Overall, the U.S. drought outlook is better now than at this time one year ago, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says.

"If you look at the major row crops in the Midwest, which includes corn and soybeans, we do have a fairly favorable moisture situation at least in the top soil moisture levels heading into spring," Rippey says. "The overall picture is certainly better than we were this time last year, especially for the Midwest."

But the picture isn’t entirely positive.

"We still have a lot of concerns from California to the central and southern plains," Rippey says.

Watch Rippey talk about his outlook for getting out of drought and learn where planting delays might occur in the video below:

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