Drought USA: "Drought still growing across U.S."

By Hoosier Ag Today
Jul 27, 2017

The latest Drought Monitor [see Hoosier Ag website] shows soils continuing to dry out and crops suffering as drought and abnormal dryness expand and intensify across the Plains, Midwest, northern Rockies, and Virginia. 

Montana saw the most severe level of drought, called exceptional drought, grow by 10 points in a week. Twelve percent of the state is in exceptional drought and 24 percent is under extreme conditions. [See local TV report, Montana is suffering through the worst drought in nearly 30 years and there is no end in sight.]

In neighboring North Dakota, 8 percent of the state is in exceptional drought. Another 30 percent of the state is in extreme drought. 

In the Corn Belt, drought conditions have shown up in Iowa. The state’s moderate drought grew to 34 percent. 

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says drought conditions are intensifying across the central United States. The Corn Belt has seen double-digit percentage increases. 

Drought coverage is growing around the nation, with the current drought monitor showing over 32 percent of the country in some form of drought.

All states east of the Mississippi River are drought-free for now, but patches of abnormal dryness mean [this] could change as early as next week.

Source: NAFB News Service

[END REPORT]

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