The latest drought monitor was released today and it shows weather conditions varied drastically across the country this past week.
The Gulf Coast and the Southeast regions received heavy rainfall, leading to improvements in long term drought affected areas. However, dry conditions expanded across the Midwest. In southern Michigan and northern Illinois, precipitation deficits are negatively impacting soil moisture and stream flow levels. Not much changed on the map in the Northeast, but the South experienced several tornadoes and extreme winds on Tuesday, which resulted in severe damage and loss of lives.
This week’s report also took a deeper dive into how drought conditions are comparing to year’s past.
The contiguous U.S. experienced its 8th warmest September through October period on record since 1895, in regards to average and maximum temperatures. That is according to a report conducted by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. Precipitation during that period ranked 11st driest in history.
This year, drought had a major impact on livestock producers across the globe. One risk management consultant says farmers in his area, including himself, never really recovered from last year’s drought.
“I think that’s what makes us so bullish is because the geographical area basically is the whole western part of the U.S. We had a better year this year, but last year we got hammered by the drought essentially,” StoneX Financial Risk Management Consultant, Kirk Donsbach, says. “No hay. No grass. I personally had to liquidate about 25% but there was up to 100% liquidation in some parts of Montana and that basically stretched from California to Texas to Montana. A huge massive area of liquidation. And no real rebuilding of that since then.”
That video was provided by Tony St. James with All Ag All Day, who spoke with Kirk at the Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show in Texas.
