News

Drought recovery happening

The state climatologist with University of Missouri Extension says above average rainfall is helping the soil recover from a three-year drought.

Zach Leasor says it’s especially true for areas south of I-70, which has had at least 15 inches of rain since April.

“And of course, there’s been extremes that have gotten up to 30 inches of rain,” he says.

The part of Missouri north of I-70 has average rainfall totals so far this year, with the northeast part of Missouri getting drier. Leasor says under the deep soil, the state’s ground water is getting a recharge, but not in all locations.

One area to still watch is central Missouri,” he says. “Here up to Northeast Missouri, that’s also been in that three-year corridor of drought and they aren’t dry this year. I know we’re seeing really low lake levels there in some locations like Mark Twain Lake and those long term impacts.”

Leasor says despite some drought recovery, Missouri farmers remain cautious.

“I think it will take a few more years of these if we get wet conditions until people really relax their guard on some of the drought we’ve seen in Missouri,” he says.

Leasor says he’s not concerned about dry conditions this summer, because thunderstorms are expected to pop up in the next two weeks across Missouri.

Brownfield interviewed Leasor during MU’s Crop and Pest Management Field Day in mid-Missouri.