Drought

Topsoil and subsoil were reported as adequate to surplus for all counties across North Texas. Pasture and rangelands were good to fair for most counties, with a few reporting poor conditions. Temperatures were warmer for the week, and some areas had rainfall up to 2 inches. These conditions allowed winter grasses to revive from the impact of the freeze in January. Some corn fields remained too wet to work. Wheat and oat conditions were poor due to previous harsh weather. Livestock were in good condition as hay feeding continued. Hay shortages in some areas impacted cattle inventory. Armyworms and cutworms were reported in Grayson and Fannin counties, but no other pest or disease were reported. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 6, 2024

From 1-9 inches of rain fell across South Texas. Topsoil and subsoil conditions remained adequate. Warmer temperatures allowed rangelands and pastures to grow, but cool nights slowed the growth. Farmers halted fieldwork due to the heavy rains. Crop conditions remained good. Certain counties were watching for fire weather since winds were gusting 35-40 mph last week. Livestock and deer producers continued to provide hay and supplementation to maintain body conditions. Cattle prices remain strong in the weaned calf and stocker beef categories. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 6, 2024 South Texas experienced freezing temperatures and a slight drizzle last week. Turf producers were continuing harvest. Wheat and oat producers continued planting, and some crops have already emerged. Strawberry producers were monitoring the cold weather and loss of blooms and berries. Forage producers applied pest control around their crops and prepared fields for the spring growing season. The condition of beef cattle and wildlife decreased due to the lack of vegetation from the drought and freeze, leading producers to increase hay and supplemental feeding. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Jan 23, 2024

Tennessee farmers were feeding their livestock hay as drought began affecting the state in September, limiting pasture grazing. January precipitation amounted to about 5 inches of rain, but the moisture came down so quickly that it ran off rather than soaking into the soil. Farmers need better soil moisture before spring planting to get a decent crop. WKRN (Nashville, Tenn.), Feb 5, 2024

Drought affects some areas where geese typically overwinter, according to Ducks Unlimited. The spring migration of snow geese was starting early as ice thawed early in the Missouri River flyway. More than 400,000 migratory birds were seen over the past week at the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City, Mo. News Channel Nebraska (Grand Island, Neb.), Feb 6, 2024

Poor hydropower production and other factors led Seattle City Light to raise its rates by about 9.5% effective January 2024. The Seattle City Council approved a 4.5% rate increase in the autumn of 2023. A 4% rate increase was due to the year being poor for hydropower production. The utility spent millions of dollars from its emergency fund, or Rate Stabilization Account, as hydroelectric dams did not produce enough energy to meet demand and additional power was purchased. A 1% increase was from the Bonneville Power Administration. The 9.5% rate increase will mean paying another $9 or so for the average customer. KIRO-TV CBS 7 (Seattle, Wash.), Oct. 13, 2023

The Flathead River was flowing at a third of its normal average for this time of year. Flathead Lake was two feet lower than normal, causing many boat owners to take their boats out of the lake. Business owners that cater to the recreationists worry about lost revenue as boaters stay away. Full fishing closures began on Wednesday, July 26 and hoot-owl restrictions for numerous rivers and streams in western Montana as intense heat continued. Full fishing closures included the Madison River from the Warm Springs Day Use Area to the Madison Dam and portions of the Clark Fork River, specifically within 100 yards of where that river meets the St. Regis River, Cedar Creek or Fish Creek. Hoot-owl restrictions, which prohibit fishing between 2 p.m. and midnight, were announced for the Clark Fork River from the confluence with the Flathead River to the confluence of Warm Springs Creek and Silver Bow Creek; sections of the Big Hole River; and the Gallatin River from the confluence with the Missouri River to Nixon Bridge near the confluence with the East Gallatin River. Stage I fire restrictions begin on Saturday, July 29 and prohibit campfires in most areas and smoking outside unless inside a vehicle or in an area cleared of flammable materials. The campfire ban includes Flathead, Lincoln and Sanders counties, the Flathead and Kootenai national forests, Glacier National Park, and land managed by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. A fire warden in Flathead County said that firefighters have dealt with two to three new wildfires every afternoon. Montana Free Press (Helena, Mont.), July 26, 2023

Saguaro cacti in Arizona are leaning, losing arms and sometimes falling over amid the state's extreme heat. Summer monsoon rains have not yet arrived. Plant physiologists at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix thought that the plants were well adapted to heat and drought, but cacti succumbing to the harsh conditions have disproved that assumption. Reuters (New York), July 26, 2023

