Drought

Pastures were brown this summer in northeast Iowa from lack of rain. July rains helped pasture conditions slightly before grasses became brown again in August. Grass was better in September and October than during July as pasture conditions fluctuated during the growing season. Successful Farming (Des Moines, Iowa), Dec 8, 2023

The Chapel of the Incarnate Word was undergoing restoration to repair cracks and other structural damage caused by statewide drought in 2023. San Antonio Express-News Online (Texas), Dec 7, 2023

In spite of extreme drought, peanut production in Texas was forecast at 656 million pounds, an increase of 100% over last year, according to the November USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service report. Peanut yields were expected to reach 3,200 pounds per acre, an increase of 400 pounds more than the previous season. Although 205,000 acres of peanuts were expected to be harvested this year, nearly 14,000 acres of the 230,000 peanut acres in Texas were lost to dry, hot conditions. Irrigation was needed for good pod and peanut development, so dryland growers had a rough year. Texas Farm Bureau (Waco), Dec 13, 2023 Two consecutive years of drought hurt the Texas peanut crop. Irrigation was needed to grow a crop with average yields per acre. The season was a rough one for those unable to provide enough water for the crop. Drought also slowed production, and the peanuts needed more time to mature. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Nov 14, 2023

A restaurant owner in Belton, Texas gets his crawfish from Louisiana crawfish farmers who were finding fewer crawfish in the traps, likely due to drought this summer and colder weather at present. He typically would begin purchasing crawfish in early November through early December, but must wait until after Christmas this year. Prices for crawfish will likely remain high through Easter. The crawfish were smaller, too. KCEN TV (Temple, Texas), Dec 13, 2023 Drought and cold weather were driving up crawfish prices in Louisiana to about $11 per pound. WBRZ (Baton Rouge, La.), Dec 6, 2023

The fire restrictions on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest were lifted on Dec. 11, 2023. Forest visitors were reminded to remain cautious with campfires in the forest. Roanoke Times (Va.), Dec. 11, 2023

Hay, corn and soybean yields were halved in Jefferson County as rainfall has been below normal. WV News (Clarksburg, W.V.), Dec 8, 2023

A Christmas tree farm in Marshall lost about 400 out of 500 seedlings as rain was scarce during the growing season. Pests also affected some of the trees, making them unsellable. The number of planted trees will be doubled so that the farm might have enough large trees years down the road. KOMU-TV8 (Columbia, Mo.), Dec 8, 2023

Heat and drought wiped out the dryland cotton crop in West Texas this year. Dryland acres were not harvestable. Even irrigated cotton yielded just half of normal. AgWeb (Mexico, Mo.), Dec 11, 2023

Residents of Bethany in Genesee County continued to haul water to their homes as wells have run dry. Dairy farms were bringing in 60,00 gallons or more daily. FingerLakes1 (Seneca Falls, N.Y.), Dec 11, 2023 A well in Genesee County has been dry for a month as drought limited water supplies. The well owners have gotten water from a relative’s house in Akron and brought the water home to Corfu. In the town of Bethany, wells have also run dry, leaving 50 homes without water. A dairy farm was hauling 60,000 gallons of water daily for the cows. Other dairy farms were supplementing well water with public water from Batavia, Pavilion and Stafford. Town residents were praying for any precipitation to ease the dryness. The Daily News (Batavia, New York), Nov 18, 2023

Rainfall helped with water conservation efforts, allowing towns to lift restrictions. WLOS (Asheville, N.C.), Dec 12, 2023 Stage 2 mandatory water use reductions took effect in Highlands on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Water customers were to curb their water use by 10%. Stage 2 of the Water Shortage Response Plan was triggered when Big Creek fell below 1,400 gallons per minute flowing over the weir. Use of water by the fire department for testing and training purposes will be limited. Water restrictions were also in effect in Franklin, Tryon and Hendersonville. WLOS (Asheville, N.C.), Nov 8, 2023

Rainfall helped with water conservation efforts, allowing towns to lift restrictions. WLOS (Asheville, N.C.), Dec 12, 2023 Voluntary water conservation is requested in Canton and Clyde because the Pigeon River was running low. Clyde purchases its water from Canton. Haywood County was also under a burn ban. The Mountaineer (Waynesville, N.C.), Nov 10, 2023

Weekend rainfall added an inch and a half of water to Appalachia’s reservoir. Mandatory water restrictions remained in effect. WCYB Online (Bristol, Va.), Dec 12, 2023 A water shortage emergency was declared for Appalachia last month. Since then, more water is being pumped from the Powell River and two major water leaks have been repaired. Appalachia was in phase one of its contingency plan. WCYB Online (Bristol, Va.), Dec 5, 2023 A water shortage emergency has been declared for the Town of Appalachia as the water supply was down to 60 days. Businesses were expected to curb their water use by 20%. WCYB Online (Bristol, Va.), Nov 14, 2023

Rainfall helped with water conservation efforts, allowing towns to lift restrictions. WLOS (Asheville, N.C.), Dec 12, 2023 Residents of Tryon were urged to voluntarily conserve water after town officials were contacted about drought conditions. WLOS-TV ABC 13 Asheville (N.C.), Oct 2, 2023

Shenandoah National Park’s streams and rivers were closed to fishing due to low stream flows and high water temperatures. The aim is to protect the long-term health of the fish populations. News Leader (Staunton, Va.), Aug 31, 2023

Despite the fall fire season being at an end in Virginia, the fire risk remained high, due to continuing drought. Whether or not fire restrictions are in effect for an area, the Director of Fire and Emergency Response for the Virginia Department of Forestry urged the public to delay all outdoor burning until drought eases. WCAV-TV (Charlottesville, Va.), Dec 8, 2023

The Virginia Department of Forestry responded to 156 wildfires that burned nearly 25,000 acres statewide between Oct. 15 and Nov. 30. WCAV-TV (Charlottesville, Va.), Dec 8, 2023

The demand for water was high in Elkton, where water haulers might wait almost an hour to get a load of water. Just one of the two pumps at Bear Lithia Spring was operating at a time to alternate use between the two pumps. A number of other towns in the area discontinued water-hauling privileges due to the extreme drought. Water restrictions were voluntary. WHSV (Harrisonburg, Va.), Dec 11, 2023

Woodstock remained in a drought emergency condition with mandatory restrictions. The Northern Virginia Daily (Strasburg, Va.), Dec 10, 2023

Grapes in Albemarle County were the best in years with very little disease or pest pressure. The 2023 vintage was expected to be phenomenal. WVIR-TV NBC29 (Charlottesville, Va.), Dec 11, 2023

About 38% of domestic winter wheat production is in drought-affected areas. “Now, the good news is, even with still more than one-third drought coverage on that winter crop — that is the lowest number we have seen at any time in the last year, and we did see a higher number during planting,” according to U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Meteorologist Brad Rippey. “We saw a peak in the autumn of 49% winter wheat and drought. So, the numbers have crept downward. That is good news, and that explains why we’re seeing our best overall U.S. winter wheat conditions since the 2019 planting season.” RFD TV (Nashville, Tenn.), Dec 11, 2023