Drought

A large brush fire in Cooper County and almost zero visibility led to the closure of Interstate 70 between mile marker 106 and 117. The Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport was also closed. Dry vegetation, low humidity levels and windy conditions contributed to dangerous fire conditions in the area. KSIS-AM (Sedalia, Mo.), Oct 22, 2022

Sections of southwestern Lancaster County were evacuated on Oct. 23 due to wind-driven wildfires. At least three buildings were destroyed. KLKN-TV 8 Lincoln (Neb.), Oct 23, 2022

Ingram Barge, the largest barge operator in the U.S. and based in Nashville, alerted customers it had declared record water levels a “force majeure event,” which invokes an “act of God” provision in their contracts. The declaration means that circumstances beyond their control were preventing normal river transport operations in certain areas. Tennessee Lookout (Nashville, Tenn.), Oct 24, 2022

Utah pumpkin growers produced fewer pumpkins this year as drought and heat affected production. Water supplies were short for some, leading them to plant fewer acres for lack of water. One farmer near Gunnison, Utah, planted just 20 acres of pumpkins and left another 80 acres idle, due to limited water. No grains or alfalfa was grown this year either. Some grocery stores were looking to purchase pumpkins from out of state to meet the demand for pumpkins. KSL.com (Salt Lake City, Utah), Oct 24, 2022

Texas honey production was expected to be down this season due to the lack of soil moisture and extreme heat statewide, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. Major wildflower bloom periods in parts of the state were hindered by the lack of soil moisture and forage for bees, in addition to the early arrival of extreme heat. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Oct 26, 2022

Nebraska corn, soybean and wheat farmers may have lost nearly $2 billion due to drought this year. Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Senior Economist Jay Rempe estimated the loss to be $1.1 billion on corn and $674 million on soybeans, while wheat production was down 31%. The total loss is likely higher as the estimates to not include losses for other crops like sorghum, sugar beets, sunflowers, and dry beans. Cattle and other livestock were also affected by drought. Much of the state’s pasture and rangeland was rated very poor to poor. Alfalfa production was estimated to be 22% lower than in 2021, while other hay production was estimated to be 18% lower than last year. Nebraska Farm Bureau (Lincoln, Neb.), Oct 27, 2022

Many West Tennessee farmers were so close to the Mississippi River that they delivered their grain straight to the river, lacking any storage silos that farmers elsewhere might use. But with the river so low, they had to leave crops in the field and pray for their fields to remain dry and for rain to raise river levels. Some barge companies were backed up and could not immediately take grain. Tennessee Lookout (Nashville, Tenn.), Oct 24, 2022

Continuing drought in the Missouri River Basin led the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to lower Missouri River levels from Nebraska City to Kansas City by a full foot. The lower levels will affect boat traffic and could impact municipal water supplies and other utilities that rely on the river. Missouri River Basin Water Management Director John Remus says conditions have been getting worse since the drought first began to emerge in July of 2020. Radio Iowa (Des Moines), Sept. 14, 2022

Releases from Missouri River dams are expected to be lower this winter, due to low precipitation and drought, according to officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, although releases from Gavins Point Dam were increased by 300 cubic feet per second in October to maintain downstream water needs. The Mitchell Daily Republic (S.D.), Oct 26, 2022 Forecasts for continued or worsening drought and lower than normal Missouri River levels have left the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managing the river at the minimum service level, meaning that the navigation channel is also shallower and narrower. The navigation season is likely to end early in November also instead of Dec. 1. Sioux City Journal (Iowa), April 12, 2022 Runoff into the Missouri River above Sioux City continued to decline further. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on April 4 lowered the 2022 runoff forecast to 17.8 million acre-feet from 20.4 MAF after March runoff was just 1.5 MAF, 48% of average for the month. "Runoff was well below normal due to dry soil conditions and well below normal precipitation across the entire Missouri River basin," stated chief of the corps’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. "Due to the lack of plains snowpack in 2022, below-average mountain snowpack and dry upper basin conditions, we expect upper Missouri River Basin runoff to be below average." The revised annual forecasted runoff for 2022 is 69% of normal levels. The average annual runoff is 25.8 MAF. In 2021, runoff was 15.2 MAF, the 10th lowest total in 123 years of record keeping. Sioux City Journal (Iowa), April 5, 2022 Drought conditions are expected to persist in the Central Plains through the spring, leading to below normal runoff for the Missouri River in 2022. February runoff was less than predicted, and runoff is expected to be well below normal below Sioux City for 2022 water year. The 2022 calendar year runoff forecast above Sioux City, Iowa, has dropped from 21.7 million acre feet in February to 20.4 MAF on March 1, a reduction of 1.3 MAF, amounting to 79% of normal. Hydropower will be reduced with the lower river levels. The six mainstem power plants generated 448 million kWh of electricity in February, compared to typical energy generation for the month of 624 million kWh. Based on current projections, the Missouri River’s annual power production will be 7.4 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), while the average is 9.4 billion kWh. Vermillion Plain Talk (S.D.), March 11, 2022

