As harvest begins across parts of the Deep Southeast, farmers in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia are now contending with D1 drought status, adding pressure to an already intense season. With high temperatures lingering and limited rainfall, the USDA is monitoring conditions closely. However, there may be relief on the horizon, according to USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. “Now, for other parts …
Alabama Cattle Producers Urged to Report Drought Conditions as Dry Spell Intensifies
As dry conditions continue to worsen across the state, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) is asking cattle producers to take an active role in documenting the impact on their operations. These real-time reports help state climatologists and agencies monitor conditions more accurately—and could influence eligibility for emergency livestock programs. We spoke with Erin Beasley of the ACA to learn more …
Dry Conditions Continue in Southeast At Midway Point of Atlantic Hurricane Season
Midway Through Hurricane Season, the Southeast Faces Drier Conditions As we pass the midway point of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, parts of the Southeast U.S. are experiencing drier-than-normal conditions, raising concerns about drought impacts on agriculture and water supplies. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey explains that despite early forecasts predicting an active season, the Atlantic basin has remained relatively quiet …
Alabama Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
(ADAI/MONTGOMERY, AL/April 1, 2025) — Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate announced that USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has designated 20 Alabama counties as primary natural disaster areas due to a recent drought. Eighteen additional counties were listed as contiguous disaster counties. “The drought affected over half of the counties in Alabama,” said Commissioner Pate. “We encourage farmers to …
Three Alabama Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack has designated three Alabama counties as primary natural disaster areas due to a recent drought. Nine additional counties were listed as contiguous disaster counties. The three primary Alabama counties included in the disaster designation are Dallas, Perry and Wilcox. The nine contiguous counties are Autauga, Bibb, Butler, Chilton, Clark, Hale, …
Drought Increases in U.S.
Drought monitor numbers jump higher in August. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Significant increases in U.S. Drought Monitor coverage nationally and by category were noted over the month of August. Rod Bain reports. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Advances Forage ResearchOctober 3, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Acts As Catalyst For Timely ResearchSeptember 26, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …
Southern Crops in Drought Coverage
USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey talks about recent drought coverage percentages for Southern crops such as cotton and peanuts. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Advances Forage ResearchOctober 3, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Acts As Catalyst For Timely ResearchSeptember 26, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities For Research Not Found ElsewhereSeptember 19, 2025
Hay and Cattle in Drought
When it comes to drought coverage for hay and cattle production areas, things are looking much better this spring than they were last fall. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey has more information. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Advances Forage ResearchOctober 3, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Acts As Catalyst For Timely ResearchSeptember 26, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities For Research Not …
Drought Conditions Influence Fluctuations in Beef Cattle Herd
New data from USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) shows that changes in drought conditions impact the size of the U.S. beef cattle herd. Specifically, when the percentage of land area of drought increases for an extended period as noted in the U.S. Drought Monitor, the U.S. beef cattle herd often declines. In 2023, with more than 65 percent of U.S. …
Additional Georgia Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
(GDA/Atlanta, GA/Nov. 16, 2023) — United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has issued a natural disaster declaration for five counties located in Southwest and Northeast Georgia following a sustained period of drought, adding to the fifteen Northwest Georgia Counties already declared primary natural disaster areas in recent weeks. Impacted counties include Decatur, Early, Miller, Seminole, and Union, which have sustained eight or …