The U.S. drought area is the smallest it has been since 2020.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says this comes after a wet winter and early spring for a good part of the country. Drought across the U.S. has dropped to 18%, down from the 20% seen in February and the 36% at the beginning of the winter season. This is the lowest amount of dry conditions seen since May of 2020. The percent of the country rated in the extreme and exceptionally dry categories was around 1% at the end of March, which is also the lowest in four years.
Drought is however still a problem for livestock producers and for those heading into planting season, especially in the Midwest and West.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows heavy precipitation brought little improvement throughout the Midwest, but the lower Ohio Valley continues to miss out on early spring rain, which led to an expansion of drought.
As for the West, California is not the issue. Drought is found primarily in New Mexico, Arizona and Montana. Both soil moisture and stream flows are low for farmers in those regions.
