Drought

Trees in northern Virginia began to turn colors in early September, although the usual time for leaf color would be mid-October. In the Bull Run Mountains, poplar tree leaves turned brown and dropped early. Some of the herbaceous ground cover along back roads was so dry that it looked like it had been sprayed with an herbicide. Prince William Times (Warrenton, Va.), Sept 6, 2023

The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District has asked for water conservation in Madison and Rankin counties. WAPT Channel 16 Online (Jackson, Miss.), Sept 6, 2023

The Mississippi River dropped nearly eight feet over the course of a month. At Vicksburg, barges in front of the docks were used to help load barges in deeper water. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has also been using 22 dredging vessels to deepen a channel for navigation. Shipping companies were loading vessels with less cargo so the draft was not so deep. WAPT Channel 16 Online (Jackson, Miss.), Sept 6, 2023

Crops, such as cotton, corn and soybeans, were affected by the drought in Mississippi, as are cattle. Grass has dried up, and there is a potential hay shortage looming for winter. WJTV TV 12 (Jackson, Miss.), Sept 6, 2023

Lake Wichita was so low that boating has almost ended on the lake because boats cannot be launched, apart from kayaks. The water was too low for fishermen to be able to fish from piers. KAUZ-TV CBS 6 (Wichita Falls, Texas), Sept 6, 2023

A drought watch has been issued in Maryland for the northern tier of counties, due to lower-than-normal stream flows and groundwater levels for this time of year. Voluntary water conservation is encouraged. Maryland Department of the Environment (Baltimore), July 10, 2023

St. Paul Regional Water Services asked residents to observe new lawn and garden watering rules effective Sept. 7 as drought persisted. Outdoor watering may be done on an even/odd schedule and to water before noon or after 6 p.m. KARE 11 Online (Minneapolis, Minn.), Sept 6, 2023

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of drought emergency for Gilliam, Douglas and Lincoln counties and instructed state agencies to coordinate and provide assistance. KTVZ-TV NewsChannel 21 (Bend, Ore.), Sept 6, 2023

The York Water Company asked its customers to conserve water due to persistent dry conditions. The company also began drawing water from the Susquehanna River to supplement its supply. York County remained in a drought watch. York Daily Record (Pa.), Sept 6, 2023

Corn rootworm pressure was higher due to drought because there was not enough rain in early summer to drown the larvae. The affected area covered parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Yields may be affected. Brownfield Ag News (Jefferson City, Mo.), Sept 6, 2023

The Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul was measured as the fourth lowest reading on record after a wet spring that caused worries about flooding. Minnehaha Creek was dry enough to be a walkable rock bed in places. The owner of a dock and lift business reported that many people have asked to have their lifts pulled out further and have docks extended. Some folks were already removing their boats from the water for the season where the water was shallow. CBS News Minnesota (Minneapolis), Sept 5, 2023

The Berkeley County Public Service Water District asked its customers on Aug. 31 to conserve due to high temperatures and dry weather. A message from the district mentioned that there was less water available from the water source at the south end of the county, leading the district to draw more water from the Potomac River. However, the district’s ability to treat and distribute water was limited. The Panhandle News Network (Martinsburg, W.V.), Sept 6, 2023

The owner of a Christmas tree farm in Tangipahoa Parish announced on Facebook that the tree farm would not open for the 2023 season nor would photographers be allowed to take photos. Pictures showing entirely brown trees were also shared on the post. WBRZ (New Orleans, La.), Sept 6, 2023

The splash pad in Henderson Park in Brenham closed early on Sept. 6 for the season, instead of at the end of September, due to drought and high demand on the water treatment plant. In July, splash pad hours were shortened due to the drought. KBTX (Bryan, Texas), Sept 5, 2023

A late March freeze killed many honey bee populations in Louisiana and also the plants for pollination and honey production. Drought has continued to present challenges for honey bees as plants were not growing or blooming. Bee farmers were even hauling water to some locations that have never gone dry before this. The heat, absence of water and scarcity of pollinating plants has dropped honey production on a Deville honey farm by 65%, but overhead costs for honey production, like water, feed supplements and fuel, have increased. The fire risk and concern about the danger has kept them from mowing, driving trucks onto lots or smoking out the bees. The beekeeper will send more hives to California to offset the honey losses, but he’d prefer not to. KALB-TV (Alexandria, La.), Aug 30, 2023

Firefighters in Louisiana battled more than 500 large fires across the state, which is comparable to the normal number of fires in an entire year. More than 50,000 acres, or about 75 square miles of property, have burned statewide. Much of the burned area was forest land. The statewide burn ban remained in effect. FOX 8 (New Orleans, La.), Aug 30, 2023

Ponds on a horse ranch near Winnie have dried up for the first time that a 79-year-old rancher can remember. The ponds were being cleaned out to improve the capacity of the ponds when the rain does return. In the meantime, he waters livestock with tubs and buckets of water. The water bill has doubled amid the drought as he waters the animals with city water. Drought has also caused a decrease in forage production. Hay production was insufficient for the coming winter so livestock were being sold or transferred to better pasture in another state for the winter. Area ranchers were also turning to a program that offers financial support to offset costs for feed, hay or water to help sustain the cattle. The producer already sold his calves to lower stress on the cows as the suckling requires extra nutrients. Beaumont Enterprise (Texas), Aug 27, 2023

