30 percent of the state seeing severe or extreme drought concerns
The drought shows no signs of letting up here in Mid-Missouri, as the newest drought monitor released Thursday morning shows the drought continuing to expand to the southeast.
Just this year since May 1, Columbia has seen less than 8 inches of rain, the 3rd driest stretch of weather from May to August the state has seen this century. The drought monitor estimates that nearly 30 percent of the state is experiencing severe or extreme drought conditions. It’s so extreme in many spots that it will likely take up to a foot of rain to wipe out the drought.
It’s the worst drought the state has seen in over 5 years, which has prompted US Senator Claire McCaskill to launch a drought resource page to aid Missouri farmers and ranchers who are battling dry conditions. You can learn more about that here.
In a statement McCaskill said
“Farmers and ranchers are the backbone of Missouri’s economy, but with prices dropping from the ongoing trade war coupled with the worst drought we’ve seen since 2012, their livelihoods are on the line.”
The most recent crop report released by the USDA shows that three of the chief crops soybean, corn, and hay are suffering the most from the drought.
Senator McCaskill says she is currently working hard to pass a farm bill. Currently, the US House and Senate are working to hammer out the difference between that farm bill.
