The September 30th drought monitor shows 69.8% of the U.S. is experiencing abnormal dryness or drought, up 2% from the previous week, with 42.9% in D1 level drought or higher, down .5%.
Notable changes from last week include widespread drought relief in the mid-south and lower Midwest, while dry conditions dominated most of the upper Midwest in Iowa and Wisconsin. These changes were led by a 38% decrease in D0-D4 in Kentucky, a 16% decrease in D0-D4 in Tennessee, and a 30% increase in D0-D4 in Wisconsin.
Currently 28% of corn acres are in D1-D4 drought (up 2% from last week), with 37% of soybean acres (unchanged), and 45% of winter wheat acres (unchanged) also impacted. For livestock, 24% of the total U.S. cattle herd is in D1-D4 drought conditions (unchanged), with 37% (up 1%) of dairy cattle in that category.
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Drought in Select Row Crop States | ||||||
| State | None | D0-D4 | D1-D4 | D2-D4 | D3-D4 | D4 |
| Arkansas | 19.7 | 80.3 | 48.43 | 20.14 | 0 | 0 |
| Colorado | 45.82 | 54.18 | 45.19 | 35.88 | 14.34 | 0 |
| Iowa | 69.85 | 30.15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Illinois | 0 | 100 | 73.95 | 27.73 | 0 | 0 |
| Indiana | 7.86 | 92.14 | 52.86 | 13.87 | 1.04 | 0 |
| Kansas | 81.75 | 18.25 | 5.09 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 16.18 | 83.82 | 26.67 | 5.76 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 41.56 | 58.44 | 41.65 | 8.36 | 0 | 0 |
| Minnesota | 65.35 | 34.65 | 3.01 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Montana | 27.06 | 72.94 | 40.74 | 31.81 | 8.55 | 0 |
| North Dakota | 94.92 | 5.08 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nebraska | 65.62 | 34.38 | 9.08 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ohio | 3.68 | 96.32 | 73.51 | 17.96 | 3.52 | 0 |
| South Dakota | 80.55 | 19.45 | 0.11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tennessee | 51.82 | 48.18 | 34.33 | 19.58 | 0 | 0 |
| Texas | 37.15 | 62.85 | 23.67 | 13 | 3.33 | 0.29 |
| Wisconsin | 64.44 | 35.56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |