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Tobacco acreage, drought and H‑2A labor: Yadkin County extension lays out outlook
Summary
Extension staff reported 2024 county crop acreages (soybeans 21,900; corn 13,000; cured tobacco 22,600), warned the county is in 'severe drought,' and noted some growers will plant a new tobacco variety under NDAs; H‑2A hourly wage obligations for 2026 fell by about $1.50–$2.00, staff said.
Ryan Coe, Cooperative Extension, provided county crop figures and planting updates at the April 14 joint meeting. He said the U.S. Department of Agriculture figures available now are for 2024 and that Yadkin County produced about 21,900 acres of soybeans, 13,000 acres of corn and roughly 22,600 acres of cured tobacco in 2024. Coe said most tobacco land has been prepped for planting but many growers are awaiting rain before moving plants from greenhouses to fields because the U.S. Drought Monitor currently classifies Yadkin County in a severe drought category.
Coe also said some growers will plant a new type of tobacco in parts of the county but those growers have signed nondisclosure agreements, preventing him from sharing further details. On labor, Coe said that for farms relying on H‑2A workers the hourly rate for 2026 decreased by about $1.50 to nearly $2.00 compared with the steady increases from 2019–2025; all regulatory requirements for H‑2A employment remain in force. Coe and Extension staff cautioned that crop acreage and planting decisions for 2026 could change depending on rain and availability of fertilizer and chemicals.
