Drought Monitor shows nearly two-thirds of spring wheat now in drought

The August 4^th drought monitor shows 70.9% of the U.S. is experiencing abnormal dryness or drought, up 3% from the previous week, with 48.5% in D1 level drought or higher, up 0.6%.Currently 29% (up 1%) of corn acres are in D1-D4 drought with 26% (unchanged) of soybean acres, and 63% (up 5%) of spring wheat acres also impacted. For livestock, 53% (up 4%) of the U.S. cattle herd is in D1-D4 drought conditions with 41% (up 7%) of dairy cattle also in drought.

Most of the eastern U.S. saw rainfall last week, with the highest totals concentrated in along Ohio and Indiana. Widespread totals saw 2 to 4 inches in the region, with localized areas seeing as much as 6 to 7 inches over the period. The western U.S. continued to see dryness in line with usual seasonal patterns, with little to no rainfall across most of the Plains and Rocky Mountains.

The National Weather Service 7-day forecast expects light rain to come to the northern Plains next week, with the system expected to then move towards the Great Lakes region. The highest totals of around 3 inches are expected to occur in east-central Montana. The Midwest is also expected to see some rain, with Iowa and western Indiana also expected to see totals as high as 3 inches. Temperatures are generally expected to be 5 to 10 degrees above normal for most of the continental U.S.

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