Drought conditions worsened from September into October with parts of northwest North Carolina entering into the Exceptional (D4) Category from Extreme (D3) the month before.  Elsewhere, except for Surry County which lowered into the Severe (D2) level at the beginning of October, other counties remained in the Extreme (D3) Category.  Rainfall the last week of October helped to mitigate the drought severity over North Carolina with about half of the counties in the northwest part of the state dropping below the D2 Category.
Agricultural and livestock losses continued to be substantial, but less compared to previous months as the area progressed out of the normal growing season.  Many cattlemen at this point in the season had to start deciding financially between using up winter stores of hay to feed existing head of cattle and then purchase more hay in the Spring, or they chose to sell off head of cattle, maintain winter stores, and purchase new cattle in the Spring.  The greatest crop losses were primarily no second planting of pasture grasses and hay, with soybeans, corn silage and grain, and Christmas trees being additional losses of varying degrees. During a normal season, farmers are able to purchase hay for around $60 to $70 per ton, now with the hay being imported from western U.S. states, the price was more in line with $150 to $200 per ton.
Due to the drought conditions, the Governor urged North Carolinians to voluntarily conserve water.

Drought in ROCKINGHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-OCT-07 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-07 06:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The county began the month in the Extreme (D3) Category of drought.  The severity was increased to Exceptional (D4) on October 16th.  This level of severity continued until October 30th when it was downgraded to the Moderate (D1) Category.  The main crop loss was hay.  Crop damage values are estimates.

Drought in ALLEGHANY, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-OCT-07 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-07 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 175.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The county began the month at the Extreme (D3) Category of drought and continued that way until October 30th.  The severity of the drought was lowered to the Severe (D2) Category at this time.  Primary losses were pasture grasses and Christmas trees.  Crop damage amounts are estimates.

Drought in ASHE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-OCT-07 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-07 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The county entered the month in the Extreme (D3) Category of drought.  The severity was increased to the Exceptional (D4) Category on October 2nd.  This level of severity continued until October 30th when it was downgraded to Severe (D2).

Drought in WATAUGA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-OCT-07 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-07 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The county began the month at the Extreme (D3) Category of drought.  This level of severity was increased on October 2nd to the Exceptional (D4) Category.  This level of severity continued through the end of the month.

Drought in WILKES, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-OCT-07 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-07 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 750.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The county began the month in the Extreme (D3) Category of drought.  This level of severity continued until October 30th when it was downgraded to the Severe (D2) Category.  Primary losses included pasture grasses, hay, and corn silage and grain.  Crop damage values are estimates.

Drought in YADKIN, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-OCT-07 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-07 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The county began the month in the Extreme (D3) Category of drought.  It continued at this level of severity until October 30th when it was downgraded to the Severe (D2) Category.

Drought in STOKES, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-OCT-07 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-07 06:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The county began the month in the Extreme (D3) Category of drought.  The severity was increased to Exceptional (D4) on October 16th.  This level of severity continued until October 30th when it was downgraded to the Moderate (D1) Category.

Drought in SURRY, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-OCT-07 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-07 06:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The county began the month at the Extreme (D3) Category of drought.  This level of severity continued until October 2nd when it was downgraded to the Severe (D2) Category.  This level of severity continued until October 30th when it was downgraded to the Moderate (D1) Category.

Drought in CASWELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-OCT-07 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-07 06:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 3.00M
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The county began the month at the Extreme (D3) Category of drought.  The severity was increased on October 16th to the Exceptional (D4) Category.  This level of severity was maintained until October 30th when it was downgraded to the Moderate (D1) Category.  Main crop losses were pasture grasses with zero percent yield, tobacco with only a 20 percent yield, corn grain with only a 30 to 40 percent yield, and soybeans with a 75% yield.  Crop damage values are estimates.