As of April 22, the Drought Monitor showed 59% of the U.S. was covered by abnormal dryness/drought, up one percentage point from the previous week. USDA estimated 33% of the U.S. winter wheat crop was experiencing D1-D4 drought conditions, down one point from last week but three points more than last year at this time. Abnormal dryness (D0) covered another 16% of winter wheat areas.
In HRW areas, dryness/drought covered 81% of Kansas (no D3 or D4), 56% of Colorado (1% D3, no D4), 46% of Oklahoma (no D3 or D4), 81% of Texas (30% D3 or D4), 97% of Nebraska (6% D3, no D4), 100% of South Dakota (3% D3, no D4) and 75% of Montana (2% D3, no D4).
In SRW areas, dryness/drought covered 12% of Missouri (no D3 or D4), 33% of Illinois (no D3 or D4), 15% of Indiana (no D3 or D4), 0% of Ohio, 21% of Michigan (no D3 or D4), 0% of Kentucky and 5% of Tennessee (no D3 or D4).
As the planting season gets underway, USDA estimates drought covered 26% of corn areas, 21% of soybean production and 49% of spring wheat.
