Drought

Texas has an unusually high number of aphids this year, along with fewer predators of the insects, both due to drought. The aphids are secreting a sticky residue called honeydew that is water soluble and will wash away with rain. The Dallas Morning News (Texas), Oct 12, 2022

In Nashville, drought has affected vegetation and wildlife. Trees stopped producing chlorophyll early and were dropping dry leaves. Wildflowers ceased to bloom, mosquitoes vanished, and wildlife flocked to the birdbaths. The organic vegetable garden was abandoned. Nashville received 0.01 inches of rain in the past 30 days, according to the NWS. Armadillos have also come out during the day to forage amid drought, although the creatures are normally nocturnal. A sunken car was discovered in Sevier Lake in Shelby Park on Oct. 12. WPLN-FM (Nashville, Tenn.), Oct 11, 2022

Supplemental water has been provided for Tule elk at Point Reyes National Seashore for the second straight year. Supplemental water systems were reactivated and were being maintained by seashore staff until rain begins again this fall and winter. The first time that water was provided for the Tomales Point Tule Elk Reserve was in June 2021 when unprecedented and extreme drought prompted the National Park Service to bring water for the elk. National Parks Traveler (Park City, Utah), Oct 13, 2022

Hay production in the Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas region this summer was halved by heat and drought, and the hay-growing season ends in November. Some ranchers are selling cattle or buying feed. The region has not received rain since Sept. 10. KTBS (Shreveport, La.), Oct 13, 2022

A farmer near Fayetteville irrigated more heavily to keep his fruits and pumpkins alive this year during drought. The increased irrigation doubled his operational costs, and he could bear only so much of it and had to put some of the price increase on customers. He was grateful that his customers were willing to pay higher prices for his produce. Some larger farms could not pay for the extra water and opted to use their corn crop for cattle feed instead. KNWA-TV & FOX 24 (Fayetteville, Ark.), Oct 12, 2022

Drought continues to affect farmers in southeast Missouri as hay thefts take place. Some farmers have set up trail cameras to monitor their valuable hay as prices for it rise and supplies are not abundant. Springs were running dry that did not go dry during the 2012 drought. New water lines have been installed to bring water to livestock. KAIT-TV ABC 8 Jonesboro (Ark.), Oct 11, 2022

Kansas wheat growers were planting into dry soil. In the USDA’s Small Grains 2022 Summary released on September 30, USDA slashed Kansas wheat production to 244.2 million bushels, compared with 364 million bushels in 2021. Due to the persistent drought, USDA reported 700,000 acres were planted to wheat, but not harvested, and yields fell to an average of 37 bushels per acre, well below 52 bushels per acre in 2021 and 45 bushels per acre in 2020. Kansas Wheat (Manhattan, Kan.), Oct 12, 2022 The difficult choice for Kansas winter wheat growers: wait for moisture or plant into very dry soil and hope for rain? About 50% of Kansas wheat has been planted, per the Kansas Farm Bureau. But, due to drought, only 19% of the wheat has emerged. And if a late crop manages to survive a cold winter, the yield can be reduced by up to 35%. KAKE ABC 10 Wichita (Kan.), Oct 11, 2022

Extremely dry weather caused water mains to break in Rogers County. Mechanical issues at the water treatment plant and breaks in two different waterlines left some customers with low water pressure and others with no water at all. Water conservation is urged. KOTV-TV CBS 6 Tulsa (Okla.), Oct 11, 2022

The lack of rain led several Kentucky and southern Indiana counties to issue burn bans to avoid more fire activity and the spread of fires. Washington, Scott and Clark counties in southern Indiana were under burn bans, while 15 western counties had burn bans, according to KY.gov. WDRB Louisville (Ky.) Oct 11, 2022

The Lee Creek Reservoir boat ramp closed on Sept. 14, due to the low water level, but the ramp at the dam tailwaters remained open. Fort Smith Southwest Times Record (Ark.), Oct 11, 2022

All four states—Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas—are affected by dry conditions. Many counties have issued burn bans, as well as Joplin, Missouri. KOAM News Now (Joplin, Mo.), Oct 8, 2022

Low rain and snowfall in California and reduced water supplies from the Colorado River in Southern California caused tomatoes and onions to shrivel and jeopardized the growing of leafy greens in the winter. Produce prices were rising in grocery stores, and U.S. inflation has risen to its highest level in 40 years. California grows about 30% of the processing tomatoes used worldwide. In August the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered the 2022 forecast to 10.5 million tons, a drop of 10% from its estimate of 12.2 million tons earlier in the year. Reuters (New York), Oct. 10, 2022

Residents of Greenwood were urged to conserve water due to heat and drought. The city website noted that the measure was temporary and will end after rainfall. City water is not to be used to irrigate lawns. Greenwood gets its water from Greenwood City Lake and James Fork Lake. Northwest Arkansas News (Fayetteville, Ark.), Sept 23, 2022 and Fort Smith Southwest Times Record (Ark.), Oct 11, 2022

Dryland crop yields in Saunders County were down about a third to one-half of normal as rainfall has been about two-thirds of the normal 30 to 35 inches of rain since the start of the year. One Saunders County farmer acknowledged that he irrigated heavily, drawing down the water table. At the extension office in Saunders County, they have canceled entire research projects due to removing cattle from the fields due to drought. KETV Newswatch 7 (Omaha, Neb.), Oct 6, 2022

A drinking water advisory began on Sept. 28 for residents of Plaquemines Parish from the Empire Bridge to Venice. The water system is dealing with higher levels of sodium and chloride as a salt water wedge moves up the Mississippi River. The change in water quality could affect the taste, color and odor of the water. People with high blood pressure or kidney diseases or those on low-sodium diets should note the sodium levels in their drinking water. WDSU-TV NBC 6 New Orleans (La.), Sept 29, 2022

Several Kansas City neighborhoods received warnings about possible low water pressure as crews worked to fix multiple water main breaks. Drought causes the ground to shift, which has led to 20 breaks in the past two weeks, compared to just two at this time last year. KMBC 9 News (Kansas City, Mo.), Oct 6, 2022

Pumpkins were in short supply in parts of New York, due to the summer drought. Some businesses have purchased pumpkins from elsewhere to meet demand. WETM-TV NBC 18 Elmira (N.Y.), Oct 6, 2022

Cattle farmers in central Arkansas have already sold some cattle as drought stunted grass growth. Ranchers were looking for hay to buy, but could not find any. Water was also becoming a concern as ponds go dry. KARK-TV NBC 4 Little Rock (Ark.), Oct 6, 2022

A grocery business in Wickliffe that delivers food to towboats on the Mississippi River has had to find an alternative boat launch to use as the level of the river has fallen, making the boat launch at Wickliffe unusable. The boat must be transported a greater distance before putting it in the water, groceries must be handled more times to get them to their destination, making the entire endeavor more labor intense and time consuming. WPSD 6 (Paducah, Ky.), Sept. 30, 2022

A water emergency took effect in Norwalk on Oct. 7 as the city has had historically low rainfall in the last 43 years, affecting reservoir levels. The mayor issued mandatory water conservation measures to avoid a larger water crisis. Among the prohibited actions were lawn and landscape watering with some exceptions, vehicle washing, power washing of pavement and other activities. Scofflaws will be warned, but can be fined $90 daily if the violation persists. NBC New York, Oct 6, 2022