Drought

There have been multiple grass fires over the past week in northern Alabama near Decatur. The fires are due in part to the dry weather, as the region is under a severe drought. WAFF News (Huntsville, Alabama), Sept. 5, 2024.

A burn ban has been put in place in Livingston county, Kentucky, to reduce the risk of wildfires. The ban will be in place until further notice. WPSD 6 (Paducah, Kentucky), Sept. 3, 2024.

A burn ban has been put in place in Lafayette County, Miss., due to high risk of wildfires during the current drought. Fox13 Memphis (Memphis, Tenn.), Sept. 4, 2024.

The biggest drought impact that an extension agent for Greene County has observed is the lack of pasture for cattle. Farmers were feeding hay reserves meant to be fed during the winter “We’ve seen a great decreasing availability of forage or grass for both hay and grazing,” Orr said. “We got really short on pasture there for a while, and typically, we see the drought impacts more in that geographical area due to soil types.” WJHL TV 11 (Johnson City, Tenn.), Aug 29, 2024

A grass fire in Henderson County was caused by a tire that fell off a semitruck. The southern part of the area was in severe drought conditions. The Henderson County Fire Department continued to discourage any outdoor burning, warning that violations can be costly. NBC39 (Jackson, Tenn.), Aug 29, 2024

Record heat over the summer and the lack of rainfall led officials to put in place Stage 1 fire restrictions for the Carson and Bridgeport ranger districts in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Summer was the sixth driest on record for Minden with data dating back to 1906. The only measurable precipitation since May 15 was 0.02 inches that was received on Aug. 4. The Record-Courier (Minden, Nev.), Aug 29, 2024

Some boat owners were alerted that vessels moored in certain seasonal slips in Summerville Lake Marina must be removed by Wednesday, August 28 or the boats may become stuck in the dock area. The Army Corps of Engineers was releasing water from the lake to maintain water quality below the lake. WCHS-TV (Charleston, W.V.), Aug 28, 2024

Heat and drought prompted several Tennessee cities to enact outdoor burn bans to reduce the likelihood of fires. Cities with bans included La Vergne, Murfreesboro, Gallatin, Brentwood, Hendersonville, Dickson and Nashville. NewsChannel 5 Nashville (Tenn.), Aug 29, 2024 The Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department's fire marshal put a mandatory ban on burning in the city limits until further notice. The ban was in response to drought and dry vegetation. WGNS 1450-AM & 101.9 100.5-FM (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Aug 29, 2024

Apple trees in a Marietta orchard were dropping their fruit from the lack of rain. The fallen apples were green, but trees typically drop ripe or rotten fruit. The Marietta Times (Ohio), Aug 28, 2024

The Morgan County commission declared a state of emergency for the county on August 26. Agriculture is a primary industry, and drought will affect the economic health of the county. The Marietta Times (Ohio), Aug 28, 2024

Cattle farmers in Wood County were feeding their livestock hay because pasture grass was not growing well. There was only a first cutting of hay, but no second cutting. The demand for hay was high because many were feeding cattle, which has led to hay shortages in the region and hay being imported from other states. Some were also buying and hauling water for livestock as springs and creeks have gone dry. The Marietta Times (Ohio), Aug 28, 2024

Fields of corn and soybeans in the Williamsport area were yellow and dry. The farmer thinks that he will be lucky if he gets half a crop. WKRN.com (Nashville, Tenn.), Aug 28, 2024

Union Parish enacted a burn ban until further notice as moderate drought took hold in the area. NOLA.com (New Orleans, La.), Aug 28, 2024

Drought has elevated the fire danger across Mississippi, leading to higher fire activity. A massive wildfire was burning in Webster County after fire fighters responded to a 25-acre wildfire the previous day. The Kilmichael Volunteer Fire Department in Montgomery County has responded to eight fires in two days, compared to an average of one or two per month. Ackerman and Coffeeville have issued burn bans within their city limits to reduce the likelihood of additional fires. WTVA (Tupelo, Miss.), Aug 26, 2024 Mississippi typically has a dry late summer period and has had an uptick in fire activity. Since Friday, August 16, there have been nearly 68 wildfires. The Mississippi Forestry Commission has begun receiving requests for burn bans across the state. Adams County was under a burn ban. WJTV TV 12 (Jackson, Miss.), Aug 22, 2024

Rice harvest was underway in Southeast Texas, and lots of hay was being bailed. Some counties reported good rainfall while others did not receive any, but rain was in the forecast for the district. Livestock were in fair condition. The lack of rain and drier conditions allowed hay fields to be harvested. Grasshoppers were showing up in several locations. Row crops were on schedule but were starting to show stress due to lack of moisture. Corn harvest was underway, and yields were good. Cotton bolls were starting to open, and the sorghum harvest was wrapping up. Producers were making a third cutting of hay. Despite the heat, pastures and ponds were looking good. Rangeland and pasture ratings varied from poor to excellent while soil moisture levels were very short to adequate. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 27, 2024

