Drought

Six hay barns in Winona County burned in a two-week period, which is three times as many fires as occurred last year. The hot, dry summer is playing a role in that fire departments are having trouble finding a water source to extinguish the fires. CBS Minnesota (Minneapolis), July 20, 2023

The Suffolk County Water Authority urged residents to use less water to avoid stressing the aquifer. Amid moderate drought conditions, people were using more water than usual. Dan’s Papers (Southampton, N.Y.), July 19, 2023

Low hay stocks in some Western Corn Belt/High Plains states mean forage buyers will likely see continued high prices. Some livestock producers are trying to buy hay earlier this year, due to concerns about supply as drought cuts into hay production. A sale in Rock Valley, Iowa on July 13 featured 140 loads, which was higher than normal for the time of year. Fewer loads of hay were available from eastern South Dakota, due to drought. The manager of the Rock Valley auction estimated that grass hay from that area could be down 60% to 70%. In Nebraska, 9,670 tons of hay were sold the week of July 14, per the USDA Nebraska Direct Hay Report, compared to only 2,970 from last year at the same week. DTN – The Progressive Farmer (Burnsville, Minn.), July 19, 2023

An Emergency Water Condition was in effect for parts of Comal County as the water storage was drawn down by high demand. Conditions leading to the emergency order were to be reassessed on Monday, July 3. KSAT 12 Online (San Antonio, Texas), July 19, 2023

The Texas Water Company enacted stage 3 drought restrictions for all residential, commercial and industrial customers in Bandera, Blanco, Comal, Kendall and Medina counties. The restrictions were needed as the level of Canyon Lake and the Trinity Aquifer have fallen, while at the same time water demand has risen. KSAT 12 Online (San Antonio, Texas), July 19, 2023

The Edwards Aquifer in central Texas dropped to its lowest level since September 2014. On Tuesday, July 18, the aquifer fell below 630 feet, with a reading of 628.7 feet at the J-17 Well in Bexar County. San Antonio remained in Stage 2 water restrictions. KSAT 12 Online (San Antonio, Texas), July 19, 2023

The Wellborn Special Utility District entered stage two of its Drought Contingency Plan on July 19 as the water tower had stabilized at 36%. Residents may water outdoors on their two designated days per week. KBTX (Bryan, Texas), July 19, 2023

A burn ban for the unincorporated parts of Bastrop County began on July 17 and will remain in effect until Aug. 14. Austin American-Statesman (Texas), July 18, 2023

The Hays County’s 90-day burn ban began on July 11 and applies to unincorporated areas. Austin American-Statesman (Texas), July 18, 2023

In Williamson County, a 90-day burn ban was issued by the commissioners’ court for unincorporated parts of the county. Austin American-Statesman (Texas), July 18, 2023

Travis County’s burn ban went into effect on July 18 and will remain in effect until Aug. 16. The fire marshal stated that the ban was needed due to drought, low humidity and extreme heat, which elevates the fire danger. Austin American-Statesman (Texas), July 18, 2023

A cow-calf producer from eastern South Dakota opted not to contract to have a couple thousand calves delivered in the fall because he does not know whether he will have forage for them. Recent spotty rains have eased drought and improved grass growth, but it wasn’t clear just a few weeks ago that there would be enough. Brownfield Ag News (Jefferson City, Mo.), July 18, 2023

Warm, dry weather has led Central Oregon irrigation districts to start water curtailments in July as the natural flow in the Deschutes River dwindled. Limited water for agriculture will further stress farmers who have already endured several years of low water allotments due to drought and environmental regulations. Although snowpack was ample from the winter, very dry soil has absorbed some of the water, leaving less in the Deschutes River. The Central Oregon Irrigation District began curtailing flows last week. Arnold Irrigation District expected to be out of water this month and will shut off delivery to patrons by around July 28, compared to July 23 last year. Tumalo Irrigation District planned to shut off its water to patrons on Sept. 8, which is significantly earlier than in previous years. North Unit Irrigation District planned to supply water until the end of the irrigation season in mid-October but was delivering half of the usual amount of water. Capital Press (Salem, Ore.), July 18, 2023

Dry pastures near Milford, Nebraska led a cattle producer to put cattle in his feedlot and sell some that he would prefer to keep another year or two. Additional feed and drought insurance costs were nearing double what they usually are. High Plains Public Radio (Garden City, Kan.), July 17, 2023

A pumpkin grower near Morton, Illinois was afraid that the soil would be too dry to plant his pumpkin seeds since it had been 50 days since rain had fallen. He chose to plant the seeds deeper to hopefully help the seeds access moisture. Recent rainfall moistened the soil, helping the new plants push up through the soil. The dry spell may have shaved 30% off of his typical corn yield. High Plains Public Radio (Garden City, Kan.), July 17, 2023

Corn near Seward, Nebraska was grayish rather than green at the end of June and only reached up to one’s ankle or calf instead of being as tall as a man. Early July rains helped the corn, allowing it to become greener and taller. High Plains Public Radio (Garden City, Kan.), July 17, 2023

Record numbers of cattle continued to be sold at the Kingdom City sale barn in central Missouri. Some producers were selling entire herds as drought persisted. The recent livestock sale was the third record sale in three months. Brownfield Ag News (Jefferson City, Mo.), July 18, 2023

Sangamon County has received some rain recently, but the rain did not benefit everyone. One farmer in the county reported that his crop condition had not improved. He expected to harvest 70% of a normal corn crop and about 60% of normal from his soybeans. WICS-TV (Springfield, Ill.), July 18, 2023

Residents in Blanco were in a water emergency after a water main break on Friday, July 14. All unnecessary water use was to cease under the Stage 6 water restrictions. By the morning of July 15, all of the city water tanks were full, but the emergency restrictions were to remain in effect through at least noon on July 17. Prior to the break, the mayor described the water supply as being vulnerable in mid-June as the city’s water plant was not operating, and the local river was too low for them to draw water from it. CBS News (New York), July 17, 2023

Hawaii firefighting agencies and county fire departments encouraged the public to be careful to avoid sparking wildfires as severe drought took hold in Maui. Hawaii Public Radio (Honolulu), July 14, 2023