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As drought takes hold, farmers begin to feel the strain

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) report moderate to severe drought conditions are impacting the entirety of Howell County.

Up until last week, the agencies reported abnormally dry conditions through the county, and until this week, a small 10% sliver of the northwest corner of the county was still in that designation. As of Thursday afternoon, most of the southern half of Howell County, from West Plains to the state line, is indicated to be in severe drought. The extreme southwest corner and a small sliver of the west-central part of the county remain in moderate drought status, as does the northern half of the county.

Abnormally dry conditions are those that cause river levels to drop and fire risks to be elevated, in addition to stunting growth of row crops and pastures and delaying planting.

Under moderate drought conditions, topsoil is dry, corn yield is small, pastures do not grow and crops are stressed. Additionally, urban watering is extensive, pond and river levels decline and fire threat increases to the extent that burn bans begin to be put into place.

In severe drought, soil cracks are large and deep, corn and soybeans are cut for silage, vegetables are smaller and plant yields lower and trees show signs of stress. Surface water levels are also very low, with low reservoirs visible and voluntary city water restrictions are requested.

As of Thursday, 2.4% of the state of Missouri is in severe drought; in addition to part of Howell County, that includes all but the northwest corner of Oregon County, as well as the southeast corner of Shannon County, southwest corner of Carter County, and most of the western half of Ripley County. Just over 20% of the state is in moderate drought, and nearly two-thirds of Missouri is in abnormally dry conditions.

The designations are made based on data from NOAA, the National Drought Mitigation Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, updated weekly.

According to information compiled by the agencies, which can be seen on the website drought.gov, 40,400 people are affected by drought in Howell County, up 10.9% since last week and 100% since last month, despite having 1.81 inches more rain than average in May, and being up 5.43 inches from normal for the first five months of the year.

The Springfield National Weather Service office data shows about two-thirds of an inch of rain in the West Plains area since June 1, and only a hundredth of an inch for the first six days of July.

“This is probably the year we need a drought the least,” University of Missouri Extension Livestock Specialist Elizabeth Picking told the Quill in an interview this week. She explained how extended dry weather affects livestock feeding and production overall, whether hay is being farmed and harvested or livestock are grazing on pasture. 

“There are high gas prices and fertilizer prices right now,” she continued. “Some are already feeding hay, especially the ones that are heavily stocked and don’t have the pasture for rotation. Hay is more expensive this year and finding hay might be a problem.”

Drought also impacts pasture grasses used for grazing. Picking said she spoke with Extension Agronomist Sarah Kenyon, who told her even with a chance of rain later this week the high temperatures would accelerate evaporation, meaning less moisture would benefit the grasses.

“Fescue and orchard grasses are pretty dried up, but some of the warm season grasses like Bermuda are still pretty green,” Picking said. “Producers may have to make some decisions as to culling and the amount of livestock that are kept that will need to be fed hay during the winter months.”

That could include selling animals that haven’t produced offspring in a season or two, or selling older animals that might not bring a premium price because their meat is tougher and won’t be used for more expensive cuts like steaks, she added. Quality of hay and grasses also matters as far as the nutritional value livestock are getting, and whether supplementing with feed is needed to fill nutritional gaps.

She emphasized the importance of having hay, whether grown or purchased, tested for nutritional content. Hay testing gives producers a better idea of whether or not and what type of supplemental feeding is needed, she added. 

The rise in fuel and fertilizer costs, plus the added expense of supplemental feedings of purchased hay could be passed along to consumers. Picking reminded that cattle, goats and sheep eat grasses, but swine and poultry are fed grain that is costly right now, plus avian flu has hit some poultry producers, resulting in the euthanization of flocks that can’t be used for human consumption.   

The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center issues its Monthly Drought Outlook at the end of each calendar month; it predicts that drought conditions will persist without improvement through July.

Extension officials encourage producers to submit their drought-related observations as part of a national survey called the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports, at go.unl.edu/CMOR_ drought. The information will be used for reporting conditions and impacts in the U.S. and U.S. territories. A map showing conditions may be found at unldroughtcenter.maps.arcgis.com.

West Plains, West Plains Daily Quill, Quill, drought, weather, conditions, farm, farming, farmers, crops, rain, level, levels, dry, livestock


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