The September 16th drought monitor shows 66% of the U.S. is experiencing abnormal dryness or drought, up 6% from the previous week, with 40.8% in D1 level drought or higher, up 5%. U.S. corn acres in drought conditions D1-D4 are estimated at 25% (up 12%), soybean acres at 36% (up 14%), and spring wheat at 13% (no change). For livestock, 23% of the U.S. cattle inventory is estimated to be in regions experiencing some level of drought, up 5% from a week ago.
Notable changes this week were mainly focused on continued dryness in the eastern corn belt and mid-south. This was led by a 28% increase in D1-D4 in Illinois, a 46% increase in D1-D4 in both Ohio and Indiana, and an 18% increase in D2-D4 in Kentucky.
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Drought in Select Row Crop States | ||||||
| State | None | D0-D4 | D1-D4 | D2-D4 | D3-D4 | D4 |
| Arkansas | 6.3 | 93.7 | 56.74 | 19.52 | 1.39 | 0 |
| Colorado | 41.96 | 58.04 | 46.59 | 37.24 | 15.36 | 0 |
| Illinois | 4.4 | 95.6 | 63.2 | 20.33 | 0 | 0 |
| Indiana | 13.25 | 86.75 | 58.02 | 1.95 | 0 | 0 |
| Iowa | 75.31 | 24.69 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kansas | 76.98 | 23.02 | 4.71 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 13.28 | 86.72 | 68.19 | 20.73 | 0.93 | 0 |
| Michigan | 43.6 | 56.4 | 30.65 | 6.43 | 0 | 0 |
| Minnesota | 81.47 | 18.53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Montana | 45.01 | 54.99 | 36.84 | 22.92 | 8.55 | 0 |
| Nebraska | 51.96 | 48.04 | 17.31 | 1.28 | 0 | 0 |
| North Dakota | 100.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ohio | 0 | 100.0 | 94.68 | 15.65 | 1.86 | 0 |
| South Dakota | 72.86 | 27.14 | 7.53 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tennessee | 37.44 | 62.56 | 45.47 | 26.15 | 6.56 | 0 |
| Texas | 46.62 | 53.38 | 20.74 | 10.94 | 3.33 | 0.29 |
| Wisconsin | 95.0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |