Drought conditions increase in southern U.S.

The November 11th drought monitor shows 68% of the U.S. is experiencing abnormal dryness or drought, down less than 1% from the previous week, with 44.4% in D1 level drought or higher, up .6%.

A mostly dry weather pattern dominated across the southern half of the U.S. this past week, although drought conditions worsened only slightly for most areas due to cooler temperatures and cloud coverage, especially in the Southeast. Precipitation was more common in the northern U.S., with widespread improvements in the Pacific northwest from the coast to western Montana. Precipitation was spottier in the Midwest, with some areas of Illinois and Indiana near Lake Michigan receiving lake-effect snowfall to help mitigate dryness.

Currently 29% of corn acres are in D1-D4 drought (down 1%), with 31% of soybean acres (down 1%), and 39% of winter wheat acres (up 1%) also impacted. For livestock, 28% of the U.S.cattle herd is in D1-D4 drought conditions (up 2%), with 36% of dairy cattle also in drought (unchanged). The forecast for next week shows mostly dry conditions for much of the U.S. outside of the Pacific northwest and should allow for harvest and fall tillage to proceed well.

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