Drought

Two rains the first week of May allowed a Weld County farmer to plant corn and most of the milo with the expectation of nearly all of it emerging. The rain also revived the barley. Before the rain, some subpar wheat stands were destroyed. Plans were to plant milo instead of corn, which needs more water, but the rain allowed them to plant corn. Strong winds have caused even no-till and minimum-till fields to blow. Residual straw from last year’s wheat crop was fragile, due to a wheat stem sawfly infestation, and the winds removed some of the straw residue. They expected to be out of water by mid-June. DTN – Progressive Farmer (Burnsville, Minn.), May 15, 2022

Wheat prices are incredibly high, but, unfortunately for Texas wheat growers, a lot of the wheat will not be harvested this year. “Most of them will probably be totally abandoned, most meaning probably something like 70, even up to 80 percent,” according to a professor of agronomy and the wheat breeding program coordinator at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Research Center at Amarillo. One of the factors responsible for the high wheat prices are Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Those two countries account for about 30% of global exports, but it is not certain how much either country will produce this year. Indian officials announced plans to export a record amount of wheat to help make up the shortage, but later announced a ban on wheat exports as a major heat wave damaged their crop. It has since been announced that some exports will be permitted. Texas Standard (Austin), May 19, 2022

Moderate to severe drought is affecting some coastal Georgia counties, allowing some small ponds and streams in the area to run dry. The number of wildfires has also risen. Farmers are getting nervous about rain for the corn crop and for planting cotton. WTOC-TV CBS 11 Savannah (Ga.), May 19, 2022

California’s electric grid does not have sufficient capacity to keep the electricity flowing this summer and beyond if extreme heat, wildfires or other extreme events strike, warned California energy officials. Officials forecast a potential shortfall of 1,700 megawatts this year, a figure that could reach 5,000 MW if the grid is strained by multiple challenges that limit available power and demand rises sharply. Power outages would likely only occur during extreme conditions. Electricity planning in California has been difficult due to massive wildfires that have cut off transmission lines and extreme heat and drought have limited hydropower production. Reuters (New York), May 6, 2022

In southwestern Colorado, dry weather and winds continue to deteriorate crop conditions. Many producers have finished planting spring crops, but some fields have been replanted due to winds blowing seed away. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), May 17, 2022

Ipswich’s select board set voluntary water restrictions for the community. The reservoir is full, the rainfall deficit is one inch, and the river flow is down significantly at one-third of its mean level for this time of year. In addition, water use is higher. The mean flow level of the Parker River is 31.9%, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Ipswich Local News (Mass.), May 17, 2022

California water officials are warning water rights holders to expect curtailments in water diversions for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to increase progressively through the spring and summer and continue through the early fall until significant precipitation occurs. Even senior water rights holders may be affected. All water rights holders and claimants should be prepared for reduced supplies. AgAlert (Sacramento, Calif.), May 18, 2022

In the San Luis Valley, potato planting progressed quickly, and some barley fields are being replanted due to high winds. Fields are starting to green up, but the alfalfa crop was setback by a late frost. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), May 17, 2022 In the San Luis Valley, grasses are slow to green up due to lack of moisture. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), May 9, 2022

In northeastern and east central Colorado counties, wheat conditions and growth rate vary greatly due to continued winds and lack of moisture. Counties continued to experience strong winds throughout the week, with the northeastern corner of the state experiencing gusts above 50 miles per hour. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), May 17, 2022 Strong winds in northeastern and east central Colorado continued to worsen winter wheat and rangeland conditions, as well as delay planting of other crops. No moisture is visible in the top few inches of many fields. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), April 26, 2022

Southeast Colorado continued to experience high winds. Above average temperatures and dry conditions throughout the region continued to worsen crop and pasture conditions. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), May 17, 2022 Southeastern Colorado counties remained primarily dry, and windy conditions persisted, further depleting crop and range conditions. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), April 26, 2022 The counties in southeast Colorado remained mainly dry and windy conditions persisted, further depleting crop and range conditions. Winter wheat harvest is looking bleak, as conditions continue to deteriorate due to lack of moisture and wind. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), April 19, 2022

Corpus Christi officials have been informed that the lower Colorado River authority intends to curtail or suspend the City's contractual access to water from the Colorado River, due to the ongoing drought. Corpus Christi presently receives 20% of its water from the Colorado River, one of four water supply sources for the city. To cope with getting less water from the Colorado River, the city will draw more water from Lake Texana, Lake Corpus Christi, and Choke Canyon. Water quality and service will remain the same. KIII-TV3 South Texas (Corpus Christi, Texas), May 18, 2022

