91% of North Carolina corn is in fair condition, or worse

As drought continues to intensify in North Carolina, the corn crop is shriveling up.

As drought continues to intensify in North Carolina, the corn crop is shriveling up. More than 90% of the state's crop is in fair condition, or worse, according to USDA's Crop Progress report published July 15.

Jeremy Petree has been in the crop insurance business for 15 years. "There will be a lot of claims paid this year," he says. A farmer of 40-plus years and client recently remarked, "It's never been this bad."

Petree added, "I know there was some hope that the genetics of the corn crop would help it recover and surprise everyone, but I think it's getting late enough that the corn crop is just not going to be there."

According to the most recent Crop Progress report, 44% of North Carolina corn is in very poor condition, 29% is very poor, 18% is fair, 9% is good. There is no excellent corn in the state.