Drought

Dry conditions in Michigan continued to hurt corn and soybeans. Producers were worried about yield loss in the drier parts of the state. Pasture and range conditions were deteriorating somewhat from the dry weather. USAgNet (Marshfield, Wis.), Sept. 10, 2019 The condition of row crops, including corn and soybeans, was poor in drier parts of Michigan. The Farmer's Exchange (New Paris, Ind.), Sept. 6, 2019

A boil water notice was in effect for Tatitlek after the local reservoir ran dry. Alaska Public Radio Network (Anchorage), Sept. 4, 2019

Farmers in Homer were pumping water and considering new wells as rain catchment tanks and underground spring boxes ran low. Watering schedules were adjusted to accommodate depleted water supplies. Alaska Public Radio Network (Anchorage), Sept. 4, 2019

The Kenai Peninsula Borough issued a local disaster declaration for Seldovia and Nanwalek as they were nearly out of water. Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), Sept. 1, 2019

The fire danger was rising in the ArkLaTex region as moderate drought took hold. Sabine Parish in Louisiana had a ban on outdoor burning, as did Harrison, Marion, Rusk and Upshur counties in Texas. KPXJ-TV & KTBS-TV (Shreveport, La.), Sept. 4, 2019

Rangelands and pastures in West Central Texas were severely drought stressed and deteriorating. Smaller stock tanks were getting low, but bigger stock tanks were fine. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 5, 2019

Pastures were dry in Far West Texas, and fires were a worry. More cow/calf producers were shipping weaned calves, with livestock producers beginning to offer supplemental feed. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 5, 2019

Hay production slowed in North Texas, due to a lack of rain. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 5, 2019

The South Carolina Forestry Commission issued a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties beginning the morning of Sept. 4, prohibiting all outdoor burning in unincorporated areas. While Hurricane Dorian is expected to bring rain to the eastern part of the state, there are risk factors that increase the fire danger, including elevated drought conditions and a scarcity of firefighters, law enforcement and other emergency personnel. Aiken Standard (S.C.), Sept. 4, 2019

Chignik Lagoon on the Alaska Peninsula was dealing with a water shortage as the community’s wells went completely dry. Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), Sept. 1, 2019

Numerous oak trees in southeastern North Carolina were dying in a matter of weeks. Very young and very old oaks seem to be most affected. Extreme stressors, such as flooding from hurricanes, and recent drought were thought to be responsible. The North Carolina Forestry has received many calls from people in Pender, Brunswick, Bladen and Lenoir counties about their trees. Wilmington Morning Star (N.C.), Sept. 2, 2019

Texas cattle producers in the West, Central and South regions were starting to supplement livestock as range conditions continued to deteriorate, due to heat and insufficient rain. SFN Today (Raleigh, N.C.), Aug. 30, 2019

While insect have played a role in in the wildfires that have burned Alaska forests this summer, heat and drought have had a larger impact. Alaska Public Media News (Anchorage, Alaska), Aug. 23, 2019

As drought conditions persist and expand, Texans were urged to be particularly careful with fire. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Aug. 27, 2019

The dry conditions led the Forest Service on Aug. 29 to enact stage 1 fire restrictions in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Boulder, Gilpin, Clear Creek and Park counties. KCNC-TV CBS 4 Denver (Colo.), Aug. 30, 2019

Nueces County ranchers were giving their livestock hay and supplemental feed as hot, dry weather damaged their pastures. Some ranchers opted to adjust their stocking rates, while others chose to sell cattle. KIII-TV3 South Texas (Corpus Christi, Texas), Aug. 28, 2019

Crops were struggling in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as dry conditions continued. Dry pastures forced many producers to offer supplemental feeding to their livestock. USAgNet (Marshfield, Wis.), Aug. 27, 2019

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott included another eight counties in the disaster declaration that he originally made on Aug. 23. The additional eight counties were Briscoe, Brooks, Castro, Jim Wells, Nueces, San Patricio, Wichita and Wilbarger. The declaration was made because drought increases the fire danger and jeopardizes public health, property and the economy. The declaration also suspends all laws and rules that “in any way prevent, hinder or delay necessary action” in coping with drought. The Brownsville Herald (Texas), Aug. 30, 2019 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for seven counties in the south that faced severe drought and an increased wildfire risk. The seven counties were Duval, Hall, Jim Hogg, Randall, Swisher, Webb, and Zapata. Gilmer Mirror (Texas), Aug. 24, 2019

The cotton and corn crops in Shelby County were unusually short. The corn yield may be half of normal this year. WBMA (Birmingham, Ala.), Sept. 4, 2019 Drought hurt the corn and cotton in Shelby County, where one farmer estimated a loss of 40 percent for his cotton and an even worse outcome for the corn. Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana, Ala.), Aug. 29, 2019

Rangeland and livestock conditions remained poor in Far West Texas with cattle needing supplemental feed. Producers were getting ready to ship calves and were rotating pastures. Rangeland and pastures were very dry and hard. Drought also allowed an uptick in fires. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 27, 2019