Drought

A cannabis grower in South Hero noted that the hot, dry days have lessened the need to prune the crop and the plants were growing faster. While the farm does have irrigation, rainfall was the main source of moisture for the plants. Some strains of cannabis appeared to be stressed for lack of water. WPTZ NBC5 Burlington (Vt.), Aug 15, 2025

A Cumberland County farmer has run his irrigation system almost daily since mid-July, which is a large additional expense while the yield was looking to be smaller than usual. Irrigating is also a lot of extra work for the farmer. WMTW-TV ABC 8 (Portland, Maine), Aug 14, 2025

A Yakima County dairy farmer was concerned about irrigation water as the Roza Irrigation District was providing just 42% of a full allotment in 2025. Snow melted quickly in the spring. The farmer opted to leave about a third of his land unplanted due to the lack of water. Consequently, he has to purchase more feed for his cattle. Area reservoirs were near record lows. KREM-TV CBS 2 (Spokane, Wash.), Aug 14, 2025

After 16 days of 90-degree temperatures in the greater Grand Rapids area, a lawn and landscaping business in Holland has reported that business was slow due to the weather. In Holland, precipitation this summer has amounted to 2.98 inches, which is less than one-third of normal. Some lawns have not needed weekly mowing and can be mowed every other week. FOX 17 (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Aug 17, 2025

Plants like blueberries and other fruits have dried up or were dying due to drought. Maine farmers have had to choose how to use short water supplies, which crops to irrigate and which to let die. Potato growers in Aroostook County were said to be irrigating their crop nonstop during a stage of critical growth. Farms lacking irrigation for their potatoes were losing the crop. A vegetable grower in Harpswell in Cumberland County was watering strategically and allowing some plants to die rather than stress her well and cause it to run dry. WGAN-AM (South Portland, Maine), Aug 16, 2025 An Aroostook County gardener was hauling water from a river to part of her garden but allowed some plants to die. Bangor Daily News (Maine), Aug 16, 2025

Late summer dry conditions have led to burn bans in Independence, Cleburne, Fulton, Izard, Sharp and White counties. All outdoor burning was discouraged. White River Now (Batesville, Ark.), Aug 18, 2025 Some Arkansas counties had burn bans in effect as vegetation dried out. Some of these counties were Prairie, Arkansas, Desha, Lincoln, Drew, and Ashley. KARK (Little Rock, Ark.), Aug 15, 2025

Blueberries grown in Holland were smaller and sweeter this year after an extremely hot, dry summer. Another factor in the smaller berry crop was that after the cool, dry spring, pollination was off as the bees stayed in their hives for more than a week. WZZM-TV Grand Rapids 13 (Mich.), Aug 12, 2025

Water customers in Portsmouth were urged to adopt “water use efficiency measures” as little rain has fallen since May. The ongoing hot, dry conditions have driven up water use by about 5% above the July average. The public was asked to curb outdoor watering and voluntarily restrict outdoor water use between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. Seacoast Online (Portsmouth, N.H.), Aug 15, 2025

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday, august 14 issued a broad emergency declaration due to multiple wildfires burning on the Western Slope and the risk of new fires as dangerous weather conditions were expected to persist in coming weeks. The order authorized the Colorado National Guard to assist in fire suppression efforts when requested by the state Department of Public Safety. It also directed additional state funds to replenish the Wildfire Emergency Response Fund, which reimburses local agencies for early firefighting efforts and was nearly depleted by the active 2025 fire season. Colorado Newsline (Denver), Aug 15, 2025

The Maine Forest Service has temporarily suspended issuing any new burn permits to reduce the risk from escaped burns. The state’s online system has been shut down until conditions improve, and local Town Wardens were encouraged to withhold written burn permits until conditions improve. Boothbay Register (Maine), Aug 15, 2025

Officials in Essex County, New York issued a local state of emergency due to persistent dry conditions and a spate of grass fires in the area. The state of emergency took effect on Tuesday, August 12 and will continue through Thursday, September 11. During the state of emergency, a burn ban was in effect countywide to prevent fires from starting. The burn ban supersedes all burning permits and will last until Aug. 17 at noon. WPTZ NBC5 Burlington (Vt.), Aug 13, 2025

