Drought

Crop production in the Coastal Bend is yielding from 25% to 50% less than normal. The Nueces County Texas A&M Extension agent stated that this is considered a disaster. The area has had numerous 100-degree days and months on end without rain, leaving some farmers and ranchers relying heavily on crop insurance. The grass is short, hay is in short supply and many beef cattle have been liquidated. KIII-TV (Corpus Christi, Texas), July 23, 2022

A dairy farmer with a nearly dry well was aided by the Auburn Fire Department which allowed him to fill his tanks at the station. Due to drought, the water table and head pressure of his dug well had fallen to low to provide water for his cows. Since the start of 2021, thirty-two dry wells have been reported, but none of the dry wells were in Androscoggin County. Lewiston Sun Journal (Maine), July 26, 2022

Many crops in Arkansas needed water at the same time. Corn is in the reproductive stage; rice fields need to be flooded; and cotton and soybeans need irrigation, but there is only so much water and so much area that can be irrigated at a time. The upper 75% of the Delta has not received measurable rain since May 25 to June 4. In a normal season, ten days might be needed to get the initial flooding going in a rice field. The dry conditions extend that time to 14 to 21 days this year to get the field flooded. Soybeans need water, but irrigating small plants can drown them as they cannot withstand flooding, but if a farmer did take the chance and irrigate, some ungerminated seeds would have a chance to grow. Irrigation pumps run on diesel, which is expensive at the present and even double what they were in 2021. Comparison to the 1980 drought: “I hear guys talking about 1980,” according to extension soybean agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 1980 had 15 straight, 100-degree-plus days at Little Rock — 10 of which were at or above 105 degrees — and 42 100-degree days for the year. Stuttgart Daily Leader (Ark.), July 15, 2022

The lack of rain in mid-Missouri means that grass is growing less, so fewer homeowners want their lawns mowed. Lawn care companies that might have mowed nearly 200 yards per week might be mowing less than 75 yards. When fewer lawns need mowing, they do landscaping and other odd jobs to keep busy. ABC 17 News (Columbia, Mo.), July 22, 2022

New Jersey residents and businesses were asked to conserve water because rainfall has been below normal, and reservoirs were dropping rapidly in the past month. While most reservoirs were at or near normal for this point in the summer, some were much lower, such as the Oradell Reservoir system, which fell from full in mid-June to just over 70% in mid-July. The North Jersey District Supply Water Commission, which operates the Wanaque Reservoir, observed water levels fall from nearly full in June to just over 80% in July. The Round Valley-Spruce Run reservoirs in western New Jersey fell below 70%, compared to about 90% full typically at this time of year. NorthJersey.com (Hackensack, New Jersey), July 26, 2022

Drought has nearly dried up Lake Wilson, which has been dropping all summer, was nearly six feet low. Hundreds of fish have perished, and city workers will take care of the dead fish. Most of Wilson’s water comes from Wiggins Mill, which is fed by Buckhorn Reservoir via Contentnea Creek. The city posted, "The drought has affected the lake level but not in a serious way. Buckhorn is only 1.5 feet below normal levels. However, if the drought continues, the city could be forced to restrict lake use." WRAL-TV CBS 5 Raleigh (N.C.), July 26, 2022

The remains of a third person were discovered in Lake Mead on July 25, for the third body in three months as drought continues to take the water level lower. Two other sets of human remains were found in early May. USA Today (McLean, Va.), July 26, 2022

The city of Wichita Falls was urging residents to conserve water in an effort to avoid drought restrictions. The lakes that provide water for the city and nearby communities were near 77% combined capacity. The trigger for Stage I water restrictions is 65%, which could begin in late September, based on current projections. Wichita Falls Times Record News (Texas), July 26, 2022

Residents of Bryan were asked to voluntarily conserve water as the city enacts Stage 1 of the drought contingency plan. The city tweeted that ongoing drought, elevated temperatures and excessive water line breaks were reasons for the conservation request. KBTX (Bryan, Texas), July 25, 2022

