Drought Conditions Continue Loosening But Farmers Will Deal With Impacts For Months

Drought conditions in Missouri as of August 15th, 2023. (The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Map courtesy of NDMC.)

The area of Missouri experiencing drought conditions decreased again in this week’s US Drought Monitor, with 52.1 percent of the state in some stage of drought. That includes 5.1 percent of Missouri in extreme drought, a 3.6 point improvement from last week. But while much-needed rain has provided support for farmers running short on moisture, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson noted that the impacts of this summer’s drought will be felt for months to come.

Central MO Info · 23 0818 Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Long-Term Effects of Drought

Speaking after the Governor’s Ham Breakfast on Thursday at the Missouri State Fair, Parson noted that efforts to help farmers respond to drought conditions are ongoing, building on lessons from previous droughts.

Central MO Info · 23 0818 Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Drought Response

The worst drought conditions in the state remain in West Central Missouri, with a majority of Cedar, Johnson, and Vernon counties in extreme drought. The western halves of Henry and St Clair counties, along with the northern third of Pettis, are also in extreme drought, along with southern Howard and northeastern Saline counties, northern Schuyler, and the area surrounding Bethel in Knox and Shelby counties.