Drought

Gov. Greg Gianforte issued an executive order declaring a statewide drought emergency for Montana. The order directed the state departments of agriculture, livestock, natural resources and conservation to cooperate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to access federal funding. Some regulations were suspended for motor vehicles providing drought-related support. KECI-TV NBC 13 Missoula (Mont.), July 1, 2021

Gov. Kristi Noem declared a state of emergency for South Dakota, due to widespread drought. Her executive order will permit ditch mowing immediately in eastern South Dakota, although such mowing would normally not be allowed until after July 10. Almost 70% of pasture land was rated very poor or poor in South Dakota this past week, as reported by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The executive order will remain in effect through Aug. 31. Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, S.D.), June 29, 2021

Colorado shifted from Phase 2 to Phase 3 (full activation) of its State Drought Mitigation and Response Plan at Gov. Polis’ direction. The Municipal Water Impact Task Force will convene and coordinate with water providers to prepare for potential water challenges in 2021. Colorado Water Conservation Board (Denver), Dec. 1, 2020 Colorado activated the municipal portion of its emergency drought plan for the second time ever. The agricultural portion of the plan was activated during the summer, requiring government agencies serving farmers and ranchers to start coordinating aid efforts. Officials from several cities feared that the drought was severe enough to warrant hasty preparations for short supplies in 2021. Given the parched soil, runoff is expected to be lean as the soil absorbs the moisture. The Colorado Sun (Denver), Dec. 10, 2020

The drought in the West and concerns about the wildfire season has led to canceled displays, restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks or officials urging extreme caution. There were bans on personal fireworks from Idaho to New Mexico and canceled displays in Colorado and Arizona, where large wildfires were burning. Associated Press News (N.Y.), June 26, 2021

The Bureau of Land Management enacted fire restrictions on public lands managed by the Eagle Lake and Applegate field offices in Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sierra, Shasta and Siskiyou counties in California, and in Washoe County, Nevada. The restrictions took effect on July 1 and will remain in effect until further notice. Susanville Stuff (Calif.), July 1, 2021

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued a fire prevention order for all its lands in Nevada, including a ban on the use of fireworks, exploding targets and ammunition with steel components. The order took effect on July 2 and extended through Oct. 31. Restrictions were slightly stricter in several areas of the BLM’s Southern Nevada District where it was prohibited to build campfires, use charcoal barbeques or stove fires and smoke, except in an enclosed vehicle. Associated Press News (N.Y.), June 25, 2021

Drought has significantly reduced hydropower production in California, leading the state to turn to other sources of power, like natural gas from Texas, which has affected prices. Texas Standard (Austin, Texas), June 28, 2021

A Fresno County farmer left one-third of his 6,000 acres fallow because water was so scarce and relied upon emergency sources for a reduced crop. The supplemental water cost him $2,000 per acre-foot, compared to normal water prices of $200 to $250 per acre-foot. “If there is no water, there is no work, no money.” Times of San Diego (Calif.), June 26, 2021

Sonoma County water storage was drying up much more quickly than during the last intense stretch of drought in 2014-2016. Many livestock farmers were selling animals and thinning herds to cope with dry pastures and high feed prices. Some farmers who use Russian River water will lose access to that water once area reservoirs fall below a certain level, forcing farmers to adjust. Santa Rosa Press Democrat (Calif.), June 25, 20221

A Maine apple orchard owner stated that conditions were as dry as he has seen in the last 15 years. Apples were smaller than usual as the area was in moderate drought. WGME-TV 13 Portland (Portland, Maine), July 1, 2021

With no grass and no hay, a Meade County rancher had to sell some cattle. Some claimed this was the worst drought they had seen in 60 years or more. Cattle sales were unusually high in St. Onge in Lawrence County, moving 3,000 head weekly at a time of year when there would usually be about 300. Cow/calf pairs and replacement heifers were being sold. A weighty concern was what to feed cattle in the fall as hay was already high priced, and some ranchers won’t even get one cutting. Given the dry winter and spring, stock ponds and dugouts were dry. The Black Hills Pioneer (Spearfish, S.D.), June 26, 2021

A Minnesota alfalfa grower typically gets four cuttings during the summer, but has gotten only one. Drought this summer could lead to a Midwest hay shortage. Willmar Radio (Minn.), June 25, 2021

The Kimball Livestock Exchange was experiencing record livestock sales because cattle producers to not have sufficient feed and pasture for their herds. Some producers were travelling a distance to sell in Kimball, and some cattle were sold to out-of-state buyers. Cattle for sale were younger than would be expected as no feed and depleted or deteriorating water supplies force ranchers to make painful decisions. KELOLAND-TV CBS 11 (Sioux Falls, S.D.), June 30, 2021

One hundred forty irrigators in the Bellevue Triangle farming district in the Wood River Basin were ordered by the state to stop pumping groundwater from July 1 through the end of summer. The order, issued by the director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources, was to protect the Wood River aquifer, which in turn, protects downstream irrigators along Silver Creek and downstream communities. Many Lincoln County growers have dealt with significant pasture and crop loss, leading some to sell their herds of cattle and goats. Near Shoshone, a family farm will pay about $220,000 to rent Snake River water from the city of Shoshone Idaho Mountain Express (Ketchum), June 30, 2021

