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The most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report indicated that drought significantly lowered wheat, barley and bean production. Durum wheat yields will likely be down 50% from 2020, while production of other spring wheats were predicted to be 41% lower. Barley yields were more than 33% lower. Dry, edible beans, including black-eyed peas, were also substantially lower, due to drought. Fewer acres were planted. This could mean higher prices on some products. Consumers can expect to pay more for flour, pasta, beer, animal feed and more. The Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Sept 9, 2021

Livestock and wildlife were being supplemented in drier areas. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 8, 2021

Conditions continued to decline due to high temperatures and lack of rainfall. Some reports of poor harvests. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 8, 2021

Rain was needed to finish summer crops and plant winter wheat. The soil moisture was very short to short in southern parts of the district. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 8, 2021

Rangeland and pasture conditions were good in most areas, but drier, hotter weather caused some browning, especially on lighter soils. Areas needed more rain to finish the hay season. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 8, 2021

Growers were starting to dust in wheat as it was hot and dry in the district. Some grazing was starting to brown for lack of moisture. Ranchers have excess hay bales. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 8, 2021

Forage grasses were drying down quickly and going dormant as soil moisture declined. A decent rain was required before fall planting can begin, but field preparation was occurring. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 8, 2021

Half a dozen wells in Eatonville went dry on Aug. 4. Water utilities reliant on wells in Clallam, Benton, Whatcom and Pierce counties each have reported failing wells. The Seattle Times (Wash.), Sept 6, 2021

U.S. ranchers are selling more heifers as feeder cattle, indicative of the present drought environment, according to Livestock Marketing Information Center. Drovers (Lenexa, Ks.), Sept 3, 2021

The recent rain in South Dakota was too late to improve crop yields, and the strong winds and baseball-sized hail to some areas, laying the corn flat. Some corn growers in Tripp County were harvesting their corn for silage as some of it did not produce ears anyway. Sioux Falls Argus Leader (S.D.), Sept 7, 2021

Weston County producers reduced herd sizes due to minimal pasture grass and increased hay prices. Pastures were depleted throughout the county and there has not been much late season grass growth. There were similar comments in Goshen County of overgrazed pastures. Reports from Goshen County indicated the third cutting of hay is being grown mostly for tonnage, with quality reported as poor. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Sept 9, 2021

Kiowa County crops were mostly in good condition, but some grain sorghum failed to head out, due to heat and dry weather. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Sept 8, 2021

Notice: the incident management team has put the Ellis Fire in patrol status as of August 1, 2021.  Firefighters will continue to monitor this fire as necessary, but additional growth is unlikely.  Unless the status changes, this will be the last post for the Ellis Fire.The Ellis Fire, which is being managed as part of the Divide Complex with the Balsinger Fire, started on July 8, 2021 on the White Sulphur Springs Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest. The cause is under investigation. The fire is located in the Dry Range - East Fork, about 2.5 miles southwest of Smith River. Management of the Ellis Fire has been transferred back to the Helena-Lewis and Clark (8/12/2021) and has been contained. AdvisoriesDo not fly drones over the fire. If you fly, we can't.Please respect road closure. Traffic on closed roads creates safety hazards for firefighters and emergency vehicles.Firefighting resources are extremely limited. It is critically important that we all do...

The French Fire started on Aug. 18, west of Lake Isabella in Kern County. It has burned 26,535 acres with 99 percent containment. Crews continue to patrol, monitor and mop-up hotspots identified during a recent aerial flight. None of these heat sources affect the fire's perimeter. Repair WorkSeveral weeks of repair work are needed within the French Fire burn area. Heavy equipment crews are working in a clockwise rotation from Rancheria towards Alder Creek. The public should anticipate road closures with barriers.The cleanup continues of trees blocking the Alder Creek. Hand crews will be replacing damaged fence lines.Starting Oct. 6, Southern California Edison will be using a helicopter to set power poles on Rancheria and State Route 155 east of Summit Station. ClosureThe Sequoia National Forest is closed to all public access within the French Fire burn area. This includes hunters, OHV riders and wood cutters.Fuel TreatmentsYear-round, federal agencies conduct fuels treatments,...

The Greenwood Fire was detected on August 15, 2021 near Greenwood Lake on the Laurentian Ranger District. The fire is between Greenwood Lake and the intersections of Highways 1 and 2.  (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7808/64839/). The Greenwood Fire is managed under unified command with the Superior National Forest, Lake County Emergency Management, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. At 8:00 a.m. Friday September 3rd, the Lake County Sheriff reopened the closed and evacuated section of Hwy 2 (between Forest Hwy 11 and Hwy 1) to home and cabin owners in the Greenwood Lake, Sand Lake, and Dunka River Road areas.  Each property owner will be given two check-point passes that will need to be shown each time they enter Hwy 2 through one of the check-points (either at the intersection of Forest Hwy 11 and Hwy 2 on the north end).  Passes are currently limited to property owners and their immediate families in order to limit traffic for crew safety.  For...

The Lava Fire started on 6/24/21 by lightning northeast of the community of Weed. The continued hard work from our local, regional and national firefighting resources has stopped the forward spread of this fire. This will be the last report unless significant fire activity occurs. Isolated interior smokes may be visible as stump holes continue to burn. Fire resource will continue to monitor and patrol the fire area as needed to keep the fire perimeter within its current

The Larkins Fire Complex is located on the St. Joe River Ranger district of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The Complex consists of 12 fires with a total of 3,358 acres in the Mallard Larkins Recommended Wilderness area near the Little North Fork of the Clearwater river. Visitors are reminded to heed the area closure, as well as other fire closures in the area. A reconnaissance of the Complex on 8/9 showed very low fire activity and little smoke. This may change as the weather heats up and dries fuels back