Drought

Irrigation allows a nursery in Jefferson County to water crops with 25,000 to 30,000 gallons of water daily. Without the irrigation, the drought would have shut them down. WV Public Broadcasting (Charleston, W.V.), July 30, 2024

Frederick County residents were urged by the Director of the County’s Division of Energy and the Environment to voluntarily conserve water since the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments issued a drought watch on July 29. WFMD-AM (Frederick, Md.), July 31, 2024

As drought has dried up ponds and streams in Somerset County, the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department was offering to refill ponds that were low so farmers would have water for their livestock. The water would be taken from Rhoads Creek in Shanksville. Crops were also suffering from the lack of rain. WJAC (Johnstown, Pa.), July 30, 2024

Tree leaves were turning brown, and vegetation was affected by drought in West Virginia’s highlands region and mountains in the Eastern Panhandle. The Exponent Telegram (Clarksburg, W.V.), July 31, 2024

Water use in Conemaugh Township was limited to 40 gallons per person daily, and businesses were asked to curb their water use by at least 25% of the previous amount. Mandatory water restrictions took effect when the water level dropped to six feet below the spillway. WWCP-TV (Johnstown, Pa.), July 31, 2024

The low level of Cheney Lake has made it difficult to launch boats and get them out of the lake. The east ramp was the only one able to be used, but will no longer be useable if the water level drops another half to three-quarters of a foot. The water was already too low to remove some of the boats in the marina, so they will have to remain in the water until the lake level rises. KWCH 12 (Wichita, Kan.), July 30, 2024

Crops on a farm near Lowell were watered at least 5 to 6 hours per day amid the drought and heat. Irrigation drives up the cost of growing produce. WTAP (Parkersburg, W.V.), July 30, 2024

Sunflowers at a berry farm in Alderson have been planted for the fourth time with the hope of growing them for a sunflower festival in September. Drought forced the farmers to shift the festival dates and use their own pond, well and irrigation system to water the crops. WCHS-TV ABC 8 (Charleston, W.V.), July 30, 2024

This is the second consecutive summer of drought conditions for Augusta County farmers. The dryness started earlier this year than in 2023, leaving the corn stalks brown and burnt-looking. The farmer estimated yield losses of 50% to 70%. WVIR-TV NBC29 (Charlottesville, Va.), July 30, 2024

Stage 1 Fire Restriction began Tuesday, July 30, due to the rapidly drying wildland fuels in Nebraska and predicted hot, dry weather. The restricted areas included Wall, Fall River and Pine Ridge Ranger Districts. The restrictions will remain in effect until conditions improve significantly to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires. KNOP News 2 (North Platte, Neb.), July 29, 2024

A farmer near Wellsburg in Brooke County was using municipal water to irrigate his crops because his own drip irrigation was not delivering enough water to the crops. Five or more water lines were running continuously to sustain the crops, which may increase his water bill many times above the $100 that he usually pays. Crops that cannot be irrigated, like pumpkins, were succumbing to the drought and heat. The corn was just half of its usual height. The green beans were dying, and the potato crop yielded less than half of normal. When drought effects began about six weeks ago, the farmer and his employees began moving irrigation lines, which added as much as two hours per day of additional labor. While the drought and heat were hurting crops, large numbers of hungry wildlife were damaging crops as they satisfied their hunger by feasting on corn and green beans to an extent that farmers have not seen before. Some Brooke County livestock producers have opted to sell cattle because they did not have enough hay to feed their animals through the coming winter. The farmer has raised his prices for strawberries, raspberries and corn as yields were low. He was short on many types of produce. Fall activities will also feel the effects of the hot, dry summer. A giant pumpkin patch was wilting and dying, and the corn maze will not be all that challenging with three-foot-tall corn. The Wheeling Intelligencer (Wheeling, W.V.), July 30, 2024

Some southwest Pennsylvania farmers were hauling water for their cattle, due to the dry conditions. The Mon Valley Independent (Monessen, Pa.), July 30, 2024

The heat and lack of rain have reduced food resources for wildlife, leaving them seeking food in populated areas and in fields and farms. In Fayette County, hungry birds have ravaged his crops. Black birds damaged the sweet corn, shucking much of the ear. Crows ravaged the watermelons and tomatoes. Other area farmers have endured the same from wildlife. Deer have also devoured the white sweet corn, leaving no tassels or tops to pollinate. The Mon Valley Independent (Monessen, Pa.), July 30, 2024

The Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department urged the public to be especially cautious about fire safety. Severe drought was affecting more than half of the state, and the fire department was short on volunteers. WCHS-TV ABC 8 (Charleston, W.V.), July 29, 2024

A sunflower farmer in Forward Township cancelled the fifth annual sunflower festival after deer consumed the buds on the sunflower plants, leaving about 20 acres of sunflowers without flowers. Deer have always eaten small amounts of the plants in previous years, but have never damaged the sunflowers to this extent. KDKA Online (Pittsburg, Pa.), July 29, 2024

Residents of Frostburg were urged to voluntarily conserve water due to drought and the declining level of Piney Reservoir. The water conservation advisory also affects the communities served by Frostburg’s water system, including Eckhart, Consol, Grahamtown, Clarysville, Carlos, Shaft, Klondike, Borden, Zihlman, Mount Savage, Woodcock Hollow, and the Georges Creek Water Service area, which covers Midland, Gilmore, Lonaconing, Pekin, and Barton. Shore News Network (Rutherford, N.J.), July 26, 2024

Reports of fall armyworms in hay fields across the Southeast in areas where dry weather dominated have been ramping up over the past seven to ten days, according to a University of Georgia State forage extension specialist. Such reports were also emerging in the Coastal Plains area of South Carolina, North Carolina and Alabama. Southeast AgNet (Gainesville, Fla.), July 26, 2024

Mandatory water conservation began in Lovettsville on July 25 as drought continued to worsen in the county. Middleburg and Round Hill both adopted mandatory conservation earlier in July. Loudoun Now (Leesburg, Va.), July 25, 2024

Drought in West Virginia has kept crops and pastures from growing. Livestock producers were feeding hay early, which was cutting into the amount of winter feed available for the animals. Some farmers were considering selling cattle rather than buying hay. Some springs were going dry. WV Metro News (Charleston, W.V.), July 29, 2024 Grass was not growing so West Virginia farmers were not able to get a second cutting of hay. Farmers may need to consider selling livestock earlier than usual to avoid running out of pasture. WV News (Clarksburg, W.V.), July 22, 2024

Some of the corn and soybeans may be a complete loss. Most area farmers lack irrigation capability, so crops were stunted. The ground was so dry that some soybean plants were dying. Fredericksburg (Va.), July 23, 2024