The August 12th drought monitor shows 49% of the U.S. is experiencing abnormal dryness or drought, up 5% from the previous week, with 29.8% in D1 level drought or higher, unchanged from last week. U.S. corn acres in drought conditions D1-D4 are estimated at 4% (up 1%), soybean acres at 3% (unchanged), and spring wheat at 16% (down 19%). The heavy rains across the Midwest and portions of the northern plains assisted greatly in reducing spring wheat experiencing dryness but may hamper harvest progress.
Notable changes in major row crop states from last week include a staggering 54% increase in D0-D4 in Arkansas, a 7% increase in D4 in Colorado, and a 13% decrease in D1-D4 in North Dakota. The dryness in Arkansas is driven by late summer heat causing soil moisture to deplete faster than any spotty rains can replenish.
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Drought in Select Row Crop States (%) | ||||||
| State | None | D0-D4 | D1-D4 | D2-D4 | D3-D4 | D4 |
| Arkansas | 35.21 | 64.79 | 3.76 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Colorado | 37.87 | 62.13 | 47.28 | 40.16 | 20.30 | 7.05 |
| Illinois | 75.12 | 24.88 | 3.61 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Indiana | 79.57 | 20.43 | 2.63 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Iowa | 100.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Kansas | 86.04 | 13.96 | 3.42 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Kentucky | 89.45 | 10.55 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Michigan | 67.96 | 32.04 | 10.60 | 1.36 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Minnesota | 94.67 | 5.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Montana | 36.68 | 63.32 | 48.35 | 22.21 | 7.14 | 0.00 |
| Nebraska | 49.60 | 50.40 | 23.74 | 2.69 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| North Dakota | 64.83 | 35.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Ohio | 93.58 | 6.42 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| South Dakota | 67.73 | 32.27 | 11.55 | 0.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Tennessee | 45.67 | 54.33 | 3.29 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Texas | 70.84 | 29.16 | 20.20 | 11.88 | 4.21 | 0.52 |
| Wisconsin | 95.74 | 4.26 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |