Posted on 03/21/2013 2:44:12 PM PDT by EBH
The United States is in the midst of one of the biggest droughts in recent memory. At last count, over half of the lower 48 states had abnormally dry conditions and are suffering from at least moderate drought....
...U.S. Department of Agriculture meteorologist and Drought Monitor team member, Brad Rippey, explained that when the drought began in 2012, the worst of the conditions were much farther east, in states like Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan the corn belt states. Based on pre-drought estimates, corn used for grain lost slightly more than a quarter of its potential. By the Summer of 2012, 59% of U.S. rangeland and pastureland was rated by the USDA as being in poor or very poor condition. The growing drought decimated national hay production, causing feed shortages, which in turn drove up prices in livestock.
By the fall of 2012, drought conditions continued to expand westward to its current epicenter states like Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and Oklahoma. Rippey explained that most worrying is the droughts effects on the winter wheat crop, which is one of the biggest crops grown in the U.S., and which is grown almost entirely in the states in severe drought. While the region has had some precipitation recently, winter wheat crop will need ideal conditions heading through the next few weeks just to break even. Rippey said....
In addition to severe drought conditions, relatively large areas in the worst-off states are in exceptional drought, which the USDA identifies as exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses, shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells creating water emergencies. More than 70% of Nebraska is currently classified as being in a state of exceptional drought, which includes Exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses; shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells creating water emergencies....
(Excerpt) Read more at rr.com ...
I wish I know if that letter to the editor was an example of deep stupidity of just weak humor. It really suggests a basic failure of the brain.
I grew up in Central Texas in the 1950s. Here, the seven year drought in 1950s was worse. For example, the Llano River went completely dry for a couple of months in the 1950s. As bad as it got here during the last two years, the Llano River has never gone completely dry (even though there are a lot more people pulling water from it now).
So, the water requirements of corn vary by what end use the corn is put to?
2ndDiv. I like that, can I copy and send to my brother?
I heard a guy talking about Michigan weather making a comeback. I don’t get it.
Just looking at DROUGHT MONITOR and it shows that this year is the same old same old except the Eastern Corn Belt is back in business, and the Northeast will continue to provide both apples and potatoes.
Lemme guess - it’s all due to “climate change.” Moreover, the *obvious* [totally unrelated] “answer” is 1) a massive tax increase to grow government, plus 2) carbon trading so Algore and his fellow corrupt fascist scum-buddies can get even more rich than they already are.
Sure, it doesn’t belong to me, I just saw it one day somewhere. I fear there are more people like that than we know.
Nothing that a few hurricanes or tropical storms over the Gulf of Mexico cannot turn around.
The pertinent info from the article:
#7. Oklahoma
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 83.2%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 56.7% (4th highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 9.7% (6th highest)
#6. Wyoming
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 83.7%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 54.7% (5th highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 10.1% (5th highest)
#5. South Dakota
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 86.3%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 67.5% (2nd highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 20.1% (4th highest)
#4. Colorado
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 89.0%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 48.1% (7th highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 21.2% (3rd highest)
#3. New Mexico
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 89.9%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 49.9% (6th highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 4.3% (8th highest)
#2. Kansas
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 96.4%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 64.6% (3rd highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 21.4% (2nd highest)
#1. Nebraska
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 100%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 96.1% (the highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 76.4% (the highest)
LOL
Nothing that a few hurricanes or tropical storms over the Gulf of Mexico cannot turn around.”
Watch your mouth. We still haven’t totally recovered from Ike and I don’t expect that Galveston ever will totally be the same. Tropical storm would be okay but no more hurricanes please.
BTW, heard my first newscast announcing that hurricane season will soon be on us. Fortunately we’ve not yet been subject to any of the profound wisdom from the Weather Channel yet. Expect one of them will do the coin toss pretty soon.
NM Ping.
Drought, lots of it... and six other states, too.
I’m from NE Ohio,and you won’t believe me when I say ,I miss the place.
The snowy winters and spring and the summer storms that come through and beautiful autumns.
2011 my cousin said so much rain it was depressing.
2012 no rain.
Calif depends on the snow pack for nearly 38 million people.
Which state has the water? I’m there.
Michigan has screwy weather. Surprisingly we rank first in water area with the total state area being some 41.2% water.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_area
Just read about an the govt wanting to control our water from the watersheds to the end of the rivers...can't remember the name for the inititave..I will keep searching for it.
Read about it in the Wyoming Livestock journal.
Drought and Depression at the same time, same as the last Depression.
Drought??? What Drought???
North Dakota has something they want to sell you.
ND officials: Permanent flood protection needed
http://news.yahoo.com/nd-officials-permanent-flood-protection-needed-182104717.html
I thought it was great - didn’t have to mow the grass.
Yeah that part was nice but I hate the dry weather.
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