Drought
Hurricane-force winds that raked the U.S. Plains belt last week appeared to cause varying degrees of damage to a winter wheat crop that was already struggling with dry conditions, Kansas crop observers said.
California could see monumental rain and snow this week. The powerful storm is expected to drench the West Coast, as forecasters say the system could bring a month’s worth of rain in a matter of days.
The U.S. is experiencing drought conditions affecting cattle, pastures, feed crops and beyond. During Farm Journal Field Days, Drovers’ Greg Henderson discussed the drought and its effect with four industry stakeholders.
Federal officials announced this week mandatory water cuts to the Colorado River, marking the first federal water cuts, and it’s the first-ever water shortage for a river that serves 40 million people in the West.
A once-a-century drought has lowered the water level of Argentina’s main grains transport river, reducing farm exports and boosting logistics costs in a trend that meteorologists said will likely continue into 2022.
California growers are speaking up about what the drought and water shortages mean for agriculture, California and the U.S. As crops are demolished and trees die, growers say farm workers are also out of work.
USDA is authorizing emergency procedures to help agricultural producers, who are impacted by extreme drought conditions, receive payments quicker.
As farmers in the West experience record-breaking heat, the continued extreme drought conditions are also taking a toll on growers, crops and livestock, with pasture and range conditions worsening.
An unprecedented heat wave and drought in the Pacific Northwest is damaging white wheat coveted by Asian buyers and forcing fruit farm workers to harvest in the night to salvage crops and avoid deadly heat.
USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says unfavorable weather means everything from barley to spring and durum wheat are getting scorched this year. Crop condition ratings continue to tumble as dryness and heat persist.