The public was asked by the Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency director to avoid outdoor burning until the area receives some rain. He noted the extremely dangerous conditions in northwest Alabama with the extreme heat and low humidity. Times Daily (Florence, Ala.), Aug 27, 2024

A Wellsburg farmer has been irrigating almost nonstop to keep his strawberries, tomatoes and green beans alive and producing. He still lost 80% of his green beans, and the potatoes were “about 50 to 60% less than anticipated,” and smaller, too. Overall crop production was less than normal and the produce was smaller. The sweet corn will not survive the dry summer, and the pumpkins were losing the battle, as well. The soil was a fine powder like baby powder and rose in a cloud when stirred up while tilling. No field preparation was being done because it was so dry. Employees spent their time moving pipes to irrigate crops. The drought and heat will likely put a damper on the corn maze and pumpkin patch. The corn ought to be about three to four feet tall, but was barely a foot in height. The landscape was not as scenic as usual, either. Visitors came out to photograph flowers, but the farmer described the scene at “bleak” and “dismal.” Several fields that were seeded with winter crops had not germinated due to the lack of water. The ground was bare. A beekeeper has been providing sugar water for his bees to compensate for the decreased nectar, due to drought. He estimated that he has already used nearly 600 pounds of sugar and does not expect to harvest much honey in the fall. The beekeeper has also noticed more yellow jackets and deer this year. Deer usually graze new clover, but were gravitating toward other vegetation. The farmer’s garden is protected by an electric fence, which did not shock the deer because the ground was too dry. Overall, farm produce was about 50% of normal. The Wheeling Intelligencer (W.V.), Aug 27, 2024

Extremely dry and sweltering conditions persisted across the Rolling Plains. A wide-spread rain would help reduce the wildfire risk, which remains exceptionally high with dried pasture grasses in the entire district. Most producers are having to supplement cattle with hay. Grasshoppers continued to plague everyone and were eating anything green. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 27, 2024 The Rolling Plains experienced an unseasonable cold front that brought some relief, but conditions were still dry. Irrigated cotton and corn looked favorable, but dryland crops were struggling. Livestock water sources and pasture quality were deteriorating, and producers in many areas were starting to supplement their herds. Grasshoppers remained a problem. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 13, 2024

Hot, dry weather continued in the Coastal Bend with no significant rain, leading to declining topsoil and subsoil moisture. Corn and rice harvests were nearly complete, with corn yields ranging from 130-150 bushels per acre. Cotton harvest was 95% finished, with some areas delayed by rain. Hay fields were being cut and baled, but the harvest slowed due to dry conditions. Pastures were deteriorating and browning without rain. Pecan trees were shedding nut clusters prematurely. Livestock remained in good condition despite the dry weather. Cattle prices were holding steady at historic highs. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 27, 2024 Hot and humid conditions continued in the Coastal Bend with little to no rain forecasted. Hay baling continued with good yields reported. Cotton harvest was nearly complete, and producers were optimistic despite lower commodity prices. Corn harvest continued while rice harvest was beginning. Range and pasture conditions were declining with grasses showing signs of drought stress. Pecan trees were shedding nuts. Livestock were doing well and benefiting from recent moisture. Cattle prices remained high, but lower inventories were beginning to slow market prices. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 13, 2024

Conditions in South Texas were hot and dry, with some areas experiencing humidity, windy conditions or occasional spotty showers. Extremely hot temperatures ranging from 100-110 daily and no rainfall were taking a toll on rangeland and pasture conditions. Cotton harvest continued for producers who decided fields were worth harvesting. Others were shredding and plowing their cotton. Poor lint quality led to about one-third of the acres being harvested and two-thirds being shredded. Drier pastures resulted in a high fire risk. All grain crops were harvested, and farmers should wrap up the cotton harvest soon. Citrus was being irrigated and sprayed for insects, but trees were showing signs of heat and drought stress. The persistent dry weather reduced forage availability. Some ranchers were reducing stocking rates to prevent further degradation of rangelands. Many woody species, like mesquite, were thriving due to the drought. Supplemental feeding of tubs, molasses/protein/minerals was necessary. Hay cutting and bailing continued. Planting was underway for fall vegetable crops, and farmers were beginning to prepare fields for winter crops. Livestock water remained critical for producers who rely on stock tanks. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions declined due to the excessive heat. Producers were providing water for their ponds to help wildlife. Beef cattle prices remained very high. Local markets were reporting an uptick in sale numbers compared to last month, with prices remaining steady and strong for all classes of beef cattle. Wildlife seemed to be doing well despite the heat and drought. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 27, 2024 Very hot and dry conditions were reported in South Texas with most areas averaging in the low 100s. Corn and sorghum harvests were complete with cotton harvest nearing completion. Spinach was planted. Sesame and citrus crops were in good condition, and hay yields were average. Peanut crops were in good condition with some fields already in the pegging stage. Soil moisture conditions ranged from short to adequate while pasture conditions were poor to fair. Supplemental feeding and access to water was crucial for livestock during the hot conditions, but overall livestock conditions were good. Cattle prices were strong in most areas. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 13, 2024