Today’s US Drought Monitor map states, “the lack of precipitation combined with near record temperatures and high winds has created very dry growing conditions across the Dakotas, with little to no hay production expected. The U.S. Department of Agriculture rates more than half of the top soil in these two states as short to very short. Moderate drought (D1) was expanded so that it now covers the majority of North Dakota as well as northern South Dakota, and severe drought (D2) was introduced.”
To trigger an emergency declaration …..30% production reduction, in one crop, must be recorded. County Emergency Boards are currently meeting to gather information to verify the drought conditions.
ACTION REQUIRED To help set emergency programs into place, it is requested that you send emails with field/crop pictures to wheatinc@midco.net and we will forward them on to the 1) State Climatologist, 2) Department of Ag and state 3) FSA offices.