Drought causes concern for agriculture
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Over half of Missouri is in a drought, and one of the state's biggest industries, agriculture, is suffering the most.
Gov. Mike Parson, joined by the heads of three state departments, issued executive orders to help farmers and ranchers through the drought Thursday afternoon. The state will streamline hay transportation, open up state land for hay and water and also call an emergency meeting of the Soil and Water Conservation Commission on Monday. All of the aid can be found on the Department of Natural Resources website.
ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team issued a Weather Alert Day for Friday and Saturday due to drought conditions and excessive heat. Heat indices are well over 100 in Mid-Missouri, with heat advisories in place for the entire area from noon on Friday to 7 p.m. Saturday.
Farmers and ranchers will be the most impacted by the drought and hot temperatures, Parson said Thursday, and the effects will last for months to come.
"I think as far as for the individuals thinking about running out of water, I don't think we're at that stage to be able to say that," Parson said. "I think it's more worrying about what is the effect of the drought going to be on the cost of food and all that with everything else going on."
The National Integrated Drought Information System shows most of southern Missouri is in abnormal to severe drought with some very southern counties seeing extreme drought. Over 1.5 million people in Missouri are impacted by drought conditions currently.
Happy Hollow Farm owner Liz Graznak said she uses a drip irrigation system to effectively water her vegetables, which has kept them from being affected by the drought so far. However, she's been watering her plants a lot more than usual this summer.
"As soon as the sun comes up until we go to bed, something is being watered," Graznak said.
Graznak has not planted her fall vegetables yet because of the severe weather.
"Normally in my schedule, I would have planted them already and we haven't planted them yet because it's just been too hot," Graznak said.
Many fall vegetables like broccoli take a long time to reach maturity, so Graznak is concerned about losing profit if she can't plant them soon.
"A hundred percent it affects how much money I can generate because if I don't have the crops I can't sell them," Graznak said. "I have to keep money coming in so I can pay all the folks that work here and pay my bills."
M.U. Extension climatologist Pat Guinan said the hot, dry weather in Missouri is causing stress for soybeans and corn, two of the most common crops in Missouri.
"We're in the heart of the growing season, and so it's just the worst possible timing for the faucet to turn off," Guinan said. "Corn can be 10 feet tall this time of year, but it's barely taller than me."
Guinan measures rain and other weather elements at Sanborn Field on the University of Missouri's campus. He said a normal amount of rain for the month of July is about 7.5 inches. Since June 2, Sanborn Field only saw about an inch and a half of rain.
"Hopefully the anecdote is gonna have to come from up above because it's only gonna get worse, I think before it gets better," Guinan said.
