U.S. Drought Monitor

Dave Bergmeier
Arkansas, Blogs, Colorado, Columns, Columns, Dave, Dave Bergmeier, Drought, Editors, From the Editor, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Opinion, South Dakota, Texas, Water, Weather, Wyoming

Be careful what you wish for when it comes to rain

Rain can revive drought-stricken High Plains farms and ranches, but producers know Mother Nature remains unpredictable year-round. Read More

Sunflowers (Photo courtesy of Amberlyn Brown.)
Alfalfa, Hemp, Other Crops, Regional Roundup, Southern Region, Sunflowers, Texas

Alternative crops offer producers diversification

Drought Monitor map for July 7, 2026
Drought, Drought Monitor, Weather

Drought conditions shift as storms bring mixed changes across Plains

Producers in many parts of the state continue to irrigate and hope for rain while producers in other parts of the Texas have faced challenges related to excessive moisture. But overall, most areas of the state have received some relief from rain over the past 90 days. (Hannah Harrison -Texas A&M AgriLife)

Texas growing conditions split by rain: improved moisture, lingering drought

  • By Adam Russell │ Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Cattle grazing in Faulkner County, taken April 9, 2026. (UADA photo by Kevin Lawsonl.)

Freeze and drought push ranchers into hay

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. (Map courtesy of NDMC.)

Extreme weather added drought pressure to High Plains

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. (Map courtesy of NDMC.)

Drought continues to expand in the Plains

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. (Map courtesy of NDMC.)

Some regions of High Plains received rain

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. (Map courtesy of NDMC.)

West Coast gets bulk of moisture

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. (Map courtesy of NDMC.)

Dry pattern lingers across High Plains

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. (Map courtesy of NDMC.)

Much of country felt impact of winter storm