With hot and dry conditions persisting through the end of this week, it is only a matter of time before I start getting phone calls. First from producers, then from our lawmakers at both the state capitol and in Washington. Why are we not in a severe or extreme drought? Why are we only classified as abnormally dry? I really do not have a great answer; other than there are not enough reports of what is actually going on to change the classification.
This is where I think our agricultural producers and industry can help. I report crop conditions, and as part of that, I report topsoil and subsoil moisture. I also add comments especially when conditions are extreme. Secondly, I submit reports at the National Drought Monitor. This is where you can help. Anyone can visit this website https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/. Here you can view drought status, but more importantly, you can become a Drought Impact Reporter. If you go to the home page and scroll to the bottom there is a tab/button that says Submit Report. You can also just type this into your browser and it should take you to the reporting page. https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/2a2a183c3ff04c2686d8018f93848183
Once you get to the page, you can report on how the drought is affecting you and your farming operation. You can report on several categories. From agricultural impact to your household well and increased number or frequency of brush fires. I have said it before, if we let them categorize our level of drought by using weather and rain data from area weather stations we usually do not fall into the proper category.
We have stopped much of our harvest plans on dryland acreage because it is too dry to dig our seg. 3 peanuts and it is too dry to spray defoliants on cotton. Farmers are selling off livestock, feeding hay and ponds are drying up. I know this and you know this, but it is hard to see the impacts of drought from Atlanta or Washington D.C. Take a few minutes and a break from the heat and go report how this dry weather is affecting your everyday life.
If you would like to report and have trouble getting to the correct spot please feel free to contact me at mackiv@uga.edu
