South Alabama Counties Remain Dry

Clint Thompson Alabama, Drought, Weather

By Clint Thompson Drought conditions continue along the Gulf Coast. Mobile and Baldwin counties in southern Alabama are classified in ‘D2’ or severe drought status by the U.S. Drought Monitor. John Cristy, Alabama state climatologist, says June is a “real critical month.” The influx of irrigation being utilized by the state’s farmers will help during these hot and dry periods. …

Florida Drought Leads to Water Restrictions in Lee County

Clint Thompson Drought, Florida, Irrigation, Water, Weather

By Clint Thompson Florida’s long drought has led to water restrictions on Lee County in the southwest part of the state. On Friday, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and Lee County announced mandatory irrigation restrictions. According to the press release, the restrictions addressed low aquifer levels. “On the coast, they rely a lot more on wells, well fields. …

Lack of Rainfall Impacting Florida Agriculture

Clint Thompson Drought, Florida, Weather

By Clint Thompson Lack of rainfall in March in Florida could have major implications for Florida agriculture. David Zierden, a state climatologist at Florida State University’s Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, said most of the state is currently experiencing conditions that are drier than normal. “With these very warm temperatures we’ve seen in the month of March and only fractions …

alabama counties

Lingering Effects of Drought in the Southeast

Clint Thompson Drought

Last fall, many were concerned with the dry conditions across this region. But thanks to good rainfall over the past few weeks in many areas, the overall drought is basically over here in the southeastern part of the country. But according to a story from Stephanie Ho, the effects of the drought remain.

Georgia counties

Georgia Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

Dan Drought, Georgia, Industry News Release

Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border States Also Available (USDA/FSA) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated 24 Georgia counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers who suffered losses due to recent drought may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans.  The Georgia counties with the primary natural disaster designation include Banks, Bartow, Carroll, …

infrastructure

Fried to Roll Out Climate Change Priorities

Dan Climate Change, Drought, Drought, Environment, Florida, Industry News Release, Water

(NSF-Oct. 2, 2019) — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Thursday plans to roll out legislative priorities focused on climate change. Warning of greater coastal flooding and more powerful hurricanes, the package will address issues such as renewable energy, farm resilience, climate adaptation, new funding sources and financial incentives, Fried said Wednesday as she helped open the Florida Energy and Climate …

warm

Barbour County, Alabama, Designated as a Primary Natural Disaster Area

Dan Alabama, Drought, Economy, Industry News Release, Weather

Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border State Also Available WASHINGTON, D.C. (USDA/FSA-Sept. 20, 2019) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated Barbour County, Alabama, as a primary natural disaster area. Producers who suffered losses due to recent drought may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans.  This natural disaster designation allows FSA to …

crops

Farmers Prevented From Planting Crops on More Than 19 Million Acres

Dan Drought, Economy, Environment, Industry News Release, Water, Weather

Agricultural producers reported they were not able to plant crops on more than 19.4 million acres in 2019, according to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This marks the most prevented plant acres reported since USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) began releasing the report in 2007 and 17.49 million acres more than reported at this time …