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Stories Tagged as

Drought

How an Iowa farmer pushes through less-than-average crop yields

by Kai Ryssdal and Livi Burdette
Jul 27, 2023
It takes a "that's farming, buddy!" attitude — and crop insurance helps, too.
"That's farming, buddy!" says April Hemmes, a corn and soybean farmer, in the face of drought in her home state of Iowa.
Ben Hethcoat/Marketplace
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A Warmer World

As Mississippi Riverfront development booms, wetlands become crucial to stave off flooding

by Eric Schmid
Jun 20, 2023
Many cities along the Mississippi are redeveloping their riverfronts. But these projects are often threatened by flooding.
Mike Sertle, who manages wetlands restoration projects on the Mississippi River for Ducks Unlimited, motions how high the water can get in a roughly 250-acre restored wetland behind him in Southern Illinois on May 24.
Eric Schmid/St. Louis Public Radio
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A Warmer World

The Colorado River water rights deal is a stopgap. What's next?

by Savannah Maher
May 23, 2023
This proposal could save the river system from imminent collapse, but in 2026, the current drought management guidelines will expire.
The Colorado River may lose another 20% of its water in the coming decades because of climate change, said Kyle Roerink of the Great Basin Water Network.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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Water managers float idea of paying farmers to reduce use of Colorado River

by Savannah Maher
Dec 19, 2022
The seven states have until late January to agree on massive water conservation measures or the feds say they’ll impose cuts. 
Officials have proposed using federal money to pay Colorado River basin farmers between $100 and $400 per acre-foot of water conserved. Above, a stretch of the waterway in Arizona.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
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Despite drought, this Iowa farmer had a record harvest

by Kai Ryssdal and Andie Corban
Nov 8, 2022
April Hemmes was in the "Goldilocks spot" when it came to weather.
"The thing I decided a long time ago, because I'm headed into my 38th year of farming, is I cannot fret about the things I can't control," said April Hemmes.
Ben Hethcoat/Marketplace
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Drought in South Texas has farmers worried about their crops

by Andy Uhler
Oct 17, 2022
In South Texas, two reservoirs supply water to both sides of the border. For the past few years, they’ve struggled to remain half-full.
Above, a cotton field post-harvest near Waxahachie, Texas, on Sep. 19. Farmers across south Texas are grappling with historically dry conditions.
Andy Jacobsohn/AFP via Getty Images
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The Corn Belt is facing smaller yields, but higher prices are keeping this farmer's hopes up

by Kai Ryssdal and Nicholas Guiang
Sep 15, 2022
Drought has made the last few years tough for farmers like Keith Alverson of Chester, South Dakota. But higher corn prices are keeping him optimistic.
Farmers in the Corn Belt have endured two years of drought.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
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Arizona grapples with balancing growth and a limited water supply

by Megan Myscofski
Sep 15, 2022
On of the state's major sources of water, the Colorado River, has fallen to historic lows.
Rancho Sahuarita has grown fast, and its water utility has had to grow quickly with it.
Megan Myscofski/Arizona Public Media
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Food is more expensive because it's getting more expensive to make food

by Sabri Ben-Achour
Sep 14, 2022
Farmers are paying more for equipment and supplies. Drought in the Great Plains has hurt corn and wheat. The Ukraine war also plays a role.
Extreme drought has hurt corn production in the U.S. this year.
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
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How much water is in plants? The answer can be critical to forecasting wildfires.

by Madelyn Beck
Sep 13, 2022
"Fuel moisture" drives wildfires, and the metric can be used to better allocate firefighting resources.
Taylor Zarifis of the Bureau of Land Management in Boise, Idaho, plucks live leaves off sagebrush to measure fuel moisture levels.
Madelyn Beck/Mountain West News Bureau
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