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Agriculture

Agricultural drought results from below-normal precipitation and/or above-normal temperatures/wind that evaporate moisture from soils and plants. The location, extent, and severity of drought impacts to agriculture depend on underlying social and ecosystem vulnerabilities, access to irrigation, types of crops grown, and other factors.

Agricultural Drought

Agricultural Drought snapshot image

According to the National Drought Mitigation Center, agricultural drought “links various characteristics of meteorological (or hydrological) drought to agricultural impacts.” Detection and monitoring of agricultural drought focuses on precipitation deficits, differences between actual and potential evapotranspiration (evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and transpiration from plants), soil water deficits, and reduced water availability.

Data, Maps, and Tools

Monitoring agricultural drought typically focuses on examining levels of precipitation, evaporative demand, soil moisture, and surface/groundwater quantity and quality.

Current Agricultural Conditions

U.S. Crops and Livestock in Drought

Corn Produced by County
Value Map Hex Color
Scales by Acreage #095c59
U.S. Drought Monitor
Value Map Hex Color Description
D0 #ffff00 D0 - Abnormally Dry Abnormally Dry (D0) indicates a region that is going into or coming out of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D1 #fcd37f D1 – Moderate Drought Moderate Drought (D1) is the first of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D2 #fa0 D2 – Severe Drought Severe Drought (D2) is the second of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D3 #e60000 D3 – Extreme Drought Extreme Drought (D3) is the third of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D4 #730000 D4 – Exceptional Drought Exceptional Drought (D4) is the most intense drought category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
Soybeans Produced by County
Value Map Hex Color
Scales by Acreage #623587
U.S. Drought Monitor
Value Map Hex Color Description
D0 #ffff00 D0 - Abnormally Dry Abnormally Dry (D0) indicates a region that is going into or coming out of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D1 #fcd37f D1 – Moderate Drought Moderate Drought (D1) is the first of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D2 #fa0 D2 – Severe Drought Severe Drought (D2) is the second of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D3 #e60000 D3 – Extreme Drought Extreme Drought (D3) is the third of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D4 #730000 D4 – Exceptional Drought Exceptional Drought (D4) is the most intense drought category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
Hay Produced by County
Value Map Hex Color
Scales by Acreage #2a610b
U.S. Drought Monitor
Value Map Hex Color Description
D0 #ffff00 D0 - Abnormally Dry Abnormally Dry (D0) indicates a region that is going into or coming out of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D1 #fcd37f D1 – Moderate Drought Moderate Drought (D1) is the first of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D2 #fa0 D2 – Severe Drought Severe Drought (D2) is the second of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D3 #e60000 D3 – Extreme Drought Extreme Drought (D3) is the third of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D4 #730000 D4 – Exceptional Drought Exceptional Drought (D4) is the most intense drought category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
Beef Cattle Produced by County
Value Map Hex Color
Scales by Inventory #49b804
U.S. Drought Monitor
Value Map Hex Color Description
D0 #ffff00 D0 - Abnormally Dry Abnormally Dry (D0) indicates a region that is going into or coming out of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D1 #fcd37f D1 – Moderate Drought Moderate Drought (D1) is the first of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D2 #fa0 D2 – Severe Drought Severe Drought (D2) is the second of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D3 #e60000 D3 – Extreme Drought Extreme Drought (D3) is the third of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D4 #730000 D4 – Exceptional Drought Exceptional Drought (D4) is the most intense drought category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.

Crop Moisture Index

Crop Moisture Index
Value Map Hex Color Description
Severely Dry #ffa800 Severely Dry (-3.0 or less) The Crop Moisture Index is between -3.0 or less, indicating severely dry conditions.
Excessively Dry #ffd27e Excessively Dry (-2.0 to -2.9) The Crop Moisture Index is between -2.0 to -2.9, indicating excessively dry conditions.
Abnormally Dry #ffffbd Abnormally Dry (-1.0 to -1.9) The Crop Moisture Index is between -1.0 to -1.9, indicating abnormally dry conditions.
Slightly Dry / Favorably Moist #fff Slightly Dry / Favorably Moist (-0.9 to +0.9) The Crop Moisture Index is between -0.9 to 0.9, indicating slightly dry to favorably moist conditions.
Value Map Hex Color Description
Abnormally Moist #e9ffbb Abnormally Moist (1.0 to 1.9) The Crop Moisture Index is between 1.0 to 1.9, indicating abnormally moist conditions.
Wet #a9ff00 Wet (2.0 to 3.0) The Crop Moisture Index is between 2.0 to 3.0, indicating wet conditions.
Excessively Wet #076900 Excessively Wet (3.0 and above) The Crop Moisture Index is 3.0 or greater, indicating excessively wet conditions.
Missing / Incomplete #000 Missing / Incomplete This climate division has missing or incomplete data.

Impacts and Related Content

Reduced Crop and Forage Yields

Agricultural drought by definition refers to conditions that result in adverse plant responses, which can range from reduced crop and forage yields to total crop or forage failure.

Increased Expenses for Feeding/Watering/De-Stocking Livestock

During agricultural drought, farmers and ranchers face increased expenses for feeding and watering livestock, and significant costs may be incurred if they are forced to de-stock due to insufficient feed.

Widespread Economic Impacts

The costs of agricultural drought impacts are spread across the food system, affecting everyone from farm input suppliers to farmers to consumers.

Ecosystem Functions

Drought can contribute to insect and plant disease outbreaks that stress vegetation. Drought also increases the risks of wind erosion and wildfire, which can impact the health of agricultural communities. Finally, drought can alter ecosystem functions that are key for agriculture, including pollination, soil retention, and soil fertility.

By Sector | Agriculture

Visit the Sector page to learn more about drought's substantial negative impacts on agricultural production.