Drought continues for many crops across the country, but USDA Meteorologist, Brad Rippey, says that footprint is slowly declining in the Midwest.
“As of February 28th, only 34 percent of U.S. corn production area is in drought. 26 percent of the soybean production area. Those numbers are down from last autumn’s peak of 71 perent for both corn and soybeans. Meanwhile, winter wheat still a problem there because of the focus of the remaining drought across the Great Plains. We see 54 percent of the winter wheat production area in drought as of February 28th. That’s down from 57 percent at the end of January and down from 75 percent last autumn. We do see improvements also in the hay production area in drought for the country, 34% is the current number, down from 69 percent last autumn,” says Brad Rippey.
As for pastures and range lands, Rippey says we are still waiting for the spring season to see the benefits of this winter moisture.
“We’ve seen near-record dryness. Very little, if any, snow on the ground...”
January 02, 2025 11:04 AM
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The German company Constellr is part of the John Deere Start-Up Collaborator Program in 2024. It plans to launch a geothermal satellite next year that will give farmers and ranchers better tools to monitor surface temperature from space.
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The IRS recently issued its 2024 guidance on the extended replacement period for drought (and other weather-related) livestock sales. RFD-TV Ag Legal & Tax expert Roger McEowen discusses the IRS’ extension of the replacement period for livestock sold due to weather-related conditions.
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After years of drought, farmers across U.S. farm country are getting so much rainfall that it’s dampening their spring planting progress later into the season.
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, no part of Iowa is experiencing extreme levels of drought for the first time in nearly two years.
