Drought

Loveland Reservoir was drained in November 2022 amid drought to provide drinking water and other water needs to South Bay communities. The low water level killed the fish. Recreation has been on hold since early 2023 for lack of water. The reservoir’s ecosystem needs to be rebuilt after the fish died. FOX 5 San Diego (Calif.), May 17, 2023

The Kansas wheat crop in 1963 was a disaster, and the 2023 harvest was shaping up to be similarly disastrous. The final tour prediction was for a statewide average of 30.0 bushels per acre (bpa). Of the 6.6 million acres USDA predicts producers will harvest, compared to the planted acreage of 8.1 million, that would work out to a total of 198 million bushels. However, the official tour projection for total production of wheat to be harvested in Kansas was lower than that, at 178 million bushels, indicating that tour participants thought abandonment might be quite a bit higher than normal at 26.75%. Crop abandonment estimates for the western part of the state reached and even topped 50%. The wheat is short, making harvest difficult or impossible, in some cases. DTN – The Progressive Farmer (Burnsville, Minn.), May 18, 2023 The Kansas Association of Wheat Growers wheat tour this week has found that the crop is far less than desired for lack of rain. Some farmers have considered or already have abandoned their wheat crop this year, especially in western Kansas. KWCH 12 (Wichita, Kan.), May 18, 2023

Drought has hurt the winter wheat and has produced less grazing for cattle in western Kansas, leaving farmers wondering what to feed them. A large farm in Hodgeman County has about 30,000 head of cattle and is feeding them silage. This will be the first year that they do not have a 10,000 ton carry over of silage because it will all have been fed to the livestock. KWCH 12 (Wichita, Kan.), May 16, 2023

California’s massive snowpack and improved reservoir levels meant that the state can count on plenty of clean, cheap hydroelectricity for the present. During drought, less electricity is produced from hydropower generation, forcing reliance on other sources, such as natural gas. The percentage of electric generation in California by hydroelectric in 2019 was 19.2%, in 2020 was 11.2%, and in 2021 was 7.5%. The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.), May 9, 2023

The U.S. beef cow herd is the smallest that it has been since 1962, due to drought and high feed prices. Livestock producers who fatten cattle have an advantage in dealing with meatpackers as they negotiate cattle prices with organizations like Tyson Foods, JBS, and Cargill. DRGNews (Pierre, S.D.), May 8, 2023

Oklahoma wheat was mixed, with some fields looking decent, while others did not have a stand, according to a small grains specialist with Oklahoma State University. Some of the wheat may be used for hay because the need for hay is so great. RFD TV (Nashville, Tenn.), May 8, 2023

The 7-acre sunflower field at a historic farm in Manatee County is drying out due to drought. The overall appearance of the farm has been affected by the dry conditions. My Sun Coast (Sarasota, Fla.), May 11, 2023

Drought slashed wheat and grass production for Oklahoma livestock last year, and growth is also slowed this year. Some ranchers were debating whether they can keep their livestock. KWTV-TV Oklahoma City (Okla.), May 12, 2023

The Centennial Water and Sanitation service areas have been in a stage one restriction since July 2022. Stage one restrictions limit outdoor irrigation to twice weekly. The area remained in moderate drought due to below normal snowpack and ongoing drought. The aim is to reduce outdoor water use by 15% to 20%. Highlands Ranch Herald (Englewood, Colo.), May 11, 2023 Stage 1 drought restrictions took effect for parts of Douglas County for the first time in 20 years. Centennial Water and Sanitation serves customers in Highlands Ranch, Solstice and northern Douglas County. Residents were asked to limit outdoor watering to two days per week. McLellan, South Platte and Chatfield reservoirs, where Centennial Water stores its water, was at 37% capacity. Storage was about 6,368 acre-feet of water, compared to the normal storage of about 10,000 acre-feet. 9News (Denver, Colo.), July 21, 2022

Citrus County has been in a burn ban since April 11. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index averaged over 600 for the county. “We have not had a significant amount of rain and that is why we’re in the condition that we’re in,” stated the county emergency management director. “Other areas of the state have received more rainfall.” Chronicle Online (Crystal River, Fla.), May 10, 2023

The Mineral Wells city council was looking at the cost of having water hauled to West City Park’s pools to keep them operational through July. Private citizens may not fill their own pools due to the drought contingency plan that took effect on April 1. The council has $49,000 to buy water for the pools. Weatherford Democrat (Texas), May 5, 2023

The rain was about a month too late to help the winter-seeded cereal wheat or treated rye, but pastures are beginning to turn green. Many cattle were being sold; some entire herds were up for sale. “The biggest and the hardest part of production agriculture is the mental game that you get put through. You have all this risk, where it’s financial, or it’s your physical labor and time,” the rancher stated. “When it doesn’t rain, you did all that work and have no return. It just wears on you. The refreshment of it finally raining was awesome. It kind of renews your spirit a little. You see the plants pop up when you dig a shovel full of soil. You see the earthworms back right there in that top four to six inches. So, we just need more days of rain.” KWCH 12 (Wichita, Kan.), May 4, 2023

