The government declared much of the central and southern U.S. Wheat Belt a natural disaster area on Wednesday due to persistent drought that imperils this year’s winter wheat harvest. In its first disaster declaration of the new year, the Agriculture …
Holiday storms that pounded much of the U.S. with snow and rain did little to ease the overall grip of the country’s worst drought in decades. The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday shows that about 61 percent of …
A year ago, all parts of Wyoming were free of drought. Now, 2012 is on track to be the driest in Wyoming in 118 years after a dry spring and summer. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report found drought conditions …
Corn farmers who chose to pay more to insure their crops at harvest prices have gotten some welcome news from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Farmers who bought the more expensive crop insurance option last spring will earn $7.50 per …
A massive dust storm swirling reddish-brown clouds over northern Oklahoma triggered a multi-vehicle accident along a major interstate Thursday, forcing police to shut down part of the heavily traveled roadway amid near blackout conditions. In a scene reminiscent of the …
Iowa is on pace to see the quietest tornado season in nearly 50 years, thanks to the drought. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says this summer’s extreme dry conditions have helped keep tornadoes at bay. The Gazette in Cedar Rapids reports …
This season’s abnormally hot weather has caused dry conditions in nearly every state, from Alaska to extreme drought in Hawaii. According to the USDA, more than half of all counties in the U.S. have been designated disaster areas in 2012, …
The federal government has now declared all 92 Indiana counties as agricultural disaster areas following the state’s worst drought in decades. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has added 12 Indiana counties as primary natural disaster areas, boosting to 78 the …
Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 11 north Louisiana parishes as disaster areas because of drought. He says he was notified Wednesday that four – Morehouse, Richland, Union and West Carroll – are …
This year’s record drought is hurting more than crops and lawns. Experts say it’s also hurting Iowa homes’ foundations. The Des Moines Register reports that the drought has caused the ground surrounding homes to pull away from their foundations. That’s …