Blue Hole Regional Park in Wimberley will be closed for the rest of the summer due to low water levels that were not safe for swimming. Austin American-Statesman (Texas), Aug 31, 2023 Blue Hole in Wimberley was closed to swimming for the next two weeks, starting Aug. 22, due to low water levels that pose a safety concern. Conditions will be reassessed in two weeks to determine whether Blue Hole could reopen. Jacob’s Well, also in Wimberley, was closed due to no water flow. Austin American-Statesman (Texas), Aug 22, 2023

Temperatures remained extremely high and dry in North Texas. The heat has led to stressed plants across the region. Some trees started to show significant drought stress, especially elms, honey locusts, maples and hackberry. Summer grasses were still declining. Many small creeks dried up entirely due to the extreme heat and no rainfall. Corn and grain sorghum were nearing harvest completion, and the soybean harvest was completed. Many bean fields were being rolled up for hay. Nuisance flies and tabanid flies were still active. Livestock conditions were good and continuing to improve. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 29, 2023 North Texas pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to good, and topsoil was very short to short in most counties. Temperatures ranged from 100-110 degrees, resulting in burn ban warnings and signs of severe drought. The hot, dry conditions were starting to speed crop maturity and slow grass growth. Many counties needed moisture. Soybeans looked heat stressed. Forage and hay fields were beginning to show heat stress as well. Cattle and other livestock were in good condition, but most were consuming a considerable amount of water to stay cool. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 15, 2023 North Texas pastures and rangeland were good to fair for most of the counties. Both subsoil and topsoil moisture were reported to be adequate to short for most of the counties. Temperatures remained in the triple digits over the past week and the region was in need of rain. Grass stands were severely declining. Pastures were becoming a little stressed due to excessive heat. A few counties started cutting corn for silage and it was yielding well. Overall, the production looked good but needed rain soon. Harvest is expected in August. Grasshopper populations were extremely high and increasing. A good amount of hay was harvested in a few counties. No major insect or disease outbreaks occurred during these times. Livestock conditions were looking good and continuing to improve. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 1, 2023

The cotton crop was about 80% harvested in South Texas, with others still defoliating in hopes of harvesting in the next few weeks. The stalk destruction deadline was approaching quickly, with no extension being planned. Pastures continued to suffer due to the hot and dry conditions. Irrigation districts were reaching a critical point regarding water availability, with almost certain water restrictions to come soon. Forages in rangelands and pastures were beginning to improve. Rapid green-up was already noted, and most were hopeful there was still enough time this season to produce some grass. Beef cattle markets continued to run average volumes and reported solid prices for all classes of beef cattle. All corn and grain sorghum were harvested with very little cotton left in the field, and sunflower and sesame harvest had yet to start. Livestock managers hoped for enough green-up from rains to limit haying and reduce supplemental feeding. Farmers began preparing fields for the next planting season. Stock tanks were slightly replenished. Cotton harvest continued, and it looked to be 75% harvested. Sesame harvest also continued. Citrus, sugarcane and hay meadows continued to be irrigated. Wildlife were abundant and found near water sources. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 29, 2023 Conditions in South Texas remained hot and dry, and topsoil and subsoil moisture was very short. Most corn and sorghum fields were harvested with some very late planted fields remaining. Cotton fields without irrigation were suffering due to the extreme heat and dry conditions. Cotton harvest was in full swing in some areas. Poor cotton yields were expected in many areas. Peanut crops were under irrigation. Corn, grain sorghum, sunflowers and soybeans were harvested. Citrus and sugarcane continued to receive irrigation. Watermelon and cantaloupe harvests continued. Producers were baling irrigated Bermuda grass fields. Grain stubble was being harvested and baled. Fieldwork was underway for next season’s crop. Pastures were in poor condition unless irrigated. Rangeland was in very poor to poor condition. Hay bales were being trucked around the district, and prices were $70-$80 per round bale. Cattle producers were supplementing with hay and protein. Many ponds were completely dry, and some producers were hauling water for livestock and wildlife. Higher volumes of cattle were being sold at auctions, and prices were steady. Many coveys of quail were spotted on ranches. Fawns were spotted and wildlife were staying close to water sources. A good dove season was predicted, and hunters were spotted hauling water and supplemental feed for wildlife on ranches they hunt. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 15, 2023 Conditions were hot and dry in South Texas. Soil conditions were very short. A few scattered showers delivered up to half an inch of rain. Sorghum fields reached maturity and harvest should begin soon. Corn harvest started. Some areas were wrapping up sorghum and corn harvests. Irrigated cotton fields were extremely stressed due to high temperatures. Some cotton was setting bolls. Peanut crops continued to progress and develop pods under irrigation, but some fields were struggling. Sesame fields looked good, and sunflowers were drying down. Fieldwork for strawberries continued but rain was needed for soil preparation. Irrigated watermelons and cantaloupes were in good condition. Pecan orchards continued to progress. Citrus and sugarcane were being irrigated, and vegetable farmers were preparing fields. Irrigated Bermuda grass fields were cut and baled. Rangeland and pasture conditions continued to decline and stress due to high temperatures. Grazing was limited, and producers were feeding livestock hay and cubes. Feed prices were high. Stock tanks were declining, and beef cattle producers were thinning herds. Cattle prices were high, and one report showed a slight decline in sale volumes. Wildlife were in fair condition but reliant on landowner water sources. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 1, 2023