-cured tobacco, and poultry and eggs. The state is No. 2 in Christmas tree sales, production of turkeys, and food-size trout sold. It is No. 3 in cucumbers and hogs, No. 4 in peanuts and broilers (chicken), and No. 5 in cotton.
