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Drought hastened the liquidation of cattle and would likely continue to support rising cattle prices in the months ahead, according to an Oklahoma State University livestock marketing specialist. The beef cow slaughter is about 9 percent higher year-over-year, and 12 percent higher than in 2019. Drought may be contributing about 1.5% to the increased beef cow slaughter rate. The lack of rain in Oklahoma slowed winter wheat pasture growth for grazing. La Junta Tribune-Democrat (Colo.), Nov 24, 2021 Livestock producers in the West, Southwest and Northern Plains have endured extreme drought since June and are trying to decide whether to feed their herds or liquidate. Farm Progress (St. Charles, Ill.), Nov 11, 2021 Extreme heat and drought dried up pastures, leaving no hay or feed for cattle, pushing many cattle producers from Canada across the U.S. and Mexico to sell livestock. The liquidation of breeding stock is expected to limit cattle production for years, tighten the North American beef supply, and increase prices consumers will pay, according to ranchers and cattle experts. Reuters (New York), Sept 3, 2021

Experts recommend that farmers test their soil for nitrogen to ensure the application of the right amount of fertilizer. Some testing has indicated nitrogen numbers up to five times higher than a normal year, meaning more fertilizer was needed. Prices for fertilizer are up to twice that of last year. KX Net (Bismarck, N.D.), Nov 15, 2021

Although water customers were urged to curb their water use by 50%, Lake Mendocino was still at less than 20% of capacity and has no significant backup supply. The reservoir needs decent precipitation through the winter to have enough to meet demand next summer and fall. Tens of thousands of people depend on the lake. In addition, a faulty electric transformer for the Potter Valley Project means less water flowing into Lake Mendocino and typically provides about 30% of the lake’s inflow. Sedimentation may have reduced the amount of water that the lake holds so that there is less water there than expected. Grape growers were denied district water since April, and yield losses were 20% to 60% for many growers. San Francisco Chronicle (Calif.), Nov 12, 2021

Southern Nevada Water Authority’s Water Smart Landscapes Program pays property owners $3 for every square foot of grass removed and replaced with drip-irrigated landscaping or artificial turf. More than 200 million square feet of grass has been removed in Southern Nevada since the program started in 1999, saving 11 billion gallons of water a year. KVVU-TV FOX 5 Las Vegas (Nev.), Nov 10, 2021

This was very difficult year for Montana farmers and ranchers with extreme heat, drought, grasshoppers, commodity prices, and other issues, mental health and behavioral health was increasingly a concern in farming communities. Frank King, considering himself a "mental health comedian," feared a spike in suicides could follow. He spoke at the Montana Farm Bureau Federation convention to open a dialogue about suicide. Montana has led the country in suicide rates for more than 40 years and a 2012 study revealed that suicide among farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers was twice that of the general population, according to the National Farmers Union. Ravalli Republic (Mont.), Nov 10, 2021

Acting Hawaii Governor Clare Connors signed a proclamation that provides relief to Maui County, which has suffered under drought conditions since March 2019. Rainfall, stream flow, and ground water levels in Maui County remain significantly below normal. Gov. David Ige previously issued a proclamation declaring an emergency on Jan. 27, 2021, allowing the state to provide Maui County with relief from disaster damages, losses and suffering caused by the drought conditions. The initial proclamation expired after 60 days. Maui Now (Kahului, Hawaii), Nov 10, 2021

Crops looked fairly good in Carver County, despite a summer of extreme drought. Timely rains helped and favorable fall weather allowed farmers to harvest early. Oats, however, were used for straw instead of being harvested as yields were low. Severe drought hurt crops in counties to the north and southwest where dairy and produce farms were ravaged. The corn yield should be down 13 bushels per acre, compared to 2020, according to the USDA. Some varieties of apples were small, due to drought, while other varieties were fine. The lack of rain this fall was helpful for drying crops in the field, saving farmers money on propane. HometownSource (Coon Rapids, Minn.), Nov 11, 2021

Drought-stressed canola that cannot be harvested could be an alternative forage option for cattle. AgUpdate (Tekamah, Neb.), Nov 9, 2021

Drought along West Coast has reduced the number of wetlands and waterways available for migratory birds that need those stops for rest and nourishment, with many of the Pacific Flyway stops being eliminated in California. The Klamath refuges held little water and the winter rice fields in the Sacramento Valley offers far less habitat this year for hungry, weary birds. Cal Matters (Sacramento, Calif.), Nov 10, 2021 The lack of water for California rice growers in the Sacramento Valley also will mean less inviting habitat for birds along the Pacific Flyway as millions of migratory birds typically stop in rice fields to eat and rest on their journeys south. Bloomberg Green (New York), July 27, 2021

SPECIAL NOTE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events-be prepared to take action. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/sto/. Dixie Post-Fire BAER—Preparing for Rain EventsPOST-FIRE WATERSHED CONDITIONS—KEY MESSAGESWhile many wildfires cause minimal damage to the land and pose few threats to the land or people downstream, some fires cause damage that requires special efforts to prevent problems afterwards.Thunderstorms and winter rain events in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains can result in high water runoff and flooding.Wildfire increases the potential for flooding, post-fire soil erosion and debris flows that could impact campgrounds, fishing areas, homes, structures, roads, and other infrastructure within,...

