Precipitation was below normal for much of the high plains areas prompting the expansion of the extreme and exceptional drought designation to southwest South Dakota and western Wyoming. Drought was expanded throughout Montana where long-term precipitation deficits remain.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture crop reports, nearly half of Montana pasture and range conditions are rated very poor and the majority of the topsoil moisture conditions are rated very short. The abnormally and moderate drought conditions extend south to northeast Kansas and southeast Nebraska based on the 30-day precipitation deficits. The drought is far worse than previous droughts dating back to the 1930’S.
The region’s farmers and ranchers are very concern about the long-term effect of the drought along with the short-term problems faced with having lost grazing pastures and crops.