Modern Farmer<\/i>, Dan Nosowitz: Drought conditions throughout the country are reaching their worst levels in almost a decade.<\/p>\n
This summer, drought has hit large portions of the United States, especially slamming key pasture and ranges for ranchers. But crops are also seeing downward trends in quality thanks to the hot, dry weather.<\/p>\n
Essentially the only section of the country that is not experiencing notable droughts is the Southeast. The United States Drought Monitor, a joint project between the government and the University of Nebraska, paints a rough picture for the rest of the United States, and local reporting is bearing that out.<\/p>\n
The Northeast, especially New England, is experiencing what the Drought Monitor calls \u201cmoderate drought,\u201d which is more severe than it sounds. According to the Drought Monitor, \u201cmoderate drought\u201d means that streams and reservoirs are low, with shortages \u201cdeveloping or imminent,\u201d in addition to \u201csome losses\u201d for crops and pasture land. In New Hampshire, reports indicate that this is accurate, with farmers telling WMUR that it\u2019s been an unusually hot and dry summer. For farms that rely on rainfall and don\u2019t have elaborate irrigation setups, this could mean losses in yield.<\/p>\n
In the West, the Drought Monitor shows widespread levels of drought ranging from moderate to severe, with \u201cextreme\u201d levels in pockets of Oregon, California, and Colorado. \u201cExtreme\u201d drought is, well, extremely bad: Major losses in crop and pasture land, widespread water shortages. Essentially the entire state of Colorado is in a drought condition right now, thanks to quicker snowpack melt than usual, a hot and dry spring and summer, and more powerful wind than usual. Things aren\u2019t much better in California, the country\u2019s most important agricultural state, where 60 percent of the area is facing drought conditions, largely in the central and northern sections.<\/p>\n
The worst-hit sections of the country, with the highest levels of drought, are in cattle country: West Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas. That\u2019s led to really damaged, dry topsoil and grazing land, which could force ranchers to invest in other feeding options for livestock. Only 36 percent of the country\u2019s pasture and range land is rated good or excellent; 30 percent is rated poor or very poor, reports FarmFutures. <\/p>\n
The country\u2019s big crops are also feeling the heat, with both corn and soybean having under a 70 percent \u201cgood to excellent\u201d rating. This is, to be fair, slightly better than 2019\u2019s ratings, but significantly lower than either 2018 or 2017. The outlook could also continue to decrease if the drought conditions continue.<\/p>\n
Prophetic Link:
\nWe are amid the perils of the last days, and trying times are before us. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken, that those things that cannot be shaken may remain. Drought, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, casualties by sea and land, will multiply. Life will be unsafe anywhere, only as the life is hid with Christ in God. Now, while the angels are holding the four winds, is our opportunity to seek the Lord most earnestly. Manuscript Releases<\/i> Vol. 20, page 285.3.<\/p>\n
\nSource References<\/h3>\n