Many East Texas counties received rainfall, and more was in the forecast. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were adequate to surplus. Wet field and pasture conditions continued to be a problem for some producers. Ryegrass and clovers were being cut and baled where possible. Higher nighttime temperatures will be needed to promote warm-season forage growth. Row crops were doing fair to good. Pasture and rangeland conditions were good. Livestock were in fair to good condition with some supplementation still taking place. Cattle markets were steady to higher. Houston County reported all weight classes ended $4-$7 higher per hundredweight. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 9, 2023 Most of East Texas received enough rainfall to thoroughly saturate the ground. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were adequate to surplus. Storms brought cooler temperatures, especially overnight. Fluctuations in nighttime temperatures slowed warm-season grass growth. Producers were cutting ryegrass for bales and silage. Pasture and rangeland conditions were good overall. Livestock were in fair to good condition with some supplementation taking place. Cattle markets remained firm with quality animals dominating buyer interest, and slaughter figures remained steady. Producers were able to back off hay usage and completely eliminate it in some areas. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), April 25, 2023

The fifth snow survey of the season at Phillips Station revealed a snow depth of 59 inches and a snow water equivalent of 30 inches, which is 241 percent of average for May 1. Electronic readings from the 130 snow sensors across California indicate a statewide snow water equivalent of 49.2 inches, or 254% of average for the date. Overall, the statewide snowpack melted more slowly than usual during April as temperatures were below average early in the month, and there was more cloud cover. Temperatures increased in the latter part of April. California Department of Water Resources (Sacramento), May 1, 2023 The Department of Water Resources announced that State Water Project deliveries are expected to be 100% of requested water supplies for the first time since 2006. The March estimate was 75% of requested supplies. Water from the SWP is delivered to 29 public water agencies serving 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. California Department of Water Resources (Sacramento), April 20, 2023 The State Water Project will deliver 75% of requested supplies as winter storms brought tremendous amounts of snow this winter. Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2023 The California Department of Water Resources announced an expected water allocation of 35% from the State Water Project, up from 30% in January. The Associated Press (New York), Feb 22, 2023 The series of storms that brought heavy rain and snow to California have partially filled reservoirs, allowing the State Water Project to offer 30% of requested water supplies to 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians. The initial allocation in December was just 5%. California typically receives half its rain and snow by the end of January. Water managers will reassess conditions monthly during the winter and spring, and also consider snowpack data and runoff forecasts from February on. California Department of Water Resources (Sacramento) Jan 26, 2023 The Department of Water Resources announced an initial State Water Project allocation of 5 percent of requested supplies for 2023. The SWP provides water to 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians. Water allocations are frequently low early in the wet season due to uncertainty in hydrologic forecasting. In addition, the expectation is for a fourth dry year and continued drought in California. Lake Oroville, the largest reservoir in the State Water Project system, is just 55% of average for this time of year. Oroville ended Water Year 2022 at about 400,000 acre-feet higher than the previous year. For the 2022 Water Year, the initial allocation was 0% on Dec. 1, 2021, with limited water designated only for any unmet human health and safety needs. Last year’s final allocation was 5 percent plus unmet health and safety needs. Four of the 29 State Water Contractors ultimately requested and received additional health and safety water supply. California Department of Water Resources (Sacramento, Calif.), Dec 1, 2022

High utility bills in Colorado this past winter can be attributed to drought in California, where hydropower production was half of normal in 2022. To compensate for less electricity from hydropower, California utilities bought more natural gas, which increased prices across the West. In Colorado, the cost of delivered gas utilities rose nearly 100%. The drought-related gas prices affected heating bills and the price of electricity. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that the price of electricity across the West may have risen by about 5%. The Colorado Sun (Denver), May 9, 2023

Missouri’s progress in planting corn was 92% and was quicker than occurred during the drought year of 2012, when dry weather allowed farmers to get in the field. Some Missouri farmers this year were waiting for rain to plant, however. AgWeb (Mexico, Mo.), May 9, 2023

Game wardens with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks warned boaters via Facebook that water levels in the state’s waterways remained low, in spite of the recent rainfall. Caution should be exercised when boating in the Sunflower State. WIBW-TV 13 (Topeka, Kan.), May 9, 2023

A rancher set out to restore the soil after scores of years of growing cotton and switched to growing grass and regeneratively grazing cattle after seeing other ranches do it. He started with land that had previously had cotton on it and seeded the land to grass. The land was fenced for managed grazing. With grass growing and cattle being moved through the tracts, the soil soon began to improve and contain more organic matter. The land became more productive, and the soil did not blow away. In late summer 2022, when neighbors who practiced conventional grazing had to sell three-quarters of their herd, the rancher with restored grassland only had to destock by 25%. Neighbors began to inquire about the abundant grass. SF | Successful Farming Online (Des Moines, Iowa), May 8, 2023

Hillsborough County residents were reminded to be mindful of their water use as rainfall in the first four months of the year has been below normal. From the start of the year through April 30, Hillsborough has received 4.87 inches, which is 6.06 inches less than average. Tampa Beacon (Seminole, Fla.), May 8, 2023

A wheat grower in Grant County estimated that he will lose about 95% of his wheat this year. He and four other farmers get their irrigation water from the same source and try to use the water as frugally and wisely as possible. KWCH 12 (Wichita, Kan.), May 8, 2023