RCH Water received notice from the city of Rockwall about water supply concerns on July 11, and water customers in Royse City and McLendon-Chisholm were told to conserve water. Excessive water use was outpacing supply. Outdoor watering was prohibited on July 12. On July 13, water customers found that they had no water from the tap. FOX 4 News (Dallas, Texas), July 13, 2022

Nebraska has been in drought for all of 2022, while a flash drought developed in Missouri in recent weeks. Nebraska cow-calf producers were employing various drought management practices, such as watching grazing levels closely to avoid overgrazing, which will harm pasture grass the following year. Rotating livestock among pastures during drought is also important. With less forage available, and tight hay supplies, many southwest Nebraska producers were considering salvaging dryland corn or milo for forage because these crops will not likely make grain. Producers need to check nitrate levels to make sure the forage is safe to feed to cattle. DTN – Progressive Farmer (Burnsville, Minn.), July 25, 2022

An emergency water ban was in effect for Pembroke due to low well levels, low water pressure and unsafe conditions as conditions in Massachusetts ranged from abnormally dry to severe drought. Residents were told to immediately stop using unnecessary water that would be needed in the event of an emergency. Tap water was discolored. "There is a strain on the reserve levels in the tanks and it is seriously impacting the town’s ability to provide water and the pressure required to drive it now and in the event of an emergency," according to town officials. WCVB-TV ABC 5 Boston (Mass.), July 25, 2022

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources warned that the dry conditions make fire safety a priority for those outdoors. DNR wildland firefighters have responded to more than 170 fires covering more than 3,200 acres so far in 2022. FOX 17 (Grand Rapids, Michigan), July 21, 2022

A timothy hay field in Rhode Island was so dry from drought that the field will have to be reseeded because it will not recover. Rain has not fallen since May, and the first cut of hay was 30% below normal. The orchard grass, which ought to be two feet in height was maybe an inch tall, but it was green. Given the lack of rain, water restrictions were in effect for parts of South Kingstown and Narragansett. Warwick has announced similar measures. The Providence Journal (R.I.), July 22, 2022

Drought is damaging the cotton crop in Texas, ratcheting up the abandonment rate to 32%, the third highest on record. The cotton production forecast was last this dire in 2011, when intense heat and drought drove the abandonment rate to a record 36%. “The biggest problem in West Texas is there's absolutely nothing to fall back on,” according to Brad Rippey, USDA meteorologist. “There's no subsoil moisture. Or there’s very little topsoil moisture. And so with each day of triple-digit heat continuing to add insult to injury, we've got more than 70% of the U.S. cotton crop considered to be in a drought area right now." AgWeb (Mexico, Mo.), July 21, 2022

Drought and dry pastures forced many Texas ranchers to sell livestock that would normally be sold in the fall. A beef cattle rancher and farmer from the La Vernia area stated that livestock were receiving range cubes and hay, but hay was becoming scarce and expensive. KSAT-TV ABC 12 San Antonio (Texas), July 19, 2022

Kansas ranchers are struggling to find grass and hay for cattle, which may force early cattle sales. A rancher from Wilmore in Comanche County stated that everyone is selling cattle, but the heat makes it difficult for the stress on the cattle. The assistant manager of Pratt Livestock opined that ranchers may have to sell entire herds if drought conditions do not improve within 30 days. KWCH 12 (Wichita, Kan.), July 20, 2022

The Carlsbad Irrigation District offered 1.7 acre-feet to its customers this year as the snowpack was low. The district's customers are mostly farmers and ranchers in southern Eddy County. Customers received as much water this year as in 2021, which was the lowest since 2012's meager allotment of 0.08 acre-feet. Current (Carlsbad, N.M.), July 21, 2022

Local leaders from northwest Iowa met with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to talk about efforts toward developing a statewide drought preparedness plan. The DNR is holding four meetings to collect ideas and input on what the drought preparedness plan ought to include. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management were also contributing to the response plan. Siouxland News (North Sioux City, S.D.), July 20, 2022

The lack of rain left grass in the hayfield behind schedule. Some farmers were giving livestock hay, while others benefited from rain and were able to eke by on pasture grass. A farmer in the Addison area sold three hundred square hay bales earlier this year, but now, with grass not growing well, he regretted the sale. North West Alabamian (Haleyville, Ala.), July 20, 2022