JEFFERSON CITY, MO, AUG. 24, 2018 - The U.S. Drought Monitor map was updated today and is on the department’s Drought website at https://dnr.mo.gov/water/hows-water/state-water/drought.
Dry to exceptionally dry conditions continue to prevail in Missouri. Seventy-one counties are in D2 or greater status. This is a decrease from 86 counties last week. Twenty-four counties remain in D4 status, encompassing 4.66 percent of the state. Nineteen counties are in D3 status, a decrease from 30 counties last week. Twenty-eight counties are in D2 status. This is a decrease from 32 counties last week.
D4 conditions exist in all of Caldwell County. Portions of Adair, Andrew, Boone, Carroll, Chariton, Clay, Clinton, Cooper, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Howard, Jackson, Linn, Livingston, Nodaway, Platte, Putnam, Ray, Saline and Sullivan counties are experiencing D4 conditions.
D3 conditions exist in Barry, Callaway, Clark, Cole, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Knox, Lawrence, Lewis, Macon, Mercer, Moniteau, Polk, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Webster and Worth Counties.
D2 conditions exist in Audrain, Barton, Benton, Buchanan, Cass, Cedar, Christian, Douglas, Hickory, Holt, Jasper, Johnson, Laclede, Lafayette, Maries, McDonald, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Pettis, Phelps, Pulaski, St. Clair, Shelby, Stone, Taney and Wright counties.
Monday, Governor Parson announced emergency water and hay access for farmers. Water is available for family farms at 28 Department of Conservation areas and five Department of Natural Resources state parks. Governor Parson also announced the creation of a lottery for farmers interested in haying, free of charge. A lottery system will be used to randomly select one winner from the list of applicants for each location, on a total of almost 1,000 acres of Missouri State Parks lands. The deadline to enter is 5 p.m., Sat., Aug. 25. Read more and enter the lottery online at https://mostateparks.com/drought. Additional information about agriculture and drinking water assistance and resources is available online. Additionally, a link to comparison maps has been added on the website at https://dnr.mo.gov/water/hows-water/state-water/drought.
As these conditions continue, citizens are strongly encouraged to report livestock stress, crop damage, and low water in ponds and streams by submitting information using the Missouri Extension Drought Impact Reporter online at https://bit.ly/2OdCcHd. Information will be used to inform drought maps provided by U.S. Drought Monitor for Missouri (https://bit.ly/2NaHG4i).
###