Over 60 percent of the American West, Southwest, and Central Plains are classified ‘D3’; severe droughts or higher. The severe water shortages reported are impacting 17 states that account for nearly half of the $364 billion in agricultural production of the US.
To measure the impacts of the drought, American Farm Bureau Federation has released three editions of a survey Assessing Western Drought Conditions: June 2021, October 2021, and the third survey between June 8 and July 20.
Crop yield implications
Farmers in these areas are adjusting to the arid conditions by switching planned crops for the growing season and tilling crops under. Respondents who are tilling crops due to drought increased by 13 percent from last year. Farmers destroying or removing multiyear crops and orchard trees also jumped 16 percent over last year.
Out of the surveyed region, yields are expected to drop as much as 38 percent this year with the most significant drops reported in Texas at a 68 percent drop, Oklahoma expecting a 60 percent decrease, and New Mexico down 54 percent.
Heavily impacted are 70 percent of vegetable, fruit and tree nut production by value
Source: agdaily.com
Photo source: Cimate.gov