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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.

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    • 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 Soybeans Hay Cattle

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts hundreds of surveys each year and a Census of Agriculture every 5 years. NASS prepares reports covering virtually every aspect of U.S. agriculture, including agricultural commodities statistics for crops and livestock.

    This map displays USDA corn crop production (data from 2014) alongside current U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) drought designations. Learn more.

    This map displays USDA soybean crop production (data from 2014) alongside current U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) drought designations. Learn more.

    This map displays USDA hay crop production (data from 2014) alongside current U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) drought designations. Learn more.

    This map displays USDA beef cattle data (data from 2014) alongside current U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) drought designations. Learn more.

    Corn Produced by County

    The color with the hex code #095c59 identifies:
    Scales by Acreage

    Soybeans Produced by County

    The color with the hex code #623587 identifies:
    Scales by Acreage

    Hay Produced by County

    The color with the hex code #2a610b identifies:
    Scales by Acreage

    Beef Cattle Produced by County

    The color with the hex code #49b804 identifies:
    Scales by Inventory

    U.S. Drought Monitor

    The color with the hex code #ffff00 identifies:
    D0
    The color with the hex code #ffcc99 identifies:
    D1
    The color with the hex code #ff6600 identifies:
    D2
    The color with the hex code #ff0000 identifies:
    D3
    The color with the hex code #660000 identifies:
    D4
    Source(s):

    USDA NASS, U.S. Drought Monitor
    Source(s):

    USDA NASS, U.S. Drought Monitor
    Source(s):

    USDA NASS, U.S. Drought Monitor
    Source(s):

    USDA NASS, U.S. Drought Monitor
    USDM Updates Weekly  -  10/19/21
    USDM Updates Weekly  -  10/19/21
    USDM Updates Weekly  -  10/19/21
    USDM Updates Weekly  -  10/19/21

    Crop Moisture Index

    Crop Moisture Index

    The Crop Moisture Index (CMI) gives the short-term or current status of purely agricultural drought or moisture surplus and can change rapidly from week to week. The CMI can be used to measure the status of dryness or wetness affecting warm season crops. Learn more.

    Dry Conditions

    The color with the hex code #ffffbd identifies:
    Abnormally Dry
    The color with the hex code #ffd27e identifies:
    Excessively Dry
    The color with the hex code #ffa800 identifies:
    Severely Dry

    Wet Conditions

    The color with the hex code #e9ffbb identifies:
    Abnormally Moist
    The color with the hex code #a9ff00 identifies:
    Wet
    The color with the hex code #076900 identifies:
    Excessively Wet

    Other Values

    The color with the hex code #fff identifies:
    Slightly Dry / Favorably Moist
    The color with the hex code #000 identifies:
    Missing / Incomplete
    Source(s):

    CPC
    Updates Weekly  -  10/16/21
    Learn more about these data
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    Data and Map Gallery

    The impacts of drought can be economic, social, and environmental. Below is a selection of tools to monitor soil, crops, weather, and other conditions for drought impacts on agriculture.

    Map of U.S. corn crops in drought

    U.S. Crops and Livestock in Drought

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture produces weekly maps and charts displaying locations and percentages of drought-affected areas corn, soybeans, hay, cattle, and winter wheat. 

    Period of Record
    Current Conditions
    File Format
    pdf
    Calculated soil moisture anomaly map

    CPC Soil Moisture

    Soil moisture conditions at the daily and monthly scales depicting total soil moisture, percentiles and anomalies, as well as monthly and seasonal change.

    Period of Record
    2008 - Present
    File Format
    images
    shapefile
    Example map showing Crop Moisture Index by division

    Crop Moisture Index (CMI)

    The CMI is an index of the relative dryness or wetness affecting water sensitive economies. It provides the short-term or current status of purely agricultural drought or moisture surplus.

    Period of Record
    1973 - Present
    File Format
    images
    text (ascii)
    VegDRI map of the contiguous U.S.

    Vegetation Drought Response Index (VegDRI)

    VegDRI: a weekly depiction of vegetation stress across the contiguous United States.

    Period of Record
    2009 - Present
    File Format
    images
    pdf
    Global map showing 4-week Evaporative Stress Index

    Evaporative Stress Index (ESI)

    NASA/USDA provides access to Evaporative Stress Index (ESI) data products - a drought index based on remotely sensed evapotranspiration (ET).

    Period of Record
    2000 - Present
    File Format
    images
    GRACE example map

    Groundwater and Soil Moisture Conditions from GRACE Data Assimilation

    Groundwater and soil moisture drought indicators based on terrestrial water storage observations derived from GRACE satellite data and integrated with other observations, produced each week by NASA

    Period of Record
    2003 - Present
    File Format
    images
    pdf
    xml
    other
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    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.

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    Agriculture Resources and Research