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As reservoirs and other water sources become depleted amid drought, California fire fighters look to alternative water supplies, such as people’s swimming pools or tanks of water on private property when they really need water. Cal Fire replaces the water later once the fire is under control. CBS Sacramento (Calif.), Aug 19, 2021

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources expanded burning restrictions in northern and central Minnesota effective Aug. 17 as drought worsens and the fire danger rises. The expanded restrictions include the eastern portion of Roseau County and all of Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Morrison, Stearns, St. Louis, Todd and Wadena counties. There are additional restrictions for 11 of the previous counties (Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Mahnomen and the northern portion of St. Louis and Wadena counties, excluding tribal trust lands) and three additional counties--Cook, Lake and Otter Tail. KARE-TV NBC 11 (Minneapolis, Minn.), Aug 16, 2021

The Greenwood Fire burned 4,200 acres and continued to expand since the blaze began on Aug. 15, likely from a lightning strike, prompting Lake County officials to declare a state of emergency on Aug. 19. Grand Forks Herald (N.D.), Aug 19, 2021

A Waite Park well drilling business was extremely busy servicing wells and drilling new wells as pumps or irrigation systems suffer from overuse. CBS Minnesota (Minneapolis), Aug 16, 2021

The City of Folsom announced on Aug. 16 that residents must curb water use by 20% as of Aug. 30. Folsom gets its water from the American River at Folsom Lake, which is lower than it was during the 2014-15 drought. This is also the second driest year since 1977. In June, Folsom officials requested that residents voluntarily lower their water use by 10%. KCRA-TV NBC 3 Sacramento (Calif.), Aug 17, 2021

The Bureau of Land Management manages the wild horse population in the West and intended to gather around 6,000 horses, largely in Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming and Colorado by October, rounding up 50% more horses than in 2020. Meager precipitation allowed little vegetation to grow this spring and summer for the animals to eat. Animal advocates want the horses left on the range and given fertility treatments to limit herd size, but fertility treatments must be readministered annually. Cattle ranchers were voluntarily reducing grazing on federal land and were hauling water to livestock, which also benefits the horses. Associated Press News (New York), Aug 18, 2021 The Bureau of Land Management plans to round up 50% more horses in 2021, due to intense drought. Recent emergency roundups were focused on horses in Nevada, Oregon and Colorado where “chronic overpopulation” has exhausted food and water supplies. Associated Press News (New York), Aug 3, 2021

Red River Valley construction companies were completing projects ahead of schedule without rain delays. KVLY-TV Fargo - Valley News Live (N.D.), Aug 13, 2021

After a dry spring and hot summer, almond trees in the San Joaquin Valley are beginning to be stressed. With irrigation and water quality issues, many growers are worried about the next season and wonder what the lack of water has done to the trees. ABC 30 Action News (Fresno, Calif.), Aug 12, 2021

Some apples were a little smaller than usual for lack of moisture. The orchard owner worried about some newly planted trees and hand-watered them carefully this summer to keep them alive and thriving. KSTP-TV ABC 5 Minneapolis/St. Paul (Minn.), Aug 12, 2021

Spider mites were increasing in number in South Dakota, due to continued drought and heat. WNAX-AM 570 (Yankton, S.D.), Aug 16, 2021

The harvest of grapes for sparkling wines began in Sonoma County, but the grapes for still wines will stay on the vines for a few more weeks. The crop was lighter and berries smaller for the most part, but grape growers are hopeful for the quality of the grapes despite the drought. Many growers were using less far water this year than in previous years. Sonoma Index-Tribune (Calif.), Aug 19, 2021

Drought and heat caused some streams to run dry. Ranchers responded by stocking the ranches with fewer cattle to avoid overgrazing. KBOI-TV (Boise, Idaho), Aug 18, 2021

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department this week urged hunters to note the daily fire danger index and to be prepared to extinguish a fire should one start. The Bismarck Tribune (N.D.), Aug 19, 2021

Drought devastated honey production in North Dakota as there was little nectar for the bees to gather for making honey. The North Dakota and Midwestern bees were also weakened and in short supply for pollinating crops on the West Coast like almonds and apples. Drought is driving up pollination costs for California almond growers. The Dakotas, Montana and Minnesota accounted for 46% of all U.S. honey production last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Some North Dakota apiarists expect honey production to be less than 50% of average this year. In Iowa, Sioux Honey estimates that drought could lower domestic honey production by 25% to 40% in 2021. Reuters (New York), Aug 19, 2021

Heat and drought have stressed tomato plants in Wisconsin, causing blossom drop, curled, twisted and discolored leaves, and limited tomato production. Wisconsin Public Radio (Madison), Aug 17, 2021

The lack of water for operating a cattle feedlot and growing hay puts one cattlewoman at risk of losing her farm. She intends to sell her 4,000 cattle in November. With water in short supply, she planted half of her fields with corn, hay and alfalfa and received 1 acre-foot of water for irrigation. The water allocation was subsequently cut to one-eighth of a foot and lost her corn crop. The prices of premium alfalfa was $190 to $250 six months ago, but has increased to $200 to $285 at present, according to Hay & Forage Grower. The president-elect of the Oregon Cattleman’s Association said that there was no hay available at any price after ranchers stocked up on hay this spring. Capital Press (Salem, Ore.), Aug 19, 2021

Officials from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis say the biggest impact of the drought will be on agriculture. Livestock and dairy producers will hurt worse than crop producers. KVRR Fargo (N.D.), Aug 13, 2021

After a hot, dry July, feed crops, like hay, corn silage, oats and more, for livestock were severely limited, especially in the middle of the state. Without moisture, ranchers cannot plant a fall cover crop for grazing, leaving ranchers searching for feed supplies. As a result, cattle sales were up. Rapid City Journal (S.D.), Aug 13, 2021

Drought is drying out and killing some trees and plants in the Willamette Valley. The heat wiped out a lot of trees just planted in January and February even though they irrigate the trees once every three weeks, which is not frequently enough for the new trees. Some farmers lost all of their plantings from this year. KVAL-TV CBS 13 (Eugene, Ore.), Aug 16, 2021

A San Joaquin Valley almond grower in Fresno County was using “deficit irrigation,” giving trees less water than they need because he doesn’t have enough water. He also left a third of his land unplanted to leave water for the almonds. He was also considering pulling out 100 of his 600 acres of almond trees after the harvest. California produces 80% of the world’s almonds and has a $6 billion almond industry, but the lack of water is forcing almond growers to make hard decisions about whether to continue growing them as some almond orchards were planted in areas with unreliable water supplies. Numerous growers could not afford the water and have allowed the trees to die. Associated Press News (New York), Aug 17, 2021