Kansas, Texas drought conditions worsen
The area of winter wheat in drought conditions increased four percentage points from 65% to 69%, according to this week’s U.S. Drought Monitor. USDA said 29% of the winter area is in moderate drought, 22% in severe drought, 16% in extreme drought and 2% in exceptional drought. In the previous week, USDA reported 24% of the winter wheat area is in moderate drought, 22% in severe drought, 17% in extreme drought and 2% in exceptional drought.
Most of the drier conditions came in the HRW area. Kansas had a six percentage point increase with the amount of land considered abnormally dry/drought, up to 81%. Texas reported 97% of its area is abnormally dry/drought conditions, up four percentage points from the previous week. South Dakota had a one percentage point improvement to 78% of its area is considered abnormally dry/drought. The amount of area considered abnormally dry/drought in Oklahoma, Colorado, Montana and Nebraska is unchanged from the previous week.
The SRW area reported some improvement. Arkansas had an 18 percentage point improvement, with 43% of its area reported abnormally dry/drought. North Carolina had 93% of its area considered abnormally dry/drought, down four percentage points. Illinois had a two percentage point increase to its area considered abnormally dry/drought to 14%. Missouri has 37% of its area abnormally dry/drought, a one percentage point improvement.
