Drought

DeKalb County Water District No. 1 asked its customers to voluntarily conserve water due to ongoing drought conditions and excessive water use. St. Joseph News-Press (Mo.), July 16, 2018

Forty-three Kansas counties were authorized for emergency haying and grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program acres for the rest of fiscal year 2018, which extends through Sept. 30. USAgNet (Marshfield, Wis.), July 17, 2018

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced a drought emergency for Wheeler County, due to low snowpack, poor rainfall, low streamflows and warming temperatures. Wheeler County was the seventh county in the state to come under a drought emergency in 2018. The other six counties were Klamath, Grant, Harney, Lake, Baker and Douglas. KTVZ-TV NewsChannel 21 (Redmond, Ore.), July 18, 2018

A burn ban took effect in Clark and Cowlitz counties on July 1, due to dry conditions. KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland (Ore.), July 16, 2018

Fire restrictions took effect in Washington County on July 5 as dry conditions increased the fire danger. KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland (Ore.), July 16, 2018

Conditions in west Illinois were dry enough that fire officials were urging residents to be very careful about outdoor burning, given the dry weather. Fire restrictions could be a consideration if the dryness persists. WGEM-TV Quincy (Ill.), July 16, 2018

Demand for hay was high in Mesa County, where irrigation was needed to make a crop, and most were short on water. Due to the drought, the price of hay was nearly double. Some producers were opting to sell livestock rather than buy expensive hay. One cattle producer had to sell his herd because no summer pasture could be located for them. KJCT-TV ABC 8 (Grand Junction, Colo.), July 17, 2018

Michigan corn and soybeans were stressed by heat and absence of rain, triggering wilting and leave rolling in many fields. The second cutting of hay was smaller than usual. Pastures were drying up, forcing farmers to begin giving supplemental feed to the livestock. Disease and pest pressures were light, thanks to heat and dryness. Most fruit trees and bushes were wilting from the lack of rain, and even more mature trees were affected. Apple growth slowed in eastern Michigan, due to dry soils. USAgNet (Marshfield, Wis.), July 17, 2018

Hot, dry conditions were starting to harm corn, soybeans and other crops. Dry conditions also reduced hay production. USAgNet (Marshfield, Wis.), July 17, 2018

Heat and low soil moisture were stressing Ohio pastures. USAgNet (Marshfield, Wis.), July 17, 2018

Crops are holding their own with not a lot of new growth, have not mowed lawn in 3 weeks, grass is brown and dry. CoCoRaHS Report from Station #Swanton 6.7 NNE on 7/17/2018

For the week ending 7/15/2018, conditions were MILDLY DRY. The 7-day cumulative precipitation total of 0.03 inches was 96% below the 9-year (2009-2017) average of 0.83 inches for this date and in the “severely dry” range; the 30-day total of 6.33 inches was 54% above the 9-year average of 4.11 inches and in the “moderately wet” range; and the 90-day total of 15.13 inches was 26% above average and in the “mildly wet” range. The maximum daily precipitation was 0.03 inches on the 15th, which broke a string of 9 days without rainfall. Temperatures ranged from 87 (on the 13th) to 60 (on the 9th and 11th) degrees F, with average Hi/Lo temperatures of 84/66 F. Overall, the average high was the same as last week and the average low was 3 degrees warmer than last week. This week marked the first indication of stress to the grass in the front yard. Also, for the first time this year, the Eastern Cottonwoods have started to drop their leaves. Among birds, the most notable and persistent singer this week was the Eastern Wood-Pewee, which regularly averaged six songs/minute throughout during the daylight hours. CoCoRaHS Report from Station #Buchanan 1.4 ESE on 7/17/2018

Lawn and pastures drying out. Trees starting to show stress with falling leaves. Farms ponds are very low. Spotty rain- fall at best with trace amounts. CoCoRaHS Report from Station #Decatur 2.6 ESE on 7/17/2018

It is getting much drier, especially over the last 15-30 days. All grasses are cured and sage is out of green up. Stress appears to be impacting trees, with some yellow/dead leaves. It has been roughly 30 days without 0.01 and 47 days with only 0.01. The dry pattern looks to continue. Additionally, fire activity has rapidly picked up the past 2 weeks. Another ~2 weeks of this pattern and may reconsider changing condition to moderately dry. CoCoRaHS Report from Station #Spring Creek 0.9 SE on 7/17/2018

Lawn not growing very fast. Brown spots. CoCoRaHS Report from Station #Mount Vision 1.4 SW on 7/17/2018

Grass is very brown! CoCoRaHS Report from Station #Moores Hill 5.7 SSE on 7/18/2018

grass has stopped growing starting to see brown areas watering gardens CoCoRaHS Report from Station #New Haven 6.4 NE on 7/18/2018

Lawn turning brown where no watering/sprinkling occurring. CoCoRaHS Report from Station #Kentwood 1.6 WSW on 7/18/2018

Lots of yellow leaves dropping from trees and shrubs, pond and lake levels low, just recently started seeing honey bees at the chicken waterers. CoCoRaHS Report from Station #Hugo 1.9 ENE on 7/18/2018

Grass getting very dry and brown. CoCoRaHS Report from Station #Amelia 0.3 SSW on 7/19/2018