Drought

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources was actively monitoring the drought situation and drinking water supplies. Water supplies were a concern in northwest Missouri during drought in 2018 when three communities faced running out of water as reservoirs were very low. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Mo.), June 21, 2023

Corn prices were climbing as heat and drought dropped crop conditions to the lowest level since 1992. Just 55% of the corn was in good to excellent condition as of June 18. Bloomberg (New York), June 21, 2023

The Chatham select board was monitoring water usage after state officials declared a Level 1-Mild Drought for Cape Cod after more than two months of below-normal rainfall and higher than normal temperatures. Water use in May was 42% higher than the previous year, and June water use appears to be much higher also. Cape Cod Chronicle (Chatham, Mass.), June 21, 2023

Planting season in Illinois went quickly, but the weather turned dry, and crop conditions plummeted as flash drought developed. Yield loss was occurring in corn, according to farmers. AgWeb (Mexico, Mo.), June 21, 2023

A cattle producer near Mexico in northeastern Missouri has to raise his beef prices at the farmers’ market in Columbia and sell cattle because he does not have enough grass or hay. Most hay fields this spring have produced 25% to 50% of the normal yield, according to a beef nutrition specialist at the University of Missouri Extension. KOMU-TV8 (Columbia, Mo.), June 16, 2023

A Washington County farm that offers strawberries, apples and pumpkins in season has produced smaller strawberries, but the berries are sweeter this year. CBS58 (Milwaukee, Wis.), June 20, 2023

A feedlot operator in Dodge adjusted their usual practices to better care for the livestock amid drought. Omaha World-Herald (Neb.), June 19, 2023

A strawberry grower in Janesville stated that they have irrigated nonstop since little rain had fallen in the past month and a half. Spectrum News 1 (Milwaukee, Wis.), June 19, 2023

Drought reduced strawberry production for many Minnesota berry growers. Some parts of the state have received less than a tenth of an inch of rain in June. A berry farm in Alexandria did not allow visitors to pick their own berries for the first time since the farm opened in 2009 as weather affected production. Austin Daily Herald (Minn.), June 20, 2023

The community of Dodge was holding special masses to pray for rain as Dodge County was in extreme to exceptional drought. Omaha World-Herald (Neb.), June 19, 2023

A non-profit potato grower in Urbana has witnessed a delay in growth and harvesting, less variety and less quantity to market, so revenue at market was down. The potato farm typically donates 20% to 30% of their produce, but drought conditions may limit donations this year. WICS-TV (Springfield, Ill.), June 20, 2023

A burn ban took effect in Scott County on June 2, due to drought conditions. KWQC Online (Davenport, Iowa), June 15, 2023

Burn bans were in effect for some Illinois communities, such as Cordova, Hillsdale, Port Byron and Rapids City in Rock Island County. KWQC Online (Davenport, Iowa), June 15, 2023

The Hannibal Fire Department has reminded the public that fires can get out of control very quickly and to be prepared. KHQA-TV ABC 7 (Quincy, Ill.), June 16, 2023

Only one vegetable grower has brought produce to the Northfield farmers’ market this year. Irrigating to keep the crops going means getting up at 2 a.m. to tend to the irrigation lines. Despite irrigating, she fears a 40% reduction on yields for some crops. The four to five other farmers who typically sell produce there have not brought anything. A farmer near Mayer, just west of Minneapolis, does not have the ability to irrigate, but is hanging in there and hoping for rain soon. FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul Online (Minn.), June 19, 2023

Duluth area lawns were turning brown as drought made the grass go dormant. Landscaping businesses were finding that lawns required less maintenance when the grass was not growing, so it was beneficial to offer other services such as installation to make up the slack. Even the installation of new sod was not in demand at present with the new sod being tough to establish amid drought. WDIO News (Duluth, Minn.), June 20, 2023

With drought affecting most of Missouri, hay production has been one-third of normal, and pastures were not doing well. Farmers were low on hay after drought in 2022, then a cold spell in December and high fertilizer prices did not help hay supplies. Hay is expensive locally. Last year’s drought damaged pastures’ root systems. Hay and pasture currently were not of good quality, but hay was still costly. One farmer was selling equipment to be able to afford hay. Dry conditions meant that farmers began feeding hay in May and June, when livestock would not normally need hay until November, but pastures were dry rather than lush with grass. Missouri farmers were downsizing their cattle herds before drought conditions take a toll on them to help extend existing hay supplies into next spring. One sale barn sold cows from 2 p.m. until 7 a.m., instead of the usual ending time of 6 p.m. Jefferson City News Tribune (Mo.), June 18, 2023

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law legislation that obliges Scottsdale to provide Rio Verde Foothills with access to city water. The goal of the law was to ensure that small communities like Rio Verde Foothills continue to have water access. The Associated Press, June 19, 2023 Residents of Rio Verde Foothills have been without water since the start of 2023 after Scottsdale stopped the sale of water to the unincorporated community. While Rio Verde homeowners can purchase water from anywhere, of course, but distance to transport the water makes it much more expensive than it was to buy from Scottsdale. Rio Verde met March 28 to try to find a way to provide water for homeowners who do not have their own wells. AZFamily.com (Phoenix, Ariz.), March 29, 2023 An Arizona judge will not compel Scottsdale to resume allowing water haulers to sell Scottsdale water to residents in Rio Verde Foothills as the residents can still obtain water from elsewhere. The Associated Press (New York), Jan 24, 2023 Some 500 homeowners in the Rio Verde Foothills, Arizona sued Scottsdale and demand that their access to water be restored. “The city of Scottsdale has placed plaintiffs and their families under an unconscionable amount of stress and anxiety by discontinuing their domestic water supply,” according to the lawsuit. Since Jan. 1, residents of Rio Verde have not been permitted to purchase water from Scottsdale. The city has warned for years that it may not be able to provide water for indefinitely. Rio Verde residents can purchase water from another source. The Associated Press (New York), Jan 17, 2023 Homes in Rio Verde, Arizona can no longer get water deliveries from Scottsdale as drought and limited water supplies forced Scottsdale to conserve water to have enough for its own customers. Rio Verde homeowners must search for a provider to deliver water, which requires long distances to have the water delivered and, consequently, paying more for the water. One homeowner’s water bill rose from $220 per month to $660 per month. The New York Times (N.Y.), Jan 16, 2023

Pennsylvania American Water encouraged customers statewide to voluntarily reduce their water use in response to the drought watch declaration announced June 15 by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Pennsylvania American Water asked residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce their nonessential water use by 5-10 percent, or 3-6 gallons per day, in accordance with DEP’s guidance. Business Wire (San Francisco, Calif.), June 16, 2023

Wheat looks good in Pennsylvania, but upon closer inspection, drought seems to be affecting the grain fill. Straw yield will likely suffer as well. Farm Progress (St. Charles, Ill.), June 13, 2023