The latest Drought Monitor was just released and it shows the dry pattern felt in September is coming on through October in many places.
although the northern mid-Atlantic, southern New England, and parts of the southwest did get some heavy rainfall.
Midwest farmers even dealt with their first freeze of the season.
Drought conditions increased and intensified though throughout the Pacific Northwest, Great Plains, Ohio River Valley, and the southeast.
Many farmers in those drought areas are trying to hold off winter wheat planting in hopes of receiving some rain soon. However, some producers planted into dry soils, and USDA meteorologist, Mark Brusberg, says that could be problematic in the upcoming weeks as the crop emerges.
“The Southern Plains are going to need a lot more moisture and it is actually dry in parts of the Pacific Northwest,” he explains. “So, a lot of key winter wheat areas would like to see a lot more rain before the crops go dormant over the next couple of months.”
Even though the corn crop is also facing a drought, many farmers are dealing with freezes. Although, Brusberg things that the crop is out of harms way.