The May USDA Crop Production report included hay stocks for the beginning of the hay crop year beginning May 1. Total U.S. hay stocks were down 6.9% from 2021 and are 15.1% below the 2012-2021 average. This follows a nearly 12% decline in May 1 stocks last year and a December 1 stock level that was down 6% year over year. The ongoing drought continues to squeeze available hay supplies and widespread drought this year is a severe threat to 2022 hay and range/pasture production. May 1 hay stocks in the 17 plains and western states were down 17.7% year over year. Hay stocks in the West are down 36.6% from 2020 levels as drought persisted for two years in some places and are down 27.1% from the 2012-2021 average. The worst-affected regions are the Northern Plains and Rocky Mountain states with Montana down 53.6% year over year, and 55.4% lower from the ten-year average for the state. Also much lower were North Dakota, down 45.3%, South Dakota, down 50.5%, and Wyoming, down 38.5% from 2021 levels. In total, this four-state region had May 1 hay stocks down 49.2% year over year. This level is down 48.1% from the ten-year average level for the four-state total. These four states had 15.1% of beef cows on January 1. Drovers Cattle Network (Lenexa, Kan.), May 16, 2022

Outdoor water restrictions were issued for Dennis, Harwich and Brewster to conserve water through Sept. 30. Residents are asked to use their watering systems only on certain days. Water restrictions for Dennis and Harwich took effect on May 1, while Brewster’s restrictions went into effect on May 16. In May, the groundwater level in the Monomoy Lens Aquifer were slightly below average, leading officials in Dennis, Harwich, Chatham and Orleans to enact the water restrictions. Restrictions began on May 1 in Orleans and on April 15 in Chatham. Provincetown and Eastham also have restrictions on water use. Cape Cod Times (Mass.), May 17, 2022

The water level at Lake Mead is dropping about one foot weekly, which is harming the ecosystem and causing fish deaths with some parts of the lake becoming "fish graveyards." Fish from a hatchery are still planned to be released into the lake. KTNV-TV Las Vegas Channel 13 (Nev.), May 11, 2022

The grouse population in the Fort Pierre National Grassland has decreased by 15% in 2022, largely due to drought, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The total grouse population has averaged around 300 since the mid-1980s. Drought in 2021 did not permit extensive grass growth, which is useful in the spring of the following year before new grass growth occurs. Grouse begin laying eggs in April and need the dead grass from the previous year as cover, without which, the birds are more exposed to predators. Drought and little water are expected to reduce the duck and fish populations. Associated Press News (New York), May 16, 2022

The Teller County Board of County Commissioners requested that Gov. Jared Polis declare a statewide fire emergency, citing the High Park fire and other recent wildfires in the state. Such a declaration would permit the state to access emergency funds and provide additional resources for firefighting efforts. The High Park fire had burned nearly 1,600 acres and forced the pre-evacuation or evacuation of 580 homes. The blaze is 27% contained. The Colorado Springs Gazette (Colo.), May 16, 2022

A Stage 2 fire restriction took effect for unincorporated El Paso County on May 16. Open burning, the sale or use of fireworks, and outdoor smoking were prohibited. Colorado Springs Gazette (Colo.), May 16, 2022

A burn ban took effect in Colorado Springs on May 16 and will remain until further notice, according to the Colorado Springs Fire Department. Present and forecasted drought conditions, exceptionally dry fuel moisture levels, and an uptick in grass fires in undeveloped areas were reasons for the burn ban. Several fires ignited the previous week and even led to a woman’s death. Violators may be fined up to $2,500, face jail time or probation. Colorado Springs Gazette (Colo.), May 16, 2022

A dairy owner in Otter Tail County opted to sell most of his 300-cow herd after the 2021 drought slashed his feed supply, and spring 2022 feed prices were exorbitant. Rains during fall 2021 and spring 2022 ended drought in the area, but feed prices remained high. Other dairy producers were selling cows also. Agweek (Fargo, N.D.), May 16, 2022

Gov. Kate Brown declared a drought emergency in Baker, Douglas, Wallowa and Wheeler on May 13. The executive order directs state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region. “(These) counties are facing historic challenges from drought conditions that are creating hardships for the people, farms, ranches, communities and ecosystems in the region. I am committed to doing everything possible to make state resources available to provide immediate relief and assistance to water users throughout Baker, Douglas, Wallowa, and Wheeler counties,” stated Gov. Brown. The Roseburg News-Review (Ore.), May 13, 2022