Drought

Hot, dry weather tipped Vermont and New Hampshire into abnormal dryness. A Vermont well driller noted how dry streams, rivers and the water table were very early in the summer. A farmer in Newport, N.H., reported that raspberries required manual watering for the first time this year. Valley News (Lebanon, N.H.), July 8, 2022

Burn permits were not being issued in Gratiot County, due to moderate drought conditions in the area. Morning Sun (Alma, Mich.), July 8, 2022

Drought, heat and strong winds hurt the wheat crop in northeast Colorado. The winter snowpack was also lacking, leaving the wheat with little moisture through the winter. The wheat was thin and facing weed pressure. The heads were not long, and wheat quality was uncertain. Dry conditions in the fall of 2021 caused wheat growers to delay planting until November, and some growers did not plant for lack of water. 9News (Denver, Colo.), July 8, 2022

Corn production was about half or a little less of normal about 35 miles north of Corpus Christi, due to drought. Texas Standard (Austin), July 8, 2022

Heat and weeks of dry weather led officials in Evansville to declare a ban on open burning for the city and also for Vanderburgh County. Between July 1 and July 5, there were 19 grass and brush fires within the city limits, some of them stemming from the use of fireworks. The ban will remain until substantial rain falls. Posey, Spencer and Washington counties also have burn bans. Courier and Press (Evansville, Ind.), July 6, 2022

Fire chiefs in Morrill County agreed to a total burn ban due to heat, drought, availability of resources, cost of fuel and repairs, and aggressive fire behavior not only recently, but within the past two summers. NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff, July 6, 2022

Dry conditions in Washington County were slowing grass growth, which could result in a hay shortage for farmers. 40/29 News TV (Monticello, Ark.), July 6, 2022

Hot, dry conditions in Tennessee led numerous cities and counties to enact bans on outdoor burning. Some of these areas are Dickson, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Portland, Spring Hill, Lewisburg, Hendersonville, Mt. Juliet, Lavergne, Brentwood and Rutherford County. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture issued general burn bans in Montgomery, Cheatham and Sumner counties. The Tennessean (Nashville), July 6, 2022

A burn ban was in effect for Poinsett County as of July 6. ABC24 (Memphis, Tenn.), July 6, 2022

An apple orchard in Nancy lost five to ten trees in the past couple weeks, largely due to heat, stated the owner. The trees also need rain to produce juicy apples. LEX 18 (Lexington, Ky.), July 5, 2022

While prussic acid poisoning is usually a concern in the fall after a frost, problems can also arise in forages during intense drought. Sorghum species, including johnsongrass, can be deadly for livestock due to the prussic acid, also known as hydrocyanic acid or cyanide. Some cattle operations in parts of Oklahoma have encountered this recently. When the stressed forage is consumed by cattle, the prussic acid is absorbed into the bloodstream and prevents cells from taking up oxygen. Hay & Forage Grower (Fort Atkinson, Wis.), June 28, 2022

Some Texas communities prohibited the sale and use of fireworks, due to dry conditions, while others stayed the course and lit the fireworks. A number of cities, in addition to starting their fireworks display, also accidentally started fires. The Fort Worth display, shot from Panther Island, went for a few minutes before the city canceled the event as fire spread on the banks of the Trinity River. Just 30 minutes to the west, the Hudson Oaks’ Boomin’ Fourth display turned to flames within 30 seconds. In San Antonio, fireworks, unfortunately, ignited a couple of homes, displacing two families. There were grass fires galore in some communities, such as Fort Worth, where firefighters responded to 189 calls by 11:30 p.m. Texas Monthly (Austin), July 5, 2022

Austin firefighters received more than 130 fire reports on July 4 as drought continues to intensify in the state. KVUE News Online (Austin, Texas), July 5, 2022

The northern, western and eastern areas of South Texas remained very short on moisture, while soil moisture levels in southern areas were very short to short. Most areas remained dry. Temperatures were above normal with daytime highs around 100 degrees. Cattle producers were destocking due to drought and high input costs. Extreme heat was slowing down vegetable production. A high percentage of row crops were total losses in drier areas. Wildlife, including deer, turkey and feral pigs were browsing along roadsides and entering suburban-urban areas to feed on landscapes. Water sources for wildlife were becoming scarce. Water sources for livestock were declining in some areas and full in others. Producers continued to provide supplemental feed for livestock as rangeland and pasture conditions continued to decline. Sale barns reported above average cattle volumes and steady prices. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 24, 2022

Wheat and oat harvest in Southwest Texas neared completion with below average yields reported. Corn and sorghum were showing signs of drought stress due to lack of moisture and above average temperatures. Rangelands continued to experience dry condition with wildfire potential. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 24, 2022

Recent rains will give dryland farmers in the South Plains an opportunity to get cotton seeds to germinate if more rain arrives soon. Producers continued to make hard decisions regarding their cattle herds. Culling continued, and producers were planning to wean earlier to get cattle off feed. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 24, 2022

More rainfall was needed across East Texas to continue growth. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were short to adequate. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 24, 2022

Most Coastal Bend crops continued to show drought stress, despite recent rainfall of 2 inches. Rangeland and pasture conditions remained poor to fair. Producers continued to feed protein and hay, and hay prices were high as inventories decreased. Livestock producers continued to cull less valuable stock. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 24, 2022

Conditions were very hot and windy. A wildfire in Baylor and Wilbarger counties burned 25,000 acres. Cotton planting began on irrigated acres, but very little fieldwork was done overall. Planted corn and sorghum looked decent but needed rain. Pasture conditions were declining. Stocker cattle were being slowly pulled off pasture as resources were becoming scarce. Some wheat fields were cut and baled, and yields were 30% below normal. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 24, 2022

Record high temperatures continued in Central Texas with no precipitation. Soil moisture levels were mostly very short. Winter wheat and oat crops were mostly mature and dried down rapidly under the heat and windy conditions. The corn crop was well into silking stage and drought stressed. Sorghum was developing normally, but some replanted cotton was struggling in drier soils. Pasture conditions improved slightly, but rains were needed for hay production. Stock tanks were declining. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 24, 2022