Drought

Drought in Ohio has led to the early harvest of withered crops was wiping out hay and feed reserves intended to be fed to livestock through the winter. Hundreds of worried farmers have contacted the Ohio Farm Bureau about keeping their animals fed through the winter. Because some springs have gone dry, some farmers were hauling water for their livestock. Precipitation was ample in April, but has been below normal since then, making it a challenge to grow crops. Corn that would normally be harvested at the end of September was already being harvested. The past four dry months have stressed crops to the extent that they stopped growing and instead developed their seed so the plant could germinate in the spring. An early harvest means that yields will be lower than desired. Zanesville Times Recorder (Ohio), Sept 10, 2024

The toe of the saltwater wedge in the Mississippi River was anticipated to reach River Mile 80 above Head of Passes within the next 28 days, which triggers the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin building the underwater sill that will slow the movement of saltwater upstream. The sill will be located near Myrtle Grove, Louisiana. The Corps built a similar underwater sill in 1988, 1999, 2012, 2022 and 2023. US Army Corps of Engineers (Baltimore, Md.), Aug 29, 2024

The lack of rain has allowed water levels on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to fall, which affects businesses that transport products via the rivers. Fishermen have found some spots inaccessible along the Ohio River. Boats can also become stuck and may be difficult to free. Lower water levels on the Ohio River may mean fewer boats visiting the Golcanda Marina. WSIL- TV ABC 3 (Carterville, Ill.), Sept 4, 2024

The corn maze at a ranch in Hondo was ruined by drought as the rancher’s wells did not contain enough water to support the underground drip irrigation system. Other fall festivities will still be held at the ranch from September 14 through November 23. KSAT 12 (San Antonio, Texas), Sept 9, 2024

Ohioans were urged by the Division of State Fire Marshal, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry and the Wayne National Forest to take special precautions with fire outdoors, due to the dry weather, whether they were in a county impacted by the ban on open burning or not. Times Reporter (New Philadelphia, Ohio), Sept 9, 2024

Drought can be very stressful for farmers who must manage their farms differently, working harder to make sure livestock are cared for adequately and crops are irrigated. Sometimes farmers must make difficult decisions about selling livestock. The challenges of managing a farm during drought can cause an increase in stress and anxiety, so a Hillsboro farmer is reaching out to others to spread awareness about mental health. WSYX-TV (Columbus, Ohio), Sept 5, 2024

Canyon Lake has been closed to all watercraft so the water can be used against the First Thunder Fire. Houses in the area are under watch for evacuation. KFYR TV (Bismarck, North Dakota), Sept. 3, 2024.

Nonessential water use has been banned between 9am and 5pm in the town of Northampton, Massachusetts. Outdoor water use is not restricted between 5pm and 9am.

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