Lafourche Parish restaurants were beginning to get crawfish in, and prices were $6 to $7 per pound or more, which was higher than customers were used to paying for the mudbugs after the heat and drought of last summer. Recent rain will improve availability as the crawfish season wears on, but prices should remain high over the next several weeks. Cold temperatures have affected spawning with fewer juvenile crawfish around, which points toward a smaller crop. Despite the high prices, restaurants routinely sold out of the item. Lafourche Gazette (Raceland, La.), Feb 6, 2024 The poor crawfish harvest in Louisiana after drought and heat in 2023 means a shortage of crawfish for Mardi Gras. One tavern always celebrates Fat Tuesday (Feb. 13 this year) with a crawfish boil, but will have to switch to a low country boil with shrimp this year. WBRC-TV Fox 6 Birmingham (Ala.), Feb 5, 2024

Mandatory water use restrictions for Hanover have been lifted and replaced by voluntary ones. The Sheppard Myers Reservoir, Hanover’s primary water source, was at full capacity. York Dispatch (Pa.), Feb 6, 2024 Hanover water customers were ordered to mandatorily conserve water, due to low rainfall and the ongoing renovation of the Sheppard-Myers reservoir. Those who violate the mandate may lose water service. Water customers in Penn and Heidelberg townships in York County and Conewago Township and McSherrystown in Adams County were expected to abide by the same mandate as they receive water from Hanover. York Dispatch (Pa.), Nov 21, 2023

Meat prices are high due to post COVID-19 issues and a drought ahead of Super Bowl weekend. KIII (Corpus Christi, Texas), Feb 5, 2024

SLEMCO electric customers were notified that there will be a temporary increase on the fuel portion of their bills due to drought in Louisiana. The electricity is generated from coal that was transported down the Mississippi River to a power plant in New Roads, Louisiana. The unusually low water levels significantly increased transportation costs for the past several months. The additional fuel costs will be levied over the next twelve months. KADN-TV (Lafayette, La.), Feb 5, 2024

More West Texas cotton gins were closing or merging as drought has limited cotton production, and there was not enough cotton to support all of the gins. The price of many things has doubled, making it harder to turn a profit. KCBD (Lubbock, Texas), Jan 21, 2024

Cheney Lake, Wichita’s water source, was 5 ½ feet below normal for this time of year. The low water level has discouraged recreationists who typically book all of the campsites for the holidays as soon as it is possible to reserve them. KWCH 12 (Wichita, Kan.), Feb 1, 2024

Hay prices have risen sharply after drought, heavy snow and bitterly cold temperatures in January. At auction in Dyersville, hay has sold for $250 to $300 per ton, topping 2013 records. RFD TV (Nashville, Tenn.), Feb 2, 2024

Drought in northeast Missouri in 2023 has kept the feed inventory low. An intense January snowstorm and bitterly cold temperatures have strained the feed inventory as livestock need additional feed to keep warm. KTVO-TV ABC 3 Kirksville (Mo.), Feb 1, 2024

Saltwater intrusion in the Mississippi River has left crawfish farmers in south Louisiana without any crawfish to sell, according to a crawfish distributor in Cottonport. KALB-TV (Alexandria, La.), Feb 1, 2024

There has been a spate of water main breaks across Louisiana in recent weeks that can be attributed to aging and a variety of weather conditions. Drought is one of the factors that likely stressed the pipes when it caused the ground to shift and contract. The cold spell caused the ground to freeze, which was followed by heavy rain and mud, which all likely stressed the pipes a bit. As of February 1, boil water advisories were in effect for parts of Thibodaux, New Orleans East and Covington. FOX 8 (New Orleans, La.), Feb 1, 2024

Hay supplies remained extremely tight for winter feeding across Texas, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts. While supplies have improved, stocks still remained below pre-drought averages. The tight supplies and higher demand were leading to higher hay prices, according to an AgriLife Extension economist and Texas A&M economics professor. Dec. 1 hay stocks were the third lowest on record behind 2022 and 2012, respectively. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Jan 30, 2024

Lee County enacted irrigation restrictions for unincorporated areas of the county that will start in February and remain through the end of May. Fort Myers News-Press (Fla.), Jan 19, 2024

Drought through most of 2023 left the water level of the Shenandoah River below average, preventing hydroelectric power generation at the dam in Woodstock. WHSV (Harrisonburg, Va.), Jan 31, 2024 The Burnshire Dam in Woodstock had to stop generating power as the Shenandoah River dwindled because some amount of water had to be sent downstream. There was not enough water to produce hydropower. Water stopped flowing over the dam in early September. The low flow of the river has resulted in a loss of $15,000 to $20,000 over the past two months at a time of year when the power company pays the most for power. WHSV Online (Harrisonburg, Va.), Sept 21, 2023