10 months ago
The dryness in southwest Missouri has made it easier to inadvertently start a fire. A person did so when their mower hit a rock. The State of Missouri has not enacted any burn bans, but local fire departments urged people to postpone burning.
Fourstates Homepage (Joplin, Mo.), Sept 19, 2024
10 months ago
The drought has Central Ohio fire departments preparing for the possibility of brush fires since they have been called to more field fires than usual.
WSYX-TV (Columbus, Ohio), Sept 19, 2024
10 months ago
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources urged the public to avoid water waste as drought continued to grip the state. The Division of Water Resources also urged people to curb their water use and was monitoring ongoing drought impacts.
WDTN Online (Dayton, Ohio), Sept 19, 2024
10 months ago
A South Bend farm closed its sunflower field due to drought and heat that killed most of the flowers. The corn for the maze is shorter than usual. Another way drought is affecting the farm is the cost of hay for the ponies, horses, donkeys and goats. Area hay growers aren’t likely to get a third cutting.
WVPE-FM (Elkhart, Ind.), Sept 19, 2024
10 months ago
The Ohio Department of Agriculture is creating an Ohio Hay Directory. Farmers aiming to buy or sell hay can be included in the directory.
Richland Source (Mansfield, Ohio), Sept 18, 2024
10 months ago
Richwood has seven to ten days’ worth of water left with some rain in the forecast.
West Virginia Watch, Sept 19, 2024
The Nicholas County Commission issued a State of Emergency for water conservation and drought conditions as the community had just four days’ worth of water left. All residents were to conserve wherever possible.
The area was in exceptional drought.
WSAZ-TV (Huntington, W.V.), Sept 16, 2024
Emergency water conservation was needed in Richwood because the city’s usual source, the Cherry River, has been reduced to a trickle, so the community has been getting water from a small lake ten miles from Richwood. The lake holds enough water to supply the town for about two weeks, and Richwood began drawing water from Summit Lake on August 2.
WCHS-TV ABC 8 (Charleston, W.V.), Sept 11, 2024
10 months ago
The Delaware County Fair Advisory Board canceled fireworks at the 2024 fair as the state continues to face worsening drought. the unanimous decision to forego the fireworks was made after checking with the state fire marshal.
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio), Sept 18, 2024
10 months ago
The mayor of Greenville urged the public to begin conserving water as the water table was exceptionally low. The wells at Mud Creek were at the low end of the range and were not even in use.
Greenville Daily Advocate (Ohio), Sept 18, 2024
10 months ago
The number of Indiana counties with burn bans rose to 46, up from 26 the previous day.
WWBL-FM (Washington, Ind.), Sept 18, 2024
Twenty-six of Indiana’s 92 counties have burn bans due to the drought status and fire danger. Many of the counties with the bans were in the southern part of the state.
WWBL-FM (Washington, Ind.), Sept 17, 2024
There is a burn ban in Dubois County, Indiana including open burning except for campfires that are continuously attended. Campfires must be smaller than 48" in diameter and enclosed by a noncombustible barrier.
Dubois County Herald (Vincennes, IN), Sept. 4, 2024.
10 months ago
Conditions in South Texas remained favorable due to recent rains, leading to an improvement in overall rangeland and pasture conditions. Most of the district reported rainfall of 0.5–3 inches, while other areas reported no rain. Pastures and rangeland continued to improve in areas that received rain and decline in drier areas. Livestock were in good condition, but some producers with overgrazed pastures were supplementing with hay, cubes and tubs, as well as molasses, protein and mineral. Cattle prices declined due to heavier harvest weights and a large supply. Feed prices remained high at local feed stores. Local ranchers began planning for fall sales of their weaned calves as they prepared for deer season. Irrigated forage was making good quality hay, and producers were optimistic about a possible second or third cutting if they received rain. Hay producers were baling hay, with some applying fertilizer after the previous week’s rain. Pastures looked good with adequate rainfall. Most row crop farmers were busy doing fieldwork. Cotton defoliation started, and early planted cotton was harvested. Peanut crops continued to mature under irrigation and digging was expected to begin in the coming weeks. Bermuda grass hay fields were cut and baled. Sesame harvest started but most fields were still too wet. A few vegetable producers planted cool-season crops, and citrus trees were sprayed. With the cooler temperatures, wildlife became more active and remained in good quantity and decent quality, with strong populations of whitetail deer, quail, and other game for the upcoming hunting seasons.
AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 17, 2024
Scattered showers and thunderstorms were reported along with cooler or average temperatures. A large part of the district received between 0.5-4.5 inches of rain. Live Oak County received rainfall totals ranging from 0.3-4 inches, however McMullen, Duval and Hidalgo counties did not receive significant rainfall. Prior to the rain, conditions were extremely hot, with temperatures exceeding 105 degrees, and varying degrees of dryness and humidity. The rainfall improved conditions for pastures and crops. Sesame harvest was about 85% complete with above-average yields reported, while cotton harvest was approximately 90% complete. Cotton stalk destruction was underway, with the stalk destruction deadline of Sept. 15. Most cotton acres in other counties were harvested, with varying yields and quality; any remaining cotton likely dropped in quality and some was expected to be shredded. Citrus and vegetables continued to be irrigated. Peanut producers reduced irrigation as harvest neared. Producers were preparing fields for fall and winter crops. Fall corn was thriving with the recent rains. Forage production was up, and hay fields looked good. Hay producers were baling across the counties, and a surplus of hay was noted. Livestock were in good condition, though some producers remained concerned about stock tank levels and continued to supplement feed with hay and cubes. Cattle prices remained steady to lower while sale volumes were steady to higher at most markets. Livestock and wildlife conditions improved due to the rainfall and cooler temperatures. Ranchers and deer producers were supplementing livestock and wildlife, and dove populations were abundant in many areas.
AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 5, 2024
10 months ago
The Maumee River through Toledo was very dry with immense sand bars in the river. Under the Conant Street bridge, the foundation and water stain were showing.
WTOL 11 (Toledo, Ohio), Sept 17, 2024
10 months ago
Livestock producers in eastern Ohio were struggling to care for their animals amid the drought. Hay was in short supply, and water sources were running dry. Many farmers began hauling water in mid-July.
WTOV 9 FOX (Steubenville, Ohio), Sept 17, 2024
10 months ago
A fire restriction took effect for Dolly Sods Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest in the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District. It is prohibited to build, maintain, attend or use a wood or charcoal fire or campfire on all National Forest lands, roads and within the bounds of the Dolly Sods Wilderness. Firefighting is more complicated in Dolly Sods because it is a known unexploded ordinance area, further hampering firefighting tactics and endangering the welfare of the public and emergency responders.
Bluefield Daily Telegraph (W.V.), Sept 17, 2024
10 months ago
The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District was encouraging boat owners to plan to remove boats from Atwood Lake due to falling water levels due to drought. The lake was about a foot and a half below normal. Water sales at Atwood were reduced 75 percent just over two weeks ago, and then 100 percent as of last week.
“People that have been here a lot longer than I have said this is very close or akin to the 1988 drought,” stated the MWCD director.
WJER (Dover, Ohio), Sept 17, 2024
10 months ago
An open burn emergency took effect in unincorporated Vanderburgh County on Aug. 29. On Sept. 6, the ban was extended to Sept. 24 and also included Evansville.
Courier and Press (Evansville, Ind.), Sept. 6, 2024
10 months ago
The six mainstem power plants along the Upper Missouri River generated 912 million kilowatt hours of electricity in August, compared to typical energy generation in August of 1,007 million kWh. The power plants were projected to generate 8.1 billion kWh of electricity in 2024, compared to the long-term average of 9.4 billion kWh.
Billings Gazette (Mont.), Sept 11, 2024
10 months ago
A farm that sells produce in Killen closed temporarily due to drought, but would normally stay open through the end of September. The heat and drought took a toll on the pumpkin patch, okra, zucchini, cucumber and spring crops. The farm will reopen the first weekend in October.
WHNT News 19 (Huntsville, Ala.), Sept 4, 2024
10 months ago
Organic farmers in Hillsboro were already using their winter hay supply to feed their livestock as pastures dried up. Two streams have run dry. The farmer was praying for rain.
Some neighbors who were unable to locate hay or water for their herds were selling cattle. One cut his herd by 18%, while another reduced his herd by 27%.
WCPO-TV ABC 9 Cincinnati (Ohio), Sept 5, 2024
10 months ago
Some Tri-State farmers were harvesting crops early after the dry August weather. A Posey County, Indiana farmer noted that parts of fields had dried up and been dead since about June.
WFIE-TV NBC 14 Evansville (Ind.), Sept 10, 2024
10 months ago
Drought has affected all aspects of a Boone County farm. Hay fields and pastures were dry, and livestock were being fed hay rather than grazing on grass in the pasture. Hay cuttings have been reduced in the number of rolls of hay produced. The pumpkin patch was growing slowly and not yielding pumpkins as it usually does. Pumpkins will likely have to be purchased from elsewhere.
WLWT-TV NBC 5 Cincinnati (Ohio), Sept 11, 2024
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