Drought

A corn and soybean grower in Polk City was selecting seed for its drought tolerance and noted that other farmers were doing the same. Some such hybrids were becoming scarce. Brownfield Ag News (Jefferson City, Mo.), Jan 3, 2024

Drought and fall rains combined to encourage an unusually large crop of thistles in the Hill Country. Fredericksburg Standard Online (Texas), Jan 4, 2024

The Dorena-Hickman Ferry was closed again due to the low level of the Mississippi River. The ferry reopened last week after being closed since August 23, due to drought and low water levels. This closure, however, was expected to be brief. As of Monday at 7 a.m., the Cairo gauge was at 13.47 feet, just below 14 feet which is typically required for the ferry to operate, according to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 1. WSIL-TV ABC 3 (Harrisburg, Ill.), Jan 8, 2024

Some sugarcane growers in the vicinity of St. Martin Parish lost nearly 50% of their crop amid the heat and drought of the 2023 summer, according to the agriculture division manager for the sugarcane cooperative in St. Martinville. On average, the decrease in yield has been about 22%, compared to the five-year average. The financial loss will be hard for some farmers to withstand. Drought may also affect crops into the next growing season. KATC (Lafayette, La.), Jan 5, 2024

The Great Marsh, one of Fontenelle Forest’s most popular areas, was completely dry, although it usually holds one to two feet of water. There has been less runoff from the hills, and beavers also influence streamflow to the marsh, which is located in the floodplain. KETV Newswatch 7 (Omaha, Neb.), Jan 3, 2024

Some retention ponds have gone dry from Sarasota County to North Tampa as drought persisted. WTSP 10 Tampa Bay (Fla.), Jan 3, 2024

The Glen Iris Inn fountain was temporarily shut off on Dec. 29 to preserve water levels at Trout Pond. The pond at Letchworth State Park feeds the fountain, but the level of Trout Pond was diminished by drought. Ponds and streams in the region were noticeably low. Thirty miles to the north in Bethany, wells were running dry. Batavia Daily News (N.Y.), Jan 4, 2024

Dry weather in Indiana left hay supplies short. Some producers have sold out for the season. Brownfield Ag News (Jefferson City, Mo.), Jan 3, 2024

Fall pasture growth in Kentucky was below average, leading to early hay feeding by livestock producers and dropping supplies well below one year ago. Brownfield Ag News (Jefferson City, Mo.), Jan 3, 2024

Virginians were encouraged to be cautious with fire outdoors and to check local restrictions before burning as drought conditions continued in parts of the state. WDBJ7 (Roanoke, Va.), Jan 2, 2024

The City of Berea issued a water shortage advisory due to the recent and progressing drought conditions. Voluntary water conservation was requested to avoid the potential for serious raw water supply shortages. WBON TV (Richmond, Ky.), Jan 3, 2024

Residents in Savannah were asked by the Savannah Utility Department to conserve water due to extreme drought conditions. The Courier (Savannah, Tenn.), Dec 22, 2023

Bethany in Genesee County was under a state of emergency due to a severe drought. More than 100 residents and two large dairy farms have dry wells and have needed water transported to them. Even the fire station needed to have water trucked in for firefighting. The community needs significant rainfall before the ground freezes so the water can refill the wells. WHEC-TV NBC 10 Rochester (N.Y.), Dec 29, 2023

An emergency City Council meeting was held on Dec. 27. A state of emergency was declared for Stanford because rainfall has been low in recent months, leaving raw water reservoirs low. The water company held a meeting and voted to pass a resolution declaring a water shortage. Residents were asked to conserve as much as possible. Lincoln County Emergency Management, in addition to the City of Stanford and Lincoln County, were asking residents and local businesses to reduce their water use by at least 20% water. The Advocate-Messenger (Danville, Ky.), Dec 29, 2023

Buda entered Stage 3 drought restrictions as December rainfall was meager, allowing the area to be characterized as being in extreme drought. KXAN Online (Austin, Texas), Jan 2, 2024

Stage one water restrictions have been in effect for Wichita Falls for a year on Jan. 9, 2024. With the combined levels of Lake Kickapoo and Lake Arrowhead at 53%, tighter water restrictions may lie ahead. KAUZ-TV CBS 6 Wichita Falls (Texas), Jan 2, 2024 Stage 1 Drought Watch restrictions took effect in Wichita Falls on Jan. 9 as the combined levels of Lakes Kickapoo and Arrowhead fell below 65%, triggering the restrictions. Texoma’sHomepage.com (Wichita Falls, Texas), Jan 9, 2023

The Frederick Water Board voted to allocate $2 million from its reserve fund to purchase more water from the City of Winchester to serve its approximately 16,000 customers. Drought and issues with the new water treatment plant have limited water supplies. The Northern Virginia Daily (Strasburg, Va.), Dec 21, 2023

Those celebrating the New Year festivities with fireworks were urged to be very careful, given the ongoing drought. Big Island Now (Hilo), Dec 21, 2023

A Christmas tree grower in Clackamas County planted 600 noble firs and have fewer than 10 still alive after rains ended in mid-May rather than continuing until the Fourth of July. KATU TV 2 (Portland, Ore.), Dec 20, 2023

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s December aerial waterfowl survey found modern-day low numbers of mallards and total ducks, due to the lack of rain. Waterfowl reports from Mississippi, which was down 68%, and Louisiana state agencies reflect significant drops in December waterfowl counts from their long-term averages, due to drought. Stuttgart Daily Leader (Ark.), Dec 21, 2023