Drought

The sugarcane yield in some Acadiana parishes in 2023 was down 25% to 50% due to drought. The crop was planted in September and October in the middle of the drought, which could affect the 2024 crop. There are likely to be some acres with dried stalks that will not produce an adequate stand. KLFY News 10 (Lafayette, La.), Jan 30, 2024

Buhlow Lake reopened on January 29 after recent rainfall refilled the lake. While the lake was closed the boat ramp was leveled, the dock was extended and the stage was renovated. KALB-TV (Alexandria, La.), Jan 27, 2024

Two major water main breaks have occurred in southeastern Louisiana. One disrupted water to the east bank of Jefferson Parish, and the other has interrupted water to residents in Lafourche Parish. A civil engineer suspected that the drought and the hot summer were behind the problems with the soil shifting and shrinking, leading to water main breaks. WWL-TV (New Orleans, La.), Jan 26, 2024

The Edwards Aquifer Authority eased pumping restrictions for the San Antonio area after recent rainfall bumped up groundwater levels. Under Stage 2 restrictions, permit holders can withdraw up to 70% of their allotted amounts. Under the Stage 3 restrictions that took effect in early November and just ended, withdrawals of 65% were allowed. San Antonio Express-News (Texas), Jan 26, 2024 On Friday, Aug. 18, the Edwards Aquifer fell to its lowest point since July 1990. The J-17 well was 625.7 ft. above sea level, which is lower than the recent lowest measurement in September 2014, when widespread drought slowed local rivers to a trickle and Medina Lake nearly went completely dry. Stage 2 water restrictions remained in effect for San Antonio Water System customers. KSAT 12 (San Antonio, Texas), Aug 18, 2023 The Edwards Aquifer Authority enacted Stage 4 restrictions because groundwater levels and flows in the groundwater system continued to fall. The index well in Bexar County was at 629.1 feet, which was low enough to trigger the stage 4 restrictions. Comal Springs was flowing more slowly at an average of 88 cubic feet per second over the last 10 days. The counties affected by the restrictions are Atascosa, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays and Medina. San Antonio Express-News Online (Texas), July 24, 2023

Fire restrictions for the Kisatchie National Forest were lifted after being in effect for more than four months. KALB-TV (Alexandria, La.), Jan 19, 2024

A restaurant in Gulfport has not received any crawfish yet, but normally has them by the start of the year, making this the latest start to the crawfish season in at least 16 years, according to the restaurant’s sales records. Prices were more than triple that of previous years with the boiled mudbugs selling for $12 to $15 per pound, compared to $3.89 in January 2023. The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.), Jan 24, 2024

This could be one of the roughest years for crawfish farmers, according to a crawfish aquaculture and coastal resources specialist for the LSU AgCenter, after drought and heat reduced the crawfish population. "I don’t see the catch picking anytime soon, especially considering the freezing temperatures in January,” he said. “Some farmers still have not put out traps, mainly because test traps show no sign of crawfish.” The spring crop is expected to be a fraction of the usual catch. In addition, production costs like that for pumping costs to flood the field and keep it flooded were higher, as much as three to four times higher. The cost of labor, bait and supplies means that the upcoming crop will be difficult to accomplish. Early estimates indicate that crawfish might sell for up to $13 per pound. More than 45,000 acres of crawfish habitat could not be flooded for lack of water or due to water supplies being too salty. No crawfish will be harvested from another 45,000 acres that was flooded but will not yield any crawfish. Plaquemine Post South (La.), Jan 24, 2024

Rainfall in Suffolk County was below normal in May, leading the water authority for Southampton Town to issue a water advisory on June 12. The East Hampton Star (N.Y.), July 6, 2023

Dryland farmers in eastern Nebraska anticipated major yield losses from drought, while farmers with irrigation capacity were watering nonstop. Low hay yields were another concern. The farmer would usually have 200 to 225 large round bales toward the end of June, but had about 10. He had begun moving cattle off of pasture and were going to sell spring and fall herds in July for lack of pasture hay. KLKN-TV (Lincoln, Neb.), June 28, 2023

