Drought Watch: 12 States Have Majority of Topsoil in Short to Very Short Moisture Conditions

USDA's latest Crop Progress Report revealed  85% of New Mexico is seeing short to very short topsoil moisture conditions. 77% of Texas is in that category. And 83% of North Dakota is seeing topsoil conditions that are desperately dry.
USDA's latest Crop Progress Report revealed 85% of New Mexico is seeing short to very short topsoil moisture conditions. 77% of Texas is in that category. And 83% of North Dakota is seeing topsoil conditions that are desperately dry.
(Lindsey Benne)

As the U.S. sees an early start to the 2021 planting season, it's a mixed bag when it comes to soil moisture profiles. Dryness isn’t just showing up on the U.S. Drought Monitor. The latest Crop Progress report from USDA divulged the latest topsoil moisture conditions, with 12 states seeing more than half of its topsoil in short to very short conditions.

USDA says 85% of New Mexico has short to very short topsoil moisture conditions. 77% of Texas is in that category. And 83% of North Dakota is seeing topsoil conditions that are desperately dry.

“We’ve had minuscule amounts of moisture,” says Kim Saueressig, a farmer in McCluskey, North Dakota. “We probably really haven't seen a decent rain since probably the first week in August last year. Last fall was our fastest harvest we've ever had. And so, to go from a wet fall in 2019 and a wet spring in 2020, to now, it’s a total turnaround.”

Soil conditions are so dry, Sauerssig and other area farmers have parked their planters in central and western North Dakota.

Too Wet to Plant

In the mid-South and Southeast, it’s the opposite story unfolding in farm fields. Only 2% of Tennessee’s topsoil moisture is short. With so much moisture, farmers are seeing a delayed planting season.

With some warm temperatures hitting this week, Brad Warren, a farmer in southeastern North Carolina, says he's finally able to kick off corn planting, but now it's a game of catch-up.

“We're probably a week to a week and a half behind when we would normally start,” he says. “We normally would start last week of March, and it was last week before we got started, so the first of April.”

Warren says if the window to plant in the next couple weeks gets cut short, he and other area farmers may considering switching acres from corn to crops such as cotton or soybeans.

Related Stories:

USDA's Crop Progress Report Revealed Planting Pace is Ahead of Average

 

Latest News

Markets Chop Ahead of Report and Month End:  What Will the Markets Trade After the Reports?
Markets Chop Ahead of Report and Month End: What Will the Markets Trade After the Reports?

Grain and livestock markets see 2-sided trade Thursday morning ahead of month end and USDA data. What will the markets trade after the reports? Randy Martinson, Martinson Ag, has insight.

The Untold Farmer Stories Of Ukraine: Q&A With Howard Buffett
The Untold Farmer Stories Of Ukraine: Q&A With Howard Buffett

Farmer and philanthropist Howard Buffett held a fireside chat during the 2024 Top Producer Summit to share his experiences visiting the front line of Ukraine over the past two years.

Tax Credits and Carbon Capture: How Ethanol Plants Offset Costs
Tax Credits and Carbon Capture: How Ethanol Plants Offset Costs

Ethanol plants are exploring carbon capture technologies to reduce their carbon intensity (CI) scores and qualify for tax credits.

AgDay TV Markets Now: Mike Zuzulo Says Row Crops Cautious Ahead of Report, Cattle Recover
AgDay TV Markets Now: Mike Zuzulo Says Row Crops Cautious Ahead of Report, Cattle Recover

Mike Zuzulo with Global Commodity Analytics says farmers and funds have sold in the corn market the last couple of sessions with uncertainty on several fronts, including growing concerns about the USDA reports. 

SoyFoam:  Fire Fighters Demo First Soybased Fire Suppressant
SoyFoam: Fire Fighters Demo First Soybased Fire Suppressant

Fire fighters from across the U.S. participated in a fire demonstration at the Dalton, Georgia fire department looking at the effectiveness of Soyfoam, the first soy based fire suppressant.

From Farm to Fire: First Soybased Fire Suppressant Hits the Market
From Farm to Fire: First Soybased Fire Suppressant Hits the Market

Since the 1950s, fire departments across the country have used products containing dangerous PFAS to put out fires. But the United Soybean Board has announced a greener alternative made from soybean meal.