Some corn in Guadalupe County reached two to three feet in height before drying up and dying in the intense May heat. Some of the later planted corn was expected to have low yields. Texas Farm Bureau (Waco, Texas), Aug 15, 2025

A number of towns and cities across Vermont have implemented burn bans as the fire danger was high to very high statewide. Some of those communities were Montpelier, St. Johnsbury, Chester, and Stowe. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation has issued an order for all of the state’s forest fire wardens to cease issuing burning permits until further notice, according to the Town of Wallingford. The Town of Essex was not issuing burn permits due to the dry conditions and absence of rain in the forecast. MyChamplainValley.com (Burlington, Vt.), Aug 11, 2025

Trees in the Holland area across the lakeshore had brown and yellow leaves and were shedding them earlier than usual due to the lack of rain since May. WZZM-TV Grand Rapids 13 (Mich.), Aug 14, 2025

Residents in Elizabethville who receive water from Elizabethville Area Authority were urged to voluntarily conserve water as rainfall has been at a record low in the past few weeks. Servers in restaurants were asking customers if they would like a glass a water rather than just bringing it. Residents of Lykens and Wiconisco were also urged to curb their water use. FOX 43 (York, Pa.), Aug 14, 2025

Drought has elevated the fire danger in Washington. Four uncontained fires continued to burn with the Pomas and the Bear Creek fires each charring about 4,000 acres. Recreationists were asked to be conscientious while outdoors. KIRO-TV CBS 7 (Seattle, Wash.), Aug 10, 2025

The Wahweap Main Launch Ramp in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area at Lake Powell will be closed on Monday, August 18 due to low water levels due to drought in and around southern Utah. All other services at the Wahweap location and the courtesy dock will remain open. The Rainbow Bridge dock will be moved to deeper water on Monday, August 25. FOX 13 (Salt Lake City, Utah), Aug 14, 2025

The Seneca County Health Department issued a water conservation order for the village of Interlaken due to the continued warm, dry weather. The recent dry weather lowered the water level in the village’s water supply well, straining the system. Consequently, the Seneca County Health Department and the Village of Interlaken Department of Public Works issued a conservation order for all those using village water, effective immediately and to remain in effect until further notice. Finger Lakes Times (Geneva, N.Y.), Aug 14, 2025

Hot, dry conditions prevailed across Central Texas with moderate drought developing in some counties. Corn and grain sorghum harvests were in full swing with above-average yields ranging from 120-188 bushels per acre for corn and 5,000-7,000 pounds per acre for sorghum. Cotton matured well with bolls opening. Hay cutting continued with good tonnage reported. Armyworms were reported in areas that received moisture, and there was some heavy weed growth in mature corn fields. Scattered rain showers midweek provided brief relief and benefited forage. Pastures showed signs of stress from high temperatures and lack of moisture, with forage quality was beginning to decline. Stock tanks remained full from early summer rainfall. Livestock remained in good condition on pastures despite heat stress concerns. Cattle markets were holding extremely strong, but grain and cotton markets continued to struggle. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 12, 2025

Conditions were hot and dry, and all of West Central Texas needed rain. Temperatures were in the mid-90s to 100-plus degrees daily. Topsoil moisture was declining quickly. River bottoms continued to dry and become more accessible. Producers were cleaning debris and rebuilding fences. Hay producers were cutting and baling, and yields were expected to be good, but quality may be lower due to maturity of fields. Burn bans were in effect for some counties. Sheep and goat producers were treating internal parasites due to wet July conditions. Some field preparations for fall planting of small grains was underway. All row crops showed moisture and heat stress. Cotton and grain sorghum mostly looked fair to good. Many cotton fields need moisture soon. Sorghum was maturing quickly with harvest underway in earlier planted fields. Pasture and rangeland growth slowed. Grasshoppers were becoming a problem in some pastures. Livestock were in fair to good condition, and water sources were in good shape. Cattle gains were slowing due to declining forages and heat. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 12, 2025