Farmers say drought conditions have hurt their crops this season

PITT COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - Many farmers are now worried about their harvest as drought conditions continue to grow within the county.

“Say a prayer and hope it rains,” Pitt County farmer and Laughinghouse Farms owner Dail Laughinghouse said.

On Thursday, the drought monitor showed an expansion of severe drought in eastern North Carolina as conditions worsened in several inland counties, including Pitt County.

“For the last two months, we’ve had one inch of rain. It has rained all around us, but we haven’t gotten any,” Laughinghouse said.

Now, as it’s harvest season for many crops, farmers are holding their breath to see the outcome.

Pitt County farmer Dave Sawyer said that although the season started well, his soybeans and peanuts have taken a major blow because of dry conditions.

“W