Drought

Temperatures were well above average with no measurable rainfall in eastern portions of Far West Texas. Scattered showers across the west tempered the impacts of prevailing hot and windy conditions. The cotton crop looked healthy with minimal pest pressure; however, it had begun to lose yield potential as bolls were beginning to set. Corn and sorghum matured and needed a little more time to dry down before harvest. Melon harvest was mostly complete, and most fields were not producing enough to justify harvest crews. Alfalfa looked good, but recent rainfall encouraged weeds and grass to grow. Pecans made good progress and were filling nicely. Insecticides were being applied to combat pecan weevils. Pastures dried up significantly, and cattle were starting to lose condition, leading to more supplemental feeding. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 26, 2025 Hot, dry conditions persisted across Far West Texas with impacts visible across agriculture. Fields have become very dry, and crops were showing stress by midday. Corn was finishing and drying down for harvest. Sorghum had mostly headed out, and diminished yields were expected. High temperatures significantly stressed the cotton crop, especially the earlier crop that was loaded with bolls or in peak bloom. Haygrazer had headed out. Healthy melon harvests continued. Pastures were drying up, and livestock were losing condition despite supplementation. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 12, 2025

Conditions in South Texas were hot and extremely humid with periodic showers. Topsoil and subsoil conditions were very poor in some areas. Fieldwork for strawberries continued, and vegetable producers harvested squash and okra. A few late-planted grain sorghum fields should be harvested over the week. Most cotton was harvested, but some fields were still blooming and progressing under irrigation. Sunflowers were almost ready for harvest, and some producers were preparing fields for fall vegetable planting. Cabbage conditions were fair. Pecan trees looked green, but another low production year was anticipated. Peanut crops continued to progress under irrigation. Sesame harvest continued with above-average yields reported. Range and pasture conditions declined, and some counties implemented burn bans. Some livestock producers were culling herds and providing supplemental feed to maintain good body condition scores. Beef cattle prices remained high, and supplies remained low. Wildlife were in good condition overall, with deer producers providing supplemental feed. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 26, 2025 Conditions in South Texas were hot and dry. Temperature highs were above 100 degrees in some counties. The high temperatures and dry conditions were beginning to impact all crops. Corn, sunflower and sorghum harvests wrapped up and several fields of sorghum were made into hay. Hay producers continued to make hay. Fieldwork for strawberries continued. Vegetable producers continued with a slow harvest. Okra was doing fair. Irrigation in citrus orchards continued. Peanut crops continued to progress under irrigation and were in the pegging stage. Cotton fields were showing signs of stress due to extreme heat but holding up under irrigation as bolls were opening. Pasture and range conditions continued to decline with lack of rainfall. Livestock were in good condition, but supplemental feeding was necessary. Local livestock markets continued to offer average volumes with strong prices for all classes of beef cattle. Ranchers were busy weaning and selling late-winter and spring calves and wrapping up baling hay. Wildlife producers were preparing for hunting season. Falcon Lake levels remained low. Some producers were providing water to ponds for cattle and wildlife. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 12, 2025

Cooler temperatures arrived in Southwest Texas. High winds were reported in the middle of the week, but damage was minimal. Precipitation averaged 1 inch for the week, and soil moisture was good. Sorghum harvest was completed, and corn harvest was wrapping up. Other row crops were being harvested as well. Pecan crops looked good, but more rain was needed for the nuts to fill. Elevated temperatures continued to stress pastures and rangelands, and all hay work was at a standstill. Supplemental feeding of livestock resumed, and livestock markets were steady. Breeding season should begin soon. Deer and other wildlife were in mostly good condition. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 26, 2025 Hot and dry weather continued in Southwest Texas with some spotty showers reported. Temperatures reached 100 degrees on several days. The heat and wind have dried out topsoil. Corn and sorghum harvests continued with below average yields reported. Hay harvest continued. Some producers were preparing for fall planting season. Webworm nests began to show in trees and pecan orchards, but pest loads appeared light so far. Overall, pecans were still green and developing well. The hot, dry conditions led to declines in grasses, and many cattle herds were being fed hay and supplemental feed. Livestock remained in fair to good condition. Livestock producers were shipping some spring calves to the sale barn to take advantage of the current high prices. Livestock were grazing but seeking shade and water. Cattle producers were being advised to reduce stocking rates as much as possible to save forage. Acorn crops still looked good. Wildlife was showing some signs of stress due to declining conditions. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 12, 2025

The fire danger was increasing in New Hampshire with fires across the eastern part of the state from the North Country to the Seacoast. State fire safety officials urged the public to be cautious before striking a match and checking in with the local fire department. New Hampshire Public Radio (Concord, N.H.), Aug 29, 2025 New Hampshire fire departments were asking the public to exercise caution with all fires outdoors as the wildfire danger was rising. Rainfall in much of the state has been about half of normal since the middle of June. Concord Monitor (N.H.), Aug 8, 2025

