Drought

Grasslands were dry in Custer State Park, increasing the fire danger and depleting water supplies. Park officials monitor forage conditions very carefully to make sure there is enough and move the buffalo as needed to avoid the grass getting too thin. KOTA-TV ABC 3 (Rapid City, S.D.), Sept 27, 2024

Kentucky’s Level 1 Drought Declarations for all counties was lifted due to rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. WNKY-TV (Bowling Green, Ky.), Oct 3, 2024 The Office of the State Climatologist and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, in coordination with the Kentucky Drought Mitigation Team, have issued a Level 1 Drought Declaration for the commonwealth. The parts of the state most affected are portions of Western and Central Kentucky and parts of the Bluegrass region. TristateHomepage.com (Evansville, Ind.), Sept 23, 2024

A number of counties in northwest Arkansas have burn bans as drought affects the region. The five counties were Carroll, Johnson, Logan, Madison and Yell. KNWA-TV (Fayetteville, Ark.), Oct 2, 2024

A Hays County judge enacted a burn ban for the county on September 27 at the recommendation of the fire marshal due to drought. MySA (San Antonio, Texas), Sept 30, 2024

Fires and campfires within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness were restricted as of Tuesday, October 1 due to dry conditions. Visitors to the BWCAW may not ignite, build, maintain, attend or use a fire or campfire in an effort to lower the chances of a wildfire. KARE 11 (Minneapolis, Minn.), Sept 30, 2024

Water conservation was urged in New Hampshire since flash drought had developed. WMUR-TV ABC 9 (Manchester, N.H.), Sept 27, 2024

Nebraska City has a burn ban in effect until there is significant rainfall. The fire chief stated that it is too dry to issue burn permits. News Channel Nebraska (Grand Island), Sept 27, 2024

At Cheat Lake, marinas were mostly empty, and stranded boats dotted the muddy lakebed as water levels dipped too low for the boats to be moved. The Dominion Post (Morgantown, W.V.), Sept 24, 2024

Grass stopped growing during the summer in Jackson County. To sustain the cattle, a farmer was using his corn as feed for the livestock and was hauling hundreds of gallons of water daily. The hay can be used to feed the cattle during the winter. Springs, wells and creeks in the county have gone dry, particularly in the northern part of Jackson County near Ripley and Evans. Farmers were buying bulk water for their livestock. The Northern Jackson County Public Service District in Sandyville has had a 116% increase in water sales this summer compared to summer 2023. Some cattle producers were selling their animals at the market in Fairplain because they don’t have hay or water for them. The lack of grass led a cattle producer to begin feeding hay in July. Deer were eating more crops than usual as drought reduced the normal supply of food and water. West Virginia Watch (Charleston, W.V.), Sept 27, 2024

Seneca County area soybean growers have had yields ranging from 25 bushels per acre up to 80 bpa. Many of the beans were from pods that had just two beans, flat pods or very small beans. A corn and soybean farmer in Preble County has seen soybean yields of 70 to 82 bpa. The beans are really dry, about 6% to 7% moisture. The corn harvest has not yet begun, but ears filled out completely and look good. Clark County has been very dry for about six weeks until the week of September 22. Prior to the rain, conditions were so dry that field fires and combine fires were a problem. The corn and soybean harvests were underway with the corn yields down about 10% and the soybean yield was down about 20%. Moisture levels were unusually low at 12% to 13% for corn and 7% to 9% for soybeans. Drought cost the farmer on yield and the dryness of the soybeans will cost him about $30 to $35 per acre. Corn and soybean harvests in Pickaway County were yielding 100 bpa, compared to a normal yield of 175 bpa or more, and 25 to 30 bpa, compared to 55 bpa or more, respectively. Just two inches of rain have fallen since planting. SF| Successful Farming (Des Moines, Iowa), Sept 25, 2024

The Highland County Board of Commissioners declared a State of Emergency due to drought. If state funds become available, the county must declare a state of emergency to be eligible. Hillsboro has about 70 days’ worth of water remaining. The valve to Highland County Water was opened on Monday, Sept. 23. Crop yields were down substantially. One farmer’s soybeans produced about half of normal. Some farmers have gotten even less. Some domestic and livestock wells have run dry. The Times-Gazette (Hillsboro, Ohio), Sept 25, 2024

Some boat owners in Ohio were warned to remove their boats from the water early as drought has lowered lake levels. The owner of a boat sales, service and storage facility has urged customers to take their vessels out of Tappan and Seneca lakes early. Some people with cottages and private docks at Leesville Lake have also been advised to remove their boats before the low water level leaves them stuck in the lake during winter. The Daily Jeff (Cambridge, Ohio), Sept 25, 2024

The 2024 growing season was good for many Texas pumpkin producers, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert and pumpkin farmers. Yields and quality were mostly better than in 2023. This year’s pumpkin yields were below average but were better than the previous year when output was down 20% to 40% on average due to drought. The dry weather and extreme heat left the pumpkins slightly smaller than average. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 24, 2024

Derby remained in stage 2 drought restrictions since August 5 as Cheney Reservoir was low. The aim was to have customers conserve 10% of normal water use in August and September, but the public was very responsive to the call for water conservation and curbed their use by more than 40%. KWCH 12 (Wichita, Kan.), Sept 25, 2024 Water users in Derby have reduced their water consumption by 44% in the first two weeks of mandatory water restrictions. KWCH 12 (Wichita, Kansas), Aug 20, 2024

Officials in Edinburg issued a city ordinance to limit car washes to conserve water and encourage sustainability. Water levels in the Rio Grande Valley were at a historical low, prompting local leaders to declare emergency orders amid the ongoing drought. Brownsville issued a city ordinance in April restricting new car washes from being built within five miles of each other. ValleyCentral.com (Brownsville, Texas), Sept 24, 2024

Drought has killed trees, shrubs and other plants in Chattanooga due to insufficient water. Trees are turning color early in northeast Tennessee. Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tenn.), Sept 22, 2024

Pumpkins growers in southwest Ohio grew plenty of pumpkins, but they are smaller, due to drought. The pumpkins hold less water this year, so they will weigh less and cost less. WXIX-TV FOX 19 Cincinnati (Ohio), Sept 20, 2024

At least 11 West Virginia counties have issued burn bans, due to the drought and heightened fire danger. The sheriff’s office relies on citizens to notice violators and report fires. Fines can range from $100 to $1,200. WCHS-TV ABC 8 (Charleston, W.V.),Sept 24, 2024

A Hartselle farm opened for fall activities, but drought hindered the growth of the sugarcane for the maze, so they made a hay bale maze instead. The pumpkins did not grow well, so they borrowed some from nearby farms. WHNT News 19 (Huntsville, Ala.), Sept 21, 2024

The pumpkins at The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson’s historic home in Nashville, were growing, thanks to irrigation amid the drought. Then hungry deer came and devoured the pumpkins and corn. Officials with The Hermitage sought to buy pumpkins from elsewhere so they could still have a pumpkin carving event, but, finding none to purchase, the event was cancelled. Eventually, 100 pumpkins were donated so the event could go on. Similarly, the deer devastated the cotton crops in 2023. News Channel 5 Nashville (Tenn.), Sept 23, 2024