The low Mississippi River has not allowed grain to be moved quickly or at all, in some cases, so the grain has been piled on the ground. Soybeans were being piled at the terminal at Helena-West Helena during the second week of October, and more trucks were lined up to unload. Farmers get less for the grain as grain elevators bid lower and offer less for the grain, taking into account the higher cost of shipping the grain. Talk Business & Politics (Lowell, Ark.), Oct 17, 2022

A relic collector found Civil War-era bullets and a union U.S. cartridge box plate in the rocks exposed by the low waters of the Mississippi River under the Interstate 55 bridge in Memphis, Tennessee. ABC News (New York), Oct 25, 2022

Burn permits were not being issued in the Kearney area, due to dry conditions. On Oct. 25, the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department issued a burn ban that will remain in effect until the city receives measurable moisture. The fire chief also discouraged people from burning in burn barrels during the ban. The wind, warmth and low humidity allowed the vegetation to dry quickly, contributing to a rash of wildfires across Nebraska on Oct. 23. News Channel Nebraska (Norfolk, Neb.), Oct 25, 2022

Private drinking water wells in Woodbury County were running dry amid drought, according to the Siouxland District Health Department. Local well drillers were hard pressed to keep up with the demand to drill new wells. Residents relying on wells would be wise to conserve water. Siouxland Proud (Sioux City, Iowa), Oct 25, 2022

A wind-driven wildfire in Harrison County in southwest Iowa burned 3,000 acres. Twelve community fire departments supported by local farmers and county emergency management people strove nearly five hours to extinguish the large fire. Local farmers played a major role in suppressing the Oct. 23 fire outbreak, bringing tractors and discs to create fire breaks. Large blazes also burned in Fremont and Montgomery counties. To limit the spread of any other fires that may occur, Loess Hills Land stewardship director urged all farmers to till the perimeter of their fields. Iowa Public Radio (Des Moines), Oct 24, 2022

Missouri offered a special over-width hauling permit to help farmers and ranchers move hay due to severe drought conditions and began issuing special permits on July 21, allowing wider width hay loads up to 12 feet and 6 inches for blankets and up to 14 feet in width for single trip permits. Transport Topics (Washington, D.C.), Oct 25, 2022

A 30-day weight exemption for trucks carrying hay to farmers and ranchers was in effect in Oklahoma following an executive order by Gov. Kevin Stitt due to drought. Transport Topics (Washington, D.C.), Oct 25, 2022

The Stuttgart area has received only about 8 inches of rain since June, and creeks levels were down about 10 to 12 feet and decreasing. Fall crops do not have moisture to promote emergence. KARK (Little Rock, Ark.), Oct 24, 2022

So far in October, just a quarter of an inch has fallen at the Toledo Express Airport. The dry conditions have been good for harvesting, but not so good for growers with broccoli, cabbage, carrots and other crops. They still need rain. Farmers in northwest Ohio were putting in cover crops. One organic farmer couldn’t get his cover crop to come up, so he had to irrigate. Trees and shrubs could use a drink, given how dry the weather has been lately. WTVG-TV 13abc Toledo (Ohio), Oct 24, 2022

Fifty-one Kentucky counties have burn bans, and burn restrictions were active everywhere else. LEX 18 (Lexington, Ky.), Oct 24, 2022 More than 40 Kentucky counties have local burn bans due to the fire risk, according to the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet. NKy Tribune (Edgewood, Ky.), Oct 18, 2022

The Iowa state fire marshal stated that five counties in northwest Iowa have burn bans, including Cherokee, O'Brien, Sioux, Plymouth, and Crawford counties. A field fire near Sibley in Osceola County on Sept. 25 consumed a combine and up to 50 acres of soybeans. Local farmers disced around the fire to contain it. Storm Lake Radio (Iowa), Sept 29, 2022