Drought and intense heat in 2023 led to the present crawfish shortage and increased prices. The owner of a crawfish business in Clinton was only able to get 4 to 6 sacks of crawfish weekly, although he would normally sell about 150 sacks per week. The high cost forces him to sell boiled crawfish for $15.99 per pound, and he still isn’t making a profit. Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Miss.), Jan 19, 2024

There was less water this year to turn Ouray’s narrow canyon gorge into walls of ice for climbers. Water is sprayed on the jagged rocks to transform the city park into an ice mecca for climbers for the Ouray Ice Festival and Competition. The park recently made a deal to get extra water from an old silver mine. A recent study found that during the 2021-2022 season, the ice park helped contribute nearly $18 million overall to the local economy, supporting 184 jobs. Placerville Mountain Democrat (Calif.), Jan 19, 2024

A crawfish farmer checked his roughly 80 traps and collected about one-fourth of a sack after the hot, dry summer killed many of the crawfish. A January cold spell had the remaining crawfish burrowing deeper for cover, so that there were few to harvest. The farmer was getting two to four sacks, but used to catch about ten. He was able to sell his crawfish for $8 per pound. WBRZ (New Orleans, La.), Jan 19, 2024

A boil advisory was issued for customers of the Tennessee Ridge water system due to low water pressure and even a lack of water in parts of the system. A notice from the City of Tennessee Ridge on Facebook blamed high water demand and reduced capacity form their source water wells amid the ongoing drought in Tennessee for insufficient water to meet demand. Water was also being purchased from the Erin Water System. Customers were asked to conserve as much water as possible. WZTV FOX 17 News (Nashville, Tenn.), Jan 19, 2024

Farmers in southeast Missouri were relying more on irrigation, which means increased costs for diesel and electricity. Sikeston Standard-Democrat (Mo.), June 30, 2023

Drought was affecting golf courses in southeast Minnesota as area rivers used for irrigation run low. KAAL-TV ABC 6 (Rochester, Minn.), July 6, 2023

Missouri soybeans should have a full canopy, but do not, which could mean a reduction in yield potential. The soybeans were also flowering earlier than usual. Brownfield Ag News (Jefferson City, Mo.), July 6,2023

Drought was taking a toll on Midwestern crops, pastures and range, causing some ranchers to sell cattle. The level of the Mississippi River was dropping, lowering the tow capacity for barges by 10% to 20% to avoid running aground. Navigation issues on the Mississippi River have more Midwestern cargo being transported via trains and semis. The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), July 6, 2023

The second cutting of hay was good where rain fell, but not so promising in areas that missed out on the rain. Water was being hauled to cattle because pond levels were low. KAIT Online (Jonesboro, Ark.), July 6, 2024

Birdwatching was not ideal at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge as half as many waterfowl as usual came through in the fall and early winter, according to the refuge manager. Some birds finally arrived in December. Due to the dry conditions, the refuge could not flood as much land as usual to draw ducks, geese and swans on their journey south. Since part of the preserve's wetlands had dried up, crews were able to get rid of undesirable vegetation for attracting migrating birds by discing it away. Iowa Public Radio (Des Moines), Jan 18, 2024

After the summer drought taking a toll on crawfish, the harvest was much smaller than usual. A crawfish farmer near Morganza was catching just one crawfish every other trap. Only a few crawfish farmers were catching crawfish, hence the high prices. WAFB-TV CBS 9 Baton Rouge (La.), Jan 18, 2024 Drought in Louisiana dried up crawfish burrows last summer, leading to a very small crawfish harvest at present. One crawfish farmer was normally able to harvest 40 sacks daily, but was only able to get maybe 12 sacks daily this year. WDSU (New Orleans, La.), Jan 11, 2024 After a summer of intense heat and drought in Louisiana, crawfish for sale have been scarce. A seafood restaurant in Kenner had enough crawfish to serve customers, but has not received any crawfish for shipping to other restaurants and hasn’t heard when they will be in. Business was down 35%. The owner of a crawfish business in Vermillion Parish stated that production in November and December was just 5%. Crawfish producers offer the hope that they may be getting some crawfish in the next few weeks, but they’ll be smaller and more expensive—possibly more than $7 per pound. Crawfish producers also grow rice. The poor production of crawfish is expected to affect growers’ ability to produce rice and may drive up prices. WWL-TV (New Orleans, La.), Jan 3, 2024