Drought

Soybean yields in parts of Wisconsin were lower due to lack of rain and pods not filling out completely. Farmers were harvesting at lower moisture levels due to dry conditions, which is affecting yields. Successful Farming (Des Moines, Iowa), Oct 11, 2024

The open burning ban for 44 counties in Ohio was lifted after rainfall and cooler fall temperatures set in. The ban began on Sept. 6. Dayton Daily News (Ohio), Oct 12, 2024 Burn bans have been put in place in Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Fairfield, Fayette, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington counties in Ohio. 10TV (Columbus, Ohio), Sept. 6, 2024.

After two months of below normal rainfall, a Level 1-Mild Drought was declared in the Central and Northeast Regions of Massachusetts. Additionally, a localized Level 1-Mild Drought was declared in the Boston Harbor Basin (partially in the Northeast and Southeast Regions) and the Hudson Basin (in the northern part of the Western Region). Due to critically low flow conditions, a localized Level-1 Mild Drought declaration remains in the Parker River Basin. Mass.gov (Boston, Mass.), Oct 11, 2024 A localized Level-1 Mild Drought was declared in the Parker River Basin after a review of July conditions including data showing localized critically low flow conditions. All other areas in the Northeast region remain normal. A Level 1-Mild Drought, as outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, requires detailed monitoring of drought conditions, close coordination among state and federal agencies, and technical outreach and assistance to the affected municipalities. Mass.gov Energy and Environmental Affairs (Boston), Aug 13, 2024

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly approved updates to drought declarations for counties as drought persists in the Sunflower State. “While drought conditions have improved in some areas of the state, many counties continue to be negatively impacted by the decline in water supply or strains on water resources,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I strongly encourage all Kansans to continue to conserve water over the summer months.” The drought declaration recognized four counties as being in emergency status, 35 in warning status, and 66 in watch status. The counties in a drought emergency are Hodgeman, Ness, Pawnee, and Rush. Those in a drought warning are Barber, Barton, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Harper, Harvey, Haskell, Kearny, Kingman, Kiowa, Lane, McPherson, Meade, Morton, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Russell, Scott, Sedgwick, Seward, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Sumner, and Wichita.

Pettisville Grain Company has made an estimated 75% of their normal business revenue due to drought. WTVG TV 13 (Toledo, Ohio), Oct 11, 2024

Dry, windy conditions have South Dakota firefighters reminding the public to be cautious with fires outdoors so harvest activities and the opening of pheasant season do not spark fires. KSFY-TV ABC 13 Sioux City (S.D.), Oct 13, 2024

The Wisconsin DNR reinstated burning permits by issuing a Special Fire Order in 13 Wisconsin counties due to prolonged drought conditions and the potential for elevated fire danger during the fall. The permit reinstatement began on Tuesday, Oct. 15, in designated DNR protection areas. The permit reinstatement applied to the following 13 extensive DNR protection area counties outside incorporated cities and villages: all of Columbia, Crawford, Green Lake, Marquette, Portage, Richland, Sauk, Waupaca, and Waushara counties, as well as in portions of Oconto, Dane, Grant, and Iowa counties. WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau (Wis.), Oct 14, 2024

Burning permits were not being issued in Wisconsin due to more than two-thirds of the counties in the state being in the high or very high danger categories. On Oct. 8, a wildfire burned 26 acres in a national forest in Oconto County. An Adams County wildfire recently charred 6.5 acres. The Sturgeon Bay Fire Department issued a burn ban. WLUK FOX 11 Green Bay (Wis.), Oct 11, 2024

The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District issued a complete fire ban on all Wildlife Management Areas due to severe drought. Effective immediately, all outdoor burning activities, including but not limited to campfires, bonfires, and cooking fires, are prohibited. KLIN (Lincoln, Neb.), Oct 11, 2024

After a third wildfire was found in the Superior National Forest, a campfire ban was expanded to cover the entire forest. The Minnesota Star Tribune (Minneapolis), Oct 11, 2024

Grain yields in southeastern Ohio were significantly affected by drought conditions, especially the soybeans. The quality has been adversely affected. Some soybean pods have broken open and spilled seeds onto the ground. Elsewhere, pods have cracked open, allowing moisture to get inside and cause the seeds to sprout. Cleveland.com (Ohio), Oct 10, 2024

Some apple orchards and farms in central Ohio where the public can pick their own apples were closing earlier than usual after drought reduced apple production or led to early picking. Some of the apples were smaller than usual from having inadequate water. The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio), Oct 9, 2024

Sunflowers at a farm near Cassville suffered from the lack of rain and only reached two to three feet in height. The farm usually stays open in the fall until the first frost or until Halloween, but drought prompted the farm owner to close early as weeds grew better than some other things. OzarksFirst (Springfield, Mo.), Oct 8, 2024

Part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area was closed due to a wildfire. The Sioux Hustler Trail loop and campsites on Agawato Lake and Shell Lake were included in the closure order. Much of northern Minnesota was affected by drought, and several human-caused wildfires have burned recently. 979WEVE (Hibbing, Minn.), Oct 9, 2024

After the driest September on record in Iowa, plenty of soybeans and corn have been harvested. Forty-six counties have enacted burn bans as the dry conditions increase the fire risk. Several combine and equipment fires were reported. Iowa Capital Dispatch (Des Moines), Oct 7, 2024

The drought has affected West Virginia’s deer. The deer’s food sources have been limited, so they may not all be getting adequate nutrition. Some deer may be smaller or have underdeveloped antlers this season. Deer may be thinner than usual, especially the females that have been producing milk for their young. Drought can also make disease outbreaks more likely. Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is a disease that sometimes occurs in drought conditions. Instances of it have already been confirmed in three counties in north-central West Virginia. WV News (Clarksburg, W.V.), Oct 8, 2024

The Silver Mountain Fire burned 25 acres after sparking on October 3. The southwestern part of South Dakota was dry, and there was no precipitation in the forecast for the next two weeks, so the public was advised to avoid activities like smoking outside, starting campfires and shooting firearms when it’s dry and windy. KOTA-TV ABC 3 (Rapid City, S.D.), Oct 7, 2024

Enon’s 44th annual Apple Butter Festival will take place on October 12 and 13. Due to the drought conditions, open fires are not permitted. So, the apple butter will be cooked over propane burners instead of over open fires as is traditionally done at the festival. Springfield News-Sun (Ohio), Oct 8, 2024

The Nebraska Game and Parks implemented a temporary ban on campfires at all Nebraska state park areas and wildlife management areas until further notice due to the dry conditions. Camp stoves using liquid or gas fuel were allowed. News Channel Nebraska (Grand Island), Oct 4, 2024

Wildfires driven by extremely strong winds in drought-affected areas of western North Dakota burned large areas of oil fields, agricultural land, grassland and Badlands terrain. One person died and more than 100 people had to evacuate. The Elkhorn Fire near Grassy Butte charred 44 square miles and was 20% contained. The Bear Den Fire near Mandaree blackened 18 square miles and was zero percent contained. Downed power lines sparked some of the fires. The North Dakota Forest Service responded to 33 fires that burned 77 square miles over the weekend. That count does not include the massive Ray-, Tioga- and Alamo-area fires that grew into one huge conflagration. Livestock were lost in the fires, but it was not yet clear how many. The Associated Press, Oct 7, 2024