Crops Beginning To Show Signs of Drought Stress

Drought conditions in southern Wisconsin have only worsened over the past week, according to new data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. A lack of significant rainfall this season, particularly over the past month, has plunged a vast majority of the state into a moderate drought, with conditions in the south and southwestern counties now reaching severe levels. Parts of several counties in the area — including Dane, Rock, Columbia and Lafayette — dropped from moderate to severe conditions within the past week because of continued hot and dry weather. Other parts of of southwestern Wisconsin — including Richland, Sauk, Iowa and the bulk of Grant County — avoided worsening conditions but still remained in a severe drought. Farmers throughout the area have voiced increasingly strong concerns about this year’s abnormally dry season with some crops starting to show signs of drought stress.