Drought

Immature crops, pastures and hay in Michigan were stressed by the dry conditions. Pasture conditions declined, due to the lack of rain in recent weeks. USAgNet (Marshfield, Wis.), July 16, 2019

Heat and drought have caused Pitt County crops to be drought stressed, according to a county field crops extension agent, Carrie Ortel. Corn leaves were curling. Crop yields may be reduced and quality may suffer, too. WNCT-TV Channel 9 (Greenville, N.C.), July 16, 2019

Some late-planted corn in Henry County was in need of rain to allow the crop to progress in maturity and overall yield. About 25 percent of his land went unplanted after a very wet spring. KWQC-TV Davenport (Iowa), July 16, 2019

Dry weather in May and June slowed crop growth in Pitt County. The field corn was partially to completely lost in some fields, according to Andy Burlingham, N.C. Cooperative Extension agriculture and livestock agent for the county. Sweet potatoes, soybeans, tobacco, peanuts and cotton were also affected by the hot, dry weather. The growth of all crops was slowed. Soybean planting ceased in mid-May, due to dry conditions, but resumed in early June after rain. The hot, dry weather returned after the young soybean plants emerged, preventing much growth. The tobacco crop has small, thin leaves, but could improve with rain. Peanuts have not grown enough to close the gaps between the rows as the plants are smaller than usual for this time of year. Cotton plants were also shorter than normal. Greenville Reflector (N.C.), July 13, 2019

Peanuts in Pike County were behind schedule and had not grown sufficiently to close the rows. The farmer prayed for rain to save his crop. WAKA-TV CBS 8 Montgomery (Ala.), July 17, 2019

Too much rain early in the growing season has turned to a dry spell in Adams County. Rain is urgently needed to save the crops. Corn wilts mid-day, and soybeans were not doing well. One farmer opined that he had already lost ten to 20 bushels per acre. WGEM-TV Quincy (Ill.), July14, 2019

The lack of rain was hurting crops in Walsh County. Crop condition was deteriorating rapidly. Wheat was shorter than it would normally be, while potatoes and soybeans were also suffering from dry weather. Grand Forks Herald (N.D.), July 16, 2019

Pasture and rangeland conditions in much of South Texas continued to deteriorate, due to heat and a lack of rain. Peanut fields and cotton were being irrigated. In Zavala County, some producers continued to transport water and offer supplemental feed to their livestock, while some began to cull cattle. North Texas e-News (Texas), July 16, 2019

Corn condition estimates in Texas’ Coastal Bend were lowered, due to scarce rainfall. Soybeans would benefit from rain, and pastures and rangelands remained in good condition, but needed rain. North Texas e-News (Texas), July 16, 2019

Heat and drought hurt dryland corn in Calhoun County, according to the Clemson Extension Agent for the county. He stated that the dry conditions early in the season will mean a yield reduction. The expense of irrigation will drive up production costs. Orangeburg Times and Democrat (S.C.), May 28, 2019

Exceptionally dry weather in the Charleston area allowed powdery mildew to proliferate, affecting squash and other vining plants. Fungicides were not very effective, due to the dry weather. Charleston Post & Courier (S.C.), July 13, 2019

Some rangeland and pastures in southwest Texas were declining, due to heat and a lack of rain. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), July 9 and July 16, 2019

After their second driest spring on record, the community of Forks has been conserving water voluntarily for a couple of weeks. Mandatory water restrictions could be needed, depending on water levels in city wells, which have been falling about one foot per week. Port Angeles Peninsula Daily News (Wash.), June 28, 2019

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife closed fishing in the Chehalis River and its tributaries to protect spring chinook salmon as low flows threaten the fish. “Low stream flows decrease holding and staging refuges and elevate vulnerability and pressure on these chinook,” according to the agency. “Any encounters of spring chinook could subject these fish to stress, injury, or death.” Kitsap Sun (Bremerton, Wash.), July 5, 2019

Crop loss has been reported in parts of eastern North Carolina as drought and heat damaged the crops. In some areas, corn stopped growing. Vegetables were sunburned, making them less marketable. A Carteret County farmer lost yield on several varieties of sweet corn, costing him tens of thousands of dollars in upfront costs. He estimated he had lost at least 50 percent of the yield. Public Radio East (New Bern, N.C.), July 12, 2019

There were fewer fish than normal in the Upper and Lower Yakima and Naches watersheds, due to current dry conditions, lack of water and ongoing impacts from the 2015 drought. The Department of Ecology was monitoring the water levels and temperatures and were noticing fewer fish migrating up the Yakima Basin, due to higher water temperatures. Fish and Wildlife were also working with the Kittitas Reclamation District to supplement flows. KIMA-TV CBS 29 Yakima (Wash.), July 2, 2019

The South Carolina Drought Response Committee removed the drought declaration for a number of counties, including Georgetown, Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, Colleton, Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton. Thirty-five counties remained in incipient drought. The committee will meet again in August. Orangeburg Times and Democrat (S.C.), July 12, 2019 The S.C. Drought Response Committee met on June 13 and designated all but three counties as being in incipient drought. The three counties that are free of drought were Oconee, Pickens and Anderson. Orangeburg Times and Democrat (S.C.), June 13, 2019 The South Carolina Drought Response Committee upgraded the drought status of all counties in the state. Eleven counties in the northwest entered incipient drought, affecting Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, Cherokee, Union, York, Lancaster and Kershaw counties. The majority of the counties were recognized as being in moderate drought. Despite recent rainfall, irreversible damage to agriculture has already occurred. Some farmers were feeding hay to their livestock and were considering baling drought-stressed corn for cattle feed. The fire threat was elevated, water demand was at a record high in some areas and streamflows were unusually low. Department of Natural Resources (Columbia, S.C.), June 6, 2019 The S.C. Drought Response Committee recognized 15 counties in the southern part of the state as being in incipient drought. The affected counties are Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Edgefield, Georgetown, Hampton, Jasper, Orangeburg, and Williamsburg. The public was urged to be very cautious if burning materials outdoors. Charleston Post & Courier (S.C.), May 15, 2019

Junior water rights holders in the Yakima River basin will get an estimated 67 percent supply for irrigation after the Bureau of Reclamation updated its forecast. Senior water rights holders will still receive a full allotment. Yakima Herald-Republic (Wash.), July 3, 2019 Junior water rights holders in the Yakima River Basin, including the Roza Irrigation District, were prorated to 72 percent as water supplies were low. The forecast will be updated on July 3. Yakima Herald-Republic (Wash.), June 30, 2019 Water users in the Roza Irrigation District and other junior rights holders will receive 74 percent of their allotment through Sept. 30, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s June forecast. Low reservoir levels in October 2018, lower than normal winter runoff and below average mountain snowfall limited water supplies. Yakima Herald-Republic (Wash.), June 7, 2019

Residents of Juneau were asked to conserve water as demand slightly exceeded production capacity amid the hot, dry weather. People were asked to curb water use for garden watering, and vehicle and boat washing. The conservation notice was for those who receive water from the Salmon Creek reservoir station, meaning water customers from Lemon Creek to Tee Harbor, and all of Mendenhall Valley. Capital City Fire/Rescue also limited their water use at the training facility in the valley. KTOO Public Media (Juneau, Alaska), July 3, 2019

Low water supplies led Wrangell officials to cancel the town’s Fourth of July fireworks display, fearing that the fireworks could spark a fire. Wrangell’s reservoirs were not spilling, and the community opted to guard its water supply rather than potentially use some of it to extinguish fires. KSTK-FM 101.7 Public Radio (Wrangell, Alaska), July 3, 2019