USA: drought expands and intensifies main corn growing states

The drought monitor released April 29 for April 20 to 27 indicated intensifying drought conditions across many of the top corn growing states. Extreme D3 drought in North Dakota expanded further. Growers in Texas and Colorado also face more trying moisture shortages. Tennessee is the only corn growing state that did not indicate moisture stress in the latest drought monitor report.

Abnormally dry conditions now reach further south in Iowa. An additional 10 counties in northeast Iowa reported intensifying conditions now categorized as moderate drought. Overall, about 75% of the state reported suffering from abnormally dry conditions, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Iowa topsoil moisture levels rated 17% very short, 38% short, 45% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 14% very short, 44% short, 42% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Across the Mississippi River, the western half of Illinois is moisture stressed. About 7% of the state, in the northeast corner, is in moderate drought. Overall, about 53% of the state reported suffering from abnormally dry conditions, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Illinois topsoil moisture levels rated 2% very short, 17% short, 69% adequate, and 12% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1% very short, 15% short, 77% adequate, and 7% surplus.

Drought conditions in Nebraska were unchanged in the latest drought monitor report. Severe drought persists for 7% of the state and is focused in the southwest region. Overall, about 62% of the state reported abnormally dry conditions, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Nebraska topsoil moisture levels rated 7% very short, 23% short, 68% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 11% very short, 26% short, 62% adequate, and 1% surplus.

The number of acres affected by abnormally dry conditions in Indiana jumped up significantly in the latest report. About 9% of the state reported moderate drought. Overall, about 84% of the state reported abnormally dry conditions, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Indiana topsoil moisture levels rated 1% very short, 10% short, 71% adequate, and 18% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 4% very short, 17% short, 70% adequate, and 9% surplus.

In Minnesota, abnormally dry conditions grew to become moderate drought areas in many southern counties. Two counties in the northwest part of the state reported severe drought. Overall, about 37% of the state reported abnormally dry conditions, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Minnesota topsoil moisture levels rated 8% very short, 27% short, 60% adequate, and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 8% very short, 27% short, 60% adequate, and 5% surplus.

Abnormally dry acreage expanded eastward in Kansas, according to the latest drought monitor report. Severe drought continues to affect five counties in the western part of the state. Overall, about 37% of the state reported abnormally dry conditions, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Kansas topsoil moisture levels rated 7% very short, 20% short, 69% adequate, and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 8% very short, 19% short, 69% adequate, and 4% surplus.

Although 19% of South Dakota is still in extreme drought, moderate drought and abnormally dry acreage shrunk slightly in the northeast part of the state. Overall, about 93% of the state reported abnormally dry conditions, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated South Dakota topsoil moisture levels rated 25% very short, 42% short, 33% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 24% very short, 46% short, 30% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Abnormally dry acreage expanded to the south in Ohio and now covers 48% of the state. Moderate drought conditions were reported in the northern part of the state. Overall, about 70% of the state reported abnormally dry conditions, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Ohio topsoil moisture levels rated 1% very short, 6% short, 68% adequate, and 25% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2% very short, 12% short, 68% adequate, and 18% surplus.

For the first time in six weeks, Missouri reported abnormally dry conditions in two northern counties. About 99% of the state reported no drought stress.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Missouri topsoil moisture levels rated 0% very short, 4% short, 82% adequate, and 14% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 0% very short, 3% short, 87% adequate, and 10% surplus.

Moisture stress expanded significantly in Wisconsin. Moderate drought increased to cover 23% of the state. Overall, about 51% of the state reported abnormally dry conditions, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Wisconsin topsoil moisture levels rated 8% very short, 23% short, 65% adequate, and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 5% very short, 21% short, 67% adequate, and 7% surplus.

For the second week in a row, moderate drought conditions in Michigan expanded dramatically to about 77% of the state. The western half of the upper peninsula is the only part of the state without moisture concerns. Overall, about 80% of the state reported abnormally dry conditions, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Michigan topsoil moisture levels rated 4% very short, 40% short, 50% adequate, and 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 5% very short, 30% short, 63% adequate, and 2% surplus.

Abnormally dry conditions in northern Kentucky have expanded to cover about 4% of the state.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Kentucky topsoil moisture levels rated 0% very short, 1% short, 73% adequate, and 26% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1% very short, 3% short, 78% adequate, and 19% surplus.

North Dakota’s extreme drought expanded to cover 83% of the state. Overall, 100% of the state faces some moisture stress, and about 98% of the state faces moderate drought, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated North Dakota topsoil moisture levels rated 55% very short, 28% short, 17% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 54% very short, 27% short, 18% adequate, and 1% surplus.

Drought also expanded in Texas. Exceptional drought now covers about 10% of the Lone Star State. Overall, about 87% of Texas faces abnormally dry conditions, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Texas topsoil moisture levels rated 16% very short, 26% short, 40% adequate, and 18% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 21% very short, 25% short, 39% adequate, and 15% surplus.In Pennsylvania, abnormally dry conditions expanded to cover more than 31% of the state, focused in the west. About 9% of the state, in the northwest corner, reported moderate drought. Overall, about 40% of Pennsylvania reported abnormally dry conditions, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Pennsylvania topsoil moisture levels rated 0% very short, 10% short, 90% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2% very short, 7% short, 91% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Exceptional drought in Colorado expanded to cover an additional 2% of the state. Now, about 17% of the state’s acres are classified as D4 exceptional drought. Overall, 99% of the state reported abnormally dry conditions, or worse.

The May 3 Crop Progress Report indicated Colorado topsoil moisture levels rated 19% very short, 33% short, 46% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 34% very short, 38% short, 28% adequate, and 0% surplus.

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Tags: drought, USA