As of Nov. 19, the Drought Monitor showed 78% of the U.S. was covered by abnormal dryness/drought, down five percentage points from the previous week. USDA estimated 40% of the U.S. winter wheat crop was experiencing D1-D4 drought conditions, down 3 points from last week and one point less than last year at this time. USDA’s estimate doesn’t include D0 (abnormally dry) conditions.
In HRW areas, dryness/drought covered 70% of Kansas (no D3 or D4), 42% of Colorado (1% D3, no D4), 53% of Oklahoma (no D3 or D4), 73% of Texas (13% D3 or D4), 94% of Nebraska (8% D3, no D4), 100% of South Dakota (10% D3, no D4) and 100% of Montana (19% D3 or D4).
In SRW areas, dryness/drought covered 52% of Missouri (no D3 or D4), 68% of Illinois (no D3 or D4), 55% of Indiana (no D3 or D4), 79% of Ohio (10% D3 or D4), 99% of Michigan (no D3 or D4), 24% of Kentucky (no D3 or D4) and 66% of Tennessee (4% D3, no D4).
The Seasonal Drought Outlook signals drought conditions are likely to be removed across most of the SRW production areas through February. Drought is likely to persist across the driest areas of the Southern and Central Plains.