The three reservoirs on a Campbell County rancher have been dry since last summer or fall, but did not refill during the winter. Dry conditions and absence of grass led to the selling of livestock with more such sales possibly continuing in the future. Hay prices were high and rising. Cheyenne Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Wyo.), June 28, 2021

While Minnesota’s soybeans, corn and sugar beets can still improve with rain, pastures were another story. Cattle producers needed to make decisions before the grass runs out, whether that means weaning calves early, hauling water or selling cattle. Nearly half of pasture and rangeland was in very poor to poor condition, as of the June 28 USDA crop report. Pasture grass was seeding out at 6 to 8 inches tall in parts of the state, although it would be better for the grass to be nearer to 18 inches before seeding out. This is the worst since 1988. Minneapolis Star Tribune (Minn.), June 29, 2021

South Dakota livestock producers were already struggling with low grass growth, increasing insect populations, and now climbing salinity levels in stock ponds. Apart from drought, it is uncommon to see water salinity, measured in microsiemens per centimeter, higher than 3,000. Currently, some water has salinity over 10,000, although levels above 5,000 should be watched. Beyond 15,000 µS/cm is toxic for cattle. Black Hills Pioneer (Spearfish, S.D.), June 30, 2021

North Dakota’s hay season is nearly done, according to a North Dakota State University Extension rangeland specialist. Hay production ranged from 50% of normal yield in the better parts of the state to no hay in the north central part of the state. He stated that on average, hay production was about one-third of normal production. AgWeek (Fargo, N.D.), July 1, 2021 Most North Dakota livestock producers were short on forage. Tame grass pastures or hay land should expect half or less of normal production, while areas of exceptional drought may see production of 25% at best. The limited forage production will shorten the grazing season, ending it in the summer rather than in the fall. “Unfortunately, the window for forage production is closing,” said a North Dakota State University Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. “In North Dakota, our grasslands are dominated by cool-season grasses. As a result, about 80% of forage growth occurs due to precipitation occurring between April 1 and June 30.” NewsDakota (Valley City, N.D.), June 15, 2021 North Dakota forage production is expected to be down 20% to 25% with normal spring precipitation, according to North Dakota State University Extension’s range specialist, as May and June rain is crucial for grass growth, particularly after a dry fall. If precipitation is below normal, forage losses may range from 35% to 55%. Williston Herald (N.D.), March 23, 2021 Drought stress in fall 2020 killed North Dakota’s cool season grass tillers, slowing plant development in spring 2021. As a result, ranchers should expect a delay in grass development in spring 2021, according to an Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. If pastures are not allowed to recover, forage production may be down at least 20% to 25% in 2021. Early grazing will reduce pasture production even further. Sidney Herald (Mont.), March 18, 2021

This drought year is worse than 1988 by the reckoning of a rancher and a livestock auctioneer in northeast central North Dakota. An Eddy County rancher was concerned about his lack of forage for his 350+ cattle as some pasture has no forage for cattle, while other pasture was 25% of normal. Corn was planted to supplement the pasture forage, but it wasn’t clear that the corn would produce any kernels. Hay was pricey and involves transportation costs to bring it home. Cattle were afflicted with dust pneumonia, and one cow died from it. The Rugby Livestock Auction was selling an “astronomically high” number of cattle each week, with more than 2,700 cattle, including more than 700 cow-calf pairs. A sale in normal times might be about 600 to 700 head every other week. Some ranchers were even selling entire herds. The stress and difficulty of the drought increased communication and cooperation among rancher friends as people tried to help each other through this challenging situation. Grand Forks Herald (N.D.), June 28, 2021 Little forage has grown in Montana and North Dakota, due to drought, leaving cattle producers to cull cattle. DTN/Progressive Farmer (Burnsville, Minn.), June 16, 2021 The rain did not fall to green up North Dakota pastures, so ranchers were selling cattle. More than 4,200 head of cattle were sold at Rugby Livestock Auction in the north central part of the state. Typical sales for this time of year would be 400 to 600 head maybe once a week or every other week. The price of hay and corn were very high, making it more economical to sell cattle than feed them. Many ranchers were selling 25% to 50% of their herds at low prices, and the sales may continue for a while because there will not be feed for winter since grass was not growing. Buyers traveled from South Dakota and Idaho. KX Net (Bismarck, N.D.), June 8, 2021

The Ute Water Conservancy District began drawing water directly from the Colorado River for the first time in its 65-year existence, according to district officials. Consequently, the district will also have to introduce a 2% "drought pumping rate" to pay for the increased electrical cost of pumping the water. The district typically gets its water from snowmelt, which refills its reservoirs, but there was a call on that water from users with more senior water rights, which has never happened so early in the year. River water will require more treatment and may taste different or leave more residue on dishes. The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, Colo.), June 19, 2021