Drought

Beef brisket and other cuts of meat continue to be pricey as drought, packing capacity and corn prices have influenced beef production. At the start of December, the cost of prime and USDA choice cuts was more than $280 per hundredweight. Texas A&M Today (College Station, Texas), Jan 28, 2022

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will provide trout anglers in the greater Sacramento area with an unprecedented fishing opportunity this winter: the chance to catch brook trout from a half-dozen urban and suburban park ponds and lakes that are part of CDFW’s Fishing in the City program. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Sacramento, Calif.), Jan 12, 2022

The S.C. Drought Response Committee met Feb. 1 to review the drought status of all counties in South Carolina and opted to declare the entire state free of drought. Above average precipitation totals in December and January allowed the Committee to remove the incipient drought status for the 34 counties. The wildfire threat was higher in December, prompting the incipient drought designation, but the wildfire threat has eased in the past 30 days, per the S.C. Forestry Commission. The South Carolina Drought Response Committee will continue monitoring conditions because some counties are still on the cusp of drought. Another call may be needed in early March. Orangeburg Times and Democrat (S.C.), Feb 1, 2022 The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has declared drought conditions across the state, recognizing 34 counties as being in incipient drought. The meeting was called, due to wildfire concerns as the number of wildfires was nearly twice the 10-year average. By the first week of September, South Carolina had already had more than 1.5 times the 10-year average of wildfires. Rock Hill Herald (S.C.), Dec 10, 2021

Casper residents are reminded to care for their trees during the winter. The last few years of drought has meant low soil moisture, so adding mulch and watering the trees could help maintain tree health during the colder months. KGWN-TV (Cheyenne, Wyo.), Feb 2, 2022

As the level of Lake Powell continues to fall, water will be held back in the reservoir this spring to keep Powell from falling too low to generate power. The aim is to keep Powell above the critical elevation of 3,525 feet above sea level, which still allows a 35-foot buffer before Glen Canyon Dam’s hydropower turbines can no longer operate. Water from the upper basin reservoirs of Flaming Gorge, Blue Mesa and Navajo could also be sent down the Colorado River to Lake Powell, although at present those reservoirs are badly depleted and need heavy snowpack this winter. Meanwhile, the bureau and upper basin states continue to work on a new drought-response operations plan, which is expected to be completed in April. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah), Jan 7, 2022

Drought conditions are intensifying in Central Texas, and moisture is needed before spring planting. Hard freezes have damaged oat and wheat crops. The expectation of significant precipitation in coming weeks has corn growers purchasing seed. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 1, 2022

Winter wheat in the Southern High Plains in Oklahoma and Texas was in rough shape due to drought, according to AgriLife Extension grain economist at Bryan-College Station. While it has been reported that emerged wheat fields were lost to dry conditions, there is still time for dryland wheat to recover and make grain. Wheat is struggling, but the crop is still dormant in most parts of Texas. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 1, 2022

Warm, dry conditions in Goshen County were helping cattle and livestock conditions. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 30, 2022

The San Luis Valley received minimal moisture during January and remained dry. Mild weather and lack of snow allowed livestock to remain pastured longer than normal. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 25, 2022

Drought conditions did not improve in eastern Colorado counties, where concerns remained for fall-seeded crops and pasture conditions due to severe lack of precipitation. Several counties were eligible for emergency grazing of CRP due to drought. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 25, 2022

Drought has persisted into the winter in Wyoming, leaving hay growers short on hay to sell and ranchers short on hay for their livestock. A hay grower in Powell in northern Wyoming said that he usually sells his hay in Canada and the East Coast, but the demand for hay locally was so high that he had none left to ship elsewhere. With higher demand, hay prices rose from $125-$150 per ton to $300 per ton. Wyoming Business Report (Cheyenne, Wyo.), Jan 31, 2022

Hay and roughage supplies for Wyoming were rated 36 percent very short, 34 percent short, and 30 percent adequate, compared to 15 percent very short, 47 percent short, and 38 percent adequate on November 28. Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 35 percent very short, 21 percent short, and 44 percent adequate, compared to 17 percent very short, 40 percent short, and 43 percent adequate on November 28. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 8, 2022

Colorado's winter wheat condition declined with 25 percent of the crop rated good to excellent, compared to 38 percent good to excellent from the previous report. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 8, 2022

The San Luis Valley remained very dry and warm during December. Mild weather and lack of snow allowed livestock to remain pastured longer than normal. Producers continued to provide feed supplements due to poor range conditions. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 8, 2022

Drought conditions worsened in eastern Colorado counties in December and livestock producers continued to utilize winter grazing arrangements where available. Concerns remained for fall-seeded crops and pasture conditions due to severe lack of precipitation. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 8, 2022

The Pueblo West Metro District Board of Directors at a meeting on Jan. 24 voted to freeze applications for any new building or water tap permits until a meeting on March 14. The pause will allow the Water Team time to assess drought conditions and a potential new water source in Chaffee County. Some developers and builders say the delay of several weeks will cause major setbacks for them. KOAA News (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Jan 26, 2022

With runoff from snowmelt expected to be unusually low in New Mexico this year, the state needs to be able to adapt when supplies are short. Officials are seeking a $48 million appropriation to expand a fallowing program along the Rio Grande in which farmers would be paid to leave fields unplanted. New Mexico also owes water to Texas, which will cause shortages this summer for farmers and the Rio Grande River. Associated Press News (New York), Jan 25, 2022

Gangs of wild elk were feasting on farmers’ haystacks in Washington and Oregon as drought and epic amounts of snow forced the animals down to the lowlands. Electric fences can be constructed to better keep elk out, and automatic propane cannons can be set up to haze the elk with noise, but the creatures are smart and can be hard to outwit. Drought has driven up alfalfa and grass hay prices this year in the West. Northwest News Network (Portland, Ore.), Jan 27, 2022

Millions of beehives were on their way to California in time for pollination season when almond orchards bloom in February. Drought was one of several factors, including colony collapse disorder, climate change, habitat loss and stronger pesticides, that were costing beekeepers 40% of their hives. Drought in California forced a Stanislaus County beekeeper to move his bees to Washington State for much of the year as wildflowers and plants were dried up in California. Capital Public Radio (Sacramento, Calif.), Jan 26, 2022

The ski industry has invested millions of dollars in more efficient snowmaking systems, drawing water from nearby streams or reservoirs. Snowmaking in Colorado diverts about 1.5 billion gallons of water annually, and about 80% of that returns to the watershed as snowmelt in the spring. Resorts are also using more energy efficient snow guns. Associated Press News (New York), Jan 24, 2022