Wichita County commissioners extended a burn ban on Dec. 20 as drought worsened in North Texas. Wichita Falls Times Record News (Texas), Dec. 20, 2021

The Hale County Commissioners Court voted to enact a 90-day burn ban which took effectively immediately on Dec. 13. Commissioners also implemented a ban on restricted fireworks, such as aerial or projectile ones. The neighboring county of Swisher also had a burn ban. Plainview Daily Herald & My Plainview (Texas), Dec 16, 2021

The California Water Commission proposed constructing a new lake in Northern California that would hold enough water for 3 million households in one year. This lake, to be called Sites Reservoir, would be the first new water storage project in years. While the water storage would be beneficial, the reservoir would speed up the extinction of an endangered salmon species and disrupt the cultural traditions of some native tribes. The Sites Reservoir would not rely on a river flowing into it, but would be filled by water pumped from the Sacramento River when there is excess to bank in the reservoir. Associated Press News (New York), Dec 15, 2021

San Diego will provide water from an underground storage facility in Kern County to serve parts of northern Los Angeles County, Ventura County and San Bernardino County in an agreement with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Metropolitan Water will purchase 4,200 acre-feet of the Water Authority’s reserves in the Semitropic Water Bank next year and lease an additional 5,000 acre-feet from the Water Authority’ account, as stated in the agreement. Times of San Diego (Calif.), Dec 14, 2021

California lawmakers were examining how drought can affect residents’ wellbeing. The Senate Select Committee on Human Security held a hearing on how drinking water is affected, as well as labor, health, and prices and supply at grocery stores. KGPE-TV CBS 47 Fresno (Calif.), Dec 16, 2021

The KNP Complex Fire burned for months, killing thousands of giant sequoia, consuming 88,307 acres and extensively damaging parts of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. The blaze was finally fully contained on Dec. 17 after winter storms brought heavy snow that finally extinguished the smoldering fire. The KNP Complex began in early September when two fires, sparked by lightning strikes, merged on Sept. 9. The flames burned through millions of dead and desiccated trees, killed by drought and an infestation of bark beetles in the southern Sierra. The General Sherman tree and others were encircled with fire-resistant wrap to protect them from the flames that killed between 3% and 5% of the mature sequoia trees in the world died, despite the firefighters’ hard work to protect the trees. Visalia Times-Delta (Calif.), Dec 20, 2021

The Kansas Forest Service revised the total wildfire acres burned across western Kansas that sparked on Dec. 15 due to a historic storm that brought high winds to drought-stricken western Kansas, making dust blow. Kansas Forest Service and the National Interagency Fire Coordination Center used a new satellite data system to map ongoing wildfire to determine about 163,000 acres burned rather than the 400,000 acres that was previously reported. Great Bend Post (Kan.), Dec 21, 2021 The Four County Fire, a large wildfire in Russell and Ellis counties, has burned 365,850 acres, per the Kansas Forest Service, and destroyed at least 10 homes, according to the Russell County Sheriff. Initial assessment of the fire activity on Dec. 15, the day of the high winds and dust storms, indicated that 11 fires burned a cumulative acreage of nearly 400,000 acres. On the morning of Dec. 16, the Oklahoma Forest Service reported that the Cobb Fire in the panhandle had claimed about 10,000 acres. From the Texas Forest Service on the afternoon of Dec. 16: The North 207 Fire between Pampa and Borger burned 23,810 acres. The Parker Creek Fire southwest of Dumas was estimated at 11,066 acres. Wildfire Today (Rapid City, S.D.), Dec 16, 2021

On September 9, 2021, a significant lightning storm moved through the Southern Sierra Nevada. On September 10, two fires, the Colony Fire and Paradise Fire, were identified. These two fires later merged and became the KNP Complex. The majority of the total acreage of the KNP Complex has burned in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. This is a full-suppression fire.The KNP Complex does not pose any threats to life or property at this time. In light of significant precipitation events across the Sierra Nevada, the fire was declared 100% contained on December 16, 2021. However, fire can become established in heavy fuels and continue to smolder there for multiple precipitation events, or even all winter, and become active again when the fuels dry, so it may be some time yet before this fire can be officially declared "out." Parts of the foothills in Sequoia National Park reopened on Thursday November 11, 2021, from the Ash Mountain entrance to Hospital Rock. On Saturday, December 11,...

At 1:15 pm on Wednesday December 15th, Texas A&M Forest Service received a request for assistance for a fire approximately 8.5 miles west of Skellytown. TAMFS Crews are working in unified command with local resources. Extreme fire behavior due to weather conditions are being observed. The fire was heading towards Skellytown and threatening multiple homes earlier today. Residents of Skellytown were evacuated and been directed to an evacuation center in Pampa, TX. All evacuations for Skellytown have since been

 Amarillo, Texas - On Wednesday, December 15th the Parker Creek fire started in Oldham county south of Channing, Texas. The fire spread rapidly and Texas A&M Forest Service was called for assistance at 11:15 am. Winds were reported gusting up to 80 mph in the area until 3 at which point there will be a significant drop off. Good recovery in relative humidity, temperature drops and with winds slowing down fire spread was