Drought
U.S. farmers are facing a changing scenario this year. From wet conditions impeding planting in 2020, to now drought concerns creeping in, one analyst thinks weather could be a major market mover in 2021.
“Over the last 20 years, we’ve never seen a drought situation looking like this through February,” says Nutrien Ag Solutions’ Eric Snodgrass.
The latest drought monitor shows a dramatic shift. A year ago, 100% of the state was drought free. And today, 100% of North Dakota is seeing some level of drought; a concern for farmers who fear drought will linger.
Meteorologist Matt Yarosewick has a look at the latest drought monitor.
Some portions of the West are in desperate need of some moisture.
Look to see your risk for a dry start to planting season.
Farmers are entering into spring planting season with drought covering a most of the western half of the country. A new study looking into the problem shows dry periods between rain have become longer in the West.
While weather this week is helping bring moisture to portions of the Plains, climatologists say you have to go back a couple decades to see a drought scenario similar to this year. The dryness is planting concerns.
USDA’s latest Crop Progress Report revealed 85% of New Mexico is seeing short to very short topsoil moisture conditions, and 83% of North Dakota is seeing topsoil conditions that are desperately dry.
The Midwest is catching a break from dry conditions with the help of some rain.
Following 2020’s devastating derecho in Iowa, lingering drought and recent floods, agronomists remind producers to adjust their planting decisions accordingly.
Does a river have rights? Indeed, according to a new lawsuit. As outlandish as the case seems to many observers, it may be laying the groundwork for something bigger.
The bizarre self-preservation abilities of resurrection plants like Oropetium hold tremendous promise toward engineering stronger drought-tolerance in crops, and the effects soon could reach farmland.
A new tool seeks to use tweets as an early warning system for drought.
Current dry weather conditions could play havoc with the 2021 crop. Take proactive steps now to manage through these conditions, advises Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist.
Here’s how to protect your crop from excessive rainfall, drought and cold temperatures.
The NWS’s forecast for above-normal temps means some areas could be in need of spring-time rains.
It could hit 100˚F in Des Moines next Wednesday. That in and of itself is not entirely abnormal, but it does help drive home a larger point – extreme heat is descending on large areas of the Corn Belt.
At a time when big Midwest grain crops are contributing to lower global food prices, the lack of rain in the nation’s biggest agricultural state is boosting costs for fresh fruits.
A lot of rain is needed to replenish the majority of farm country, according to a recent Farm Journal Pulse.
Kip Tom shares the impact the drought is having on his crop with the Weather Channel.
A big reason data from the Farm Journal Midwest Crop Tour is comparable to previous years is because of consistency. Scouts always travel the same routes, but pick fields at random. In South Dakota, scouts only take samples in the southeast corner of the state. But this year, the western and central portions of the state are facing drought.
When enrollment opened for the USDA disaster assistance programs this April, LaNelle Martin was one of the first to sign up at the Kimball County FSA office in Nebraska.
Federal officials have designated five Idaho counties as natural disaster areas due to recent drought conditions.
Livestock producers are eligible for USDA drought aid.
Some farmers may not participate if premiums are raised for the highest-income operations, as the Senate farm bill would do.
‘The real question is what happens in 2013, when the ethanol blending obligation increases to 13.8 billion gallons.” --Purdue University
The worst drought in a generation dramatically improves the chances that Congress will pass a farm bill this year that preserves some form of price supports.
The area of the Corn Belt with less rainfall than normal has expanded to cover 70% of the region, with more dry days ahead this week, QT Weather says.
Thousands of acres of wheat have been baled for feed in drought-stricken areas of North Dakota. Many farmers are abandoning small grains because the quality of the crops are not worth harvesting.