Drought

The corn crop in Mercer County has been hurt by drought with an anticipated yield reduction of 10 to 20 percent, according to a local farmer. He examined an ear, noting that the lower half of the ear was beginning to turn yellow, while it remained unclear whether the upper half of the ear would make corn. Some corn has fired all the way to the ear. Soybeans were in need of moisture also. WQAD-TV 8 (Davenport/Rock Island/Moline) (Iowa), Aug. 9, 2019

Wilson County commissioners enacted a 90-day burn ban as dry conditions continued. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index was in the 500 to 600 range. Statewide, 102 counties banned outdoor burning. My San Antonio.com (Texas), Aug. 12, 2019

A red flag was flown in front of the courthouse in Sinton, indicating that a ban on outdoor burning was in effect. The ban lasts 90 days. KIII-TV3 South Texas (Corpus Christi, Texas), Aug. 8, 2019

An athletic field in Tuscola required three to four waterings per day to keep the field green. news gazette (Champaign, Ill.), Aug. 6, 2019

Unseasonably warm water and low stream flows due to drought have kept pink salmon out of Prince William Sound, lowering salmon harvests. The year-to-date harvest on Aug. 6 was 13.6 million fish, compared to a recent year-to-date odd-year harvest average of 31.2 million fish. Cordova Times (Alaska), Aug. 9, 2019

As topsoil moisture became short in Ohio, crops began showing stress. Corn and soybeans needed rain to enhance their condition and growth. Ohio's Country Journal (Columbus, Ohio), Aug. 5, 2019

Dry weather was causing yield loss in parts of Kentucky, according to Chad Lee, University of Kentucky extension agronomist. The Messenger (Madisonville, Ky.), Aug. 8, 2019

Low flows on the Skagit River meant turning off pumps when minimum flows were not met. A dairy farmer near Mount Vernon was only able to pump one day during a three-week period in July. Skagit Valley Herald (GoSkagit.com) (Wash.), Aug. 3, 2019

As flows on the Elwha River continued to dwindle, city officials in Port Angeles made a Stage 2 water shortage declaration. Water customers were asked to voluntarily conserve water. Port Angeles Peninsula Daily News (Wash.), Aug. 5, 2019

A burn ban not to exceed 90 days was issued in Williamson County by a county judge. Austin American-Statesman (Texas), Aug. 6, 2019

Hays County commissioners reinstated a burn ban for the unincorporated parts of the county. Austin American-Statesman (Texas), Aug. 6, 2019

Travis County commissioners banned burning in unincorporated parts of the county through Sept. 11. As dry weather continued, the fire potential was increasing. Austin American-Statesman (Texas), Aug. 6, 2019

Zapata County officials requested that Gov. Greg Abbott declare the county a disaster area, due to exceptional drought. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Aug. 7, 2019

Pastures and hay fields in the Coastal Bend were deteriorating and needed rain. Hay producers got a second cutting of hay, but need rain to make a third. Stock ponds were running dry. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Aug. 7, 2019

A 7-day emergency burn ban took effect in Parker County after a county judge ordered it due to heat, low humidity and no rain in the near future. Weatherford Democrat (Texas), Aug. 8, 2019

Guadalupe County commissioners approved a 90-day burn ban, due to hot, dry weather and an uptick in brush fires in the county. Seguin Gazette-Enterprise (Texas), Aug. 7, 2019

Dry weather and heat prompted Walker and Lee county officials to enact burn bans until further notice. KBTX-TV Channel 3 Bryan (Texas), Aug. 5, 2019

Bans on outdoor burning took effect on Aug. 1 for Kendall, Kerr and Blanco counties as heat and a lack of rain increased the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, indicating rising fire danger. My San Antonio.com (Texas), Aug. 7, 2019

A 90-day burn ban took effect in Jim Wells County after commissioners approved the ban, due to drought. KIII-TV3 South Texas (Corpus Christi, Texas), Aug. 5, 2019

Dry weather in Indiana stressed some corn and soybeans on lighter soils, and hay regrowth was slow. USAgNet (Marshfield, Wis.), Aug. 6, 2019