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Exceptional drought comes back to Missouri

Drought conditions are worsening and Missouri’s state climatologist says the situation isn’t likely to improve in the short-term.

“Really, the entire central U.S. looks dry for the next 7 to 10 days.”

Zach Leasor with University of Missouri Extension tells Brownfield it’s normal to have more dry days this time of the year.

“But we certainly don’t want to go 2.5 weeks without rainfall.”

Leasor says there are stressed pastures and dry soybeans across Missouri, but on the flip side, the crops dried down for harvest and “those that are feeding livestock hay, previously we had a wet April, May and early summer and there are some hay supplies. Whereas last year at this time, it was really difficult to buy hay.”

He cautions farmers and ranchers to be aware of fire risks running hot equipment on dry ground.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor says nearly 30% of Missouri is in a drought, with 3% experiencing exceptional drought. The exceptional drought is in southwest Missouri.

The drought monitor also shows a worsening of drought conditions across Midwestern states which include Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and portions of Kentucky.

Graphic credit: National Drought Mitigation Center