Beginning around September 5, Maui’s Department of Water Supply will start to use water from Hamakuapoko Wells 1 and 2. This will supplement the Upcountry water system, according to the County of Maui’s website. The well water will be used because Piʻiholo Reservoir has low surface water as the area was in drought. Hoodline Honolulu (Hawaii), Aug 28, 2025

Some domestic wells were running dry in the Lolo Creek watershed. The mountain snowpack melted quickly, leaving little water to keep the stream flowing through the summer. Irrigators needed water for hay and livestock. Some people continued to water their dry lawns, drawing down the aquifer. Missoula Current (Mont.), Aug 28, 2025

Bears have been more of a problem than usual in La Plata County this summer because the area was in drought, which reduced the amount of natural food available for the bruins, so they wandered into inhabited areas in search of food. Experts also note a mix of environmental factors, inefficient bear-management plans, funding cuts and uninformed residents and visitors as reasons for the increase. The Cortez Journal (Colo.), Aug 28, 2025

The lowest section of Lolo Creek between U.S. Highway 93 and the confluence with the Bitterroot River has gone dry, killing hundreds of fish. Beaver dams were the only places where fish and frogs were still able to live. Minks and other animals were feasting on brown trout, rainbow trout, whitefish, and crayfish. Missoula Current (Mont.), Aug 28, 2025

Stage 1 fire restrictions took effect for the Medicine Bow National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grassland on Aug. 22 due to hot, dry conditions and heightened wildfire danger. News Letter Journal (Newcastle, Wyo.), Aug 28, 2025

Corn in Pickaway County was stressed from the lack of rain. Kernels did not develop to the end of the ears. Soybeans that were planted a bit late were short. WSYX-TV (Columbus, Ohio), Aug 27, 2025

Fields in Casey County that normally produce 1,500 bales of hay have made just 500 this year after recent weeks have been quite dry. The farmer began feeding his cattle hay two months early as the pasture was not growing well. The corn wasn’t thriving either. WDKY FOX56 TV (Lexington, Ky.), Aug 28, 2025

Edmonson County was in an emergency burn ban as dry weather intensified rapidly in the region. Burn bans were also in effect for Metcalfe and Warren counties. WNKY-TV (Bowling Green, Ky.), Aug 26, 2025 An open burn ban took effect for Todd County on Tuesday, August 26, as drought persisted with no significant rain chances in the forecast. WHOP-AM (Hopkinsville, Ky.), Aug 26, 2025

The level of Lake Champlain was quite low, due to drought. Rocks and debris were exposed, forcing boaters to be cautious or risk damaging their propellers. Docking has also become more challenging. The public was urged to be careful due to the low water levels. WPTZ NBC5 Burlington (Vt.), Aug 27, 2025

Hooper Irrigation announced that it must end its secondary water season one month early on Sept. 15 as water allotments were also reduced by half due to low water supplies. Secondary water is used for lawn and garden watering. Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah), Aug 22, 2025

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox declared a 30-day state of emergency beginning July 31 as drought exacerbated the fire danger statewide. The order allows the government to use all available state resources to guard lives, homes, livestock and drinking-water supplies which have been threatened by this year’s severe fire season. It also authorizes the deployment of the Utah National Guard and streamlines assistance for local governments. Utah News Dispatch, July 31, 2025

The Little Blue Natural Resources District issued mandatory groundwater allocations on May 15 as groundwater levels had been below required limits for two years. This is the first time that the district has allocated water. For the next five years, high-capacity irrigation, municipal, industrial, recreational, and fish and wildlife groundwater users within the affected areas cannot use or pump more than 65 inches of groundwater from high-capacity wells, according to the LBNRD rules and regulations. News Channel Nebraska (Grand Island, Neb.), Aug 26, 2025

Daily limits were increased at Nine Mile Reservoir in Sanpete County and Vernon Reservoir in Tooele County as reservoir levels declined due to drought and preparations for upcoming projects. Fishermen may keep as many as eight rainbow trout and eight tiger trout from Nine Mile Reservoir daily. At Vernon Reservoir, anglers may catch up to eight brown trout, eight rainbow trout and eight tiger trout daily. The limits will be in effect through the end of October. KSL.com (Salt Lake City, Utah), Aug 25, 2025

A burn ban was in effect for Lewis County due to dry conditions. Campfires and all open burning were prohibited. WSAZ-TV NBC 3 (Huntington, W.V.), Aug 25, 2025

Drought slowed crop growth in the Niagara area, but the drought conditions have grape growers enthusiastic about the concentrated flavors and sugars. Batavia Daily News (N.Y.), Aug 25, 2025

The Catawba-Wateree River Basin has returned to normal conditions after recent weeks of rain. Hoodline Charlotte (N.C.), Aug 25, 2025 The Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group announced that the river system was in Stage 0 of its drought protocol, which means increased monitoring of the reservoirs. Stage 0 does not yet require any water conservation steps. WSOC-TV ABC 9 Charlotte (N.C.), April 3, 2025