Drought

Hay and pasture forage losses could approach $100 million, per a report by the Fryar Risk Management Center of Excellence. At least 20 counties in Arkansas were designated disaster areas due to drought, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. About 75% of hay and other pasture fields in the state were considered to be poor or very poor condition. KFSM-TV CBS 5 Fort Smith (Ark.), Aug 31, 2022

The summer drought is likely to limit the number of New Jersey Christmas trees available and make them more expensive this coming holiday season. Young saplings and even more mature trees died over the hot, dry summer. Even trees that were watered on a Monmouth County tree farm succumbed to the harsh conditions. Asbury Park Press (N.J.), Aug 31, 2022

A field of sunflowers wilted and wound down earlier than expected in Rehoboth. The farm intended to allow pick-your own into September, but had to end the season early. The Sun Chronicle (Attleboro, Mass.), Aug. 9, 2022

Grass in Massachusetts was not growing during the intense summer drought, so lawn mowing businesses had fewer lawns to mow. A North Attleboro landscaper had about a third of customers cancel their mowing. A Milford landscaper downsize his workforce from 14 to about a half dozen. Another North Attleboro business reported that lawn mowing was down 35% to 40%. The Sun Chronicle (Attleboro, Mass.), Aug. 9, 2022

As drought intensified in parts of New Hampshire, wells have been running dry, and wildfire activity has climbed. The usual summer reprieve from fires when trees are green did not happen this year, per the chief of the New Hampshire Forest Protection Bureau. Fire activity has been most intense in the southern part of the state where drought is worst. Some of the fires have burned a foot down into the soil and take a long time to extinguish. Finding water sources for firefighting has been more challenging, too. Streams and rivers were drying up in the Connecticut River Valley. New Hampshire Bulletin (Concord), Aug 25, 2022

Extreme drought has left Massachusetts wildlife searching for water nearer to people's homes and noticing the swimming pools. Moose, in particular, have been reported at the edge of pools. Moose and deer have been grazing on residential plants. Because drought reduced the berry crop, bears have been searching for food in residential areas and helping themselves to bird feeders and chicken coops. Adding to challenges that farmers have faced this summer, wildlife have eaten some of the crops. Lowell Sun (Mass.), Aug. 29, 2022

Drought has meant fewer mosquitoes in western Massachusetts. July did not bring any rain, so there was no standing water for them to reproduce. Western Mass News (Springfield, Mass.), Aug 30, 2022

The soybeans in south central Kansas did not produce many pods. If rain falls in the next few weeks, yields may be about 25% of normal. Corn was harvested three weeks early by one farmer who reported yields of 50% of normal. Most area farmers have turned their corn or soybeans into cattle feed. Rain is needed to improve soil moisture ahead of this fall’s wheat planting. KAKE-TV ABC 10 Wichita (Kan.), Aug 29, 2022

The Norwich Public Utilities issued a water supply warning and requested that residential and commercial water users curb water use by 10% until conditions improve. The city’s two reservoirs were at a combined 72.43% of their capacity and were estimated to be below 70% by the end of the week. This amounts to about a 228-day supply of water for its 11,000 customers. “With the ongoing drought in the region and no significant rain in the immediate weather forecast, we are approaching a serious water supply situation,” NPU General Manager said in a news release announcing the warning. New London Day (Ct.), Aug 30, 2022

A farm in Mystic used irrigation from a pond to water crops for 33 consecutive days. The ears on unirrigated corn were much smaller. FOX 61 (Hartford, Ct.), Aug 29, 2022

Parts of Austin have had an increase in the rat population, due to a combination of new construction, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic. As restaurants closed, rats sought food in neighborhoods, where exterminators have seen an uptick in infestations. KVUE (Austin, Texas), Aug 30, 2022

Farmers and ag experts expect this summer’s dry weather to affect grain and fruit production. The dry weather occurred when the corn was pollinating. A late freeze also affected roughly 40% of the apple crop. The Daily Item (Moosic, Pa.), Aug 27, 2022

The recent dry weather forced a Schuylkill County sunflower farm to close two weeks earlier than in past years. WNEP (Moosic, Pa.), Aug 29, 2022

The owner of a farm market in Muscle Shoals said that he has received less than half of the normal produce from local farmers, due to drought. WHNT 19 News (Huntsville, Ala.), Aug 29, 2022

The fire danger is rising in New Jersey, due to the hot, dry weather. Leaves were also falling prematurely from trees and would not normally fall until mid to late October. The dry conditions and newly fallen leaves could combine to elevate the fire danger quickly. Over the past week, there were 81 fires statewide, about 40% more than normal for this time of year. New Jersey 101.5 (Ewing, N.J.), Aug. 29, 2022

Sunderland enacted a lawn watering ban as the aquifer level continued to drop. The ban extends through Nov. 1. Amherst Bulletin (Mass.), Aug. 29, 2022

Drought stunted corn growth in Connecticut, and ears have stopped growing. Some corn growers were unsure of whether to bother with harvesting as yields were down 25% to 75%. Local farmers anticipate that the cost of feeding cattle will climb as they will need to purchase dry hay as replacement feed. Corn was being harvested weeks earlier than usual rather than waiting and losing nutritional value. Farmers were looking for feed alternatives. Hay fields that often allow three cuttings have stopped growing, so farmers may only get two cuttings this year, if that. Waterbury Republican-American (Ct.), Aug. 27, 2022

Grass-fed cattle near Portsmouth were instead eating hay because dry conditions kept the pasture from growing back. Hay being grown for winter feed was yielding about half of normal. A Christmas tree grower urged people to tag their tree early or they may not get a tree this year because supplies may be limited this year as drought was killing mature trees. Onions for sale from a local grower were smaller because they did not receive enough water while growing. Perennial crops like raspberry canes were stunted, the effects of which will be apparent next year. Hot conditions this summer have also affected the seafood industry. Clams purchased from various local diggers have died at an abnormally high rate in the past few weeks. The clams die in the refrigerator two days after harvest. While prices are higher at the farmers market, high costs of chicken feed and gas were blamed. The Newport Daily News (R.I.), Aug 29, 2022

A Delaware gardener described the first layer of soil as being hard like cement when trying to plant shrubs amid a drought. A grape grower noted that the unusually dry August makes for a good vintage. WBOC-TV 16 Salisbury (Md.), Aug 25, 2022

Heat and drought drove the flash drought that seared the state in July. Farm ponds evaporated, soil dried and baked, and vegetation went dormant or died, leaving ranchers short on forage. Cattle were sold. The heat depressed pollen production, leading to a lot of sterile corn. “As far as heat and drought go, it’s the worst summer since 2011 and 2012,” said State Climatologist Gary McManus with the Oklahoma Climatological Survey. “Overall, when it goes so long without rain and it’s so hot, it just beats you down.” Oklahoma City Journal Record (Okla.